A lot of consideration goes into deciding to alter your body with cosmetic surgery, especially when a procedure may impact future pregnancy or breastfeeding. When deciding on the breast augmentation that’s right for you, there are plenty of questions: What size? Should you do a lift as well? What type of implant should you choose? And, of course, there’s the question of timing, which is especially relevant for anyone planning for either. We asked experts to break down what you need to know before deciding when to move forward with breast augmentation.
Featured Experts
- Henry Mentz, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Houston
- Mark Jewell, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Hideout, UT
- Mike Edwards, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Las Vegas
Can Breast Augmentation Affect Breastfeeding?
Hideout, UT plastic surgeon Mark Jewell, MD and Las Vegas plastic surgeon Mike Edwards, MD co-authored two studies showing that most women can successfully breastfeed after breast augmentation. “In the general population, about 85 percent of women can successfully breastfeed, and with implants, that number is typically in the 75 to 80 percent range,” says Houston plastic surgeon Henry Mentz, MD. He notes that outcomes depend on surgical technique and how well the breast tissue and milk ducts are preserved.
How Does Breast Augmentation Hold Up After Pregnancy?
How well a breast augmentation holds up depends on a few factors, including “amount of native breast tissue, size of implants, amount of weight gain during pregnancy and whether there was ptosis to start that could be made worse by pregnancy weight gain and engorgement,” says Dr. Jewell. He notes that women with smaller implants (less than 300cc) tend to do very well.
“Pregnancy naturally changes the breasts, with increases in volume, skin stretching and hormonal shifts—whether implants are present or not. After pregnancy and breastfeeding, some patients may notice decreased fullness or skin laxity,” says Dr. Mentz.
“The implants themselves do not change, but the surrounding tissue can. When necessary—usually after a patient’s final pregnancy—some may choose a lift or revision to restore their shape.” Dr. Edwards adds that, more often than not, women may benefit from some type of revision breast surgery once they are done with pregnancies and breastfeeding.
Should You Wait to Get Breast Augmentation Until After Having Children?
Dr. Mentz says this is a completely personal decision. “If pregnancy is planned in the near future, it may make sense to wait, as those changes can impact results,” he says. Dr. Edwards agrees, noting that if a patient is considering pregnancy within the next year or so, he’d tell them to consider waiting for longer-lasting results.
“However, there is no medical requirement to delay surgery, and many patients choose to proceed beforehand,” says Dr. Mentz. “The most important factor is setting clear expectations based on each patient’s goals,” he adds. Dr. Edwards notes that it’s their role as board-certified plastic surgeons to ensure patients are well-informed before making any decisions.
