Breast augmentation and pregnancy

Women who are considering pregnancy, are pregnant or have recently given birth may have some questions about breast implants and pregnancy. Questions such as “Does pregnancy ruin breast implants?” or “Should breast augmentation be redone after pregnancy?”. Because pregnancy and breastfeeding can change the size, shape and appearance of your breasts, many women may choose to have breast implants after surgery. At his Toronto downtown clinic, Dr. Chad Wu offers breast augmentation consultations. During this meeting, you can discuss your concerns regarding pregnancy and your implants.

Those with breast implants may be concerned about their suitability and safety during breastfeeding. The good news is that breast implants present no danger during or after pregnancy. Although breast tissue grows around implants due to increased estrogen and progesterone levels during pregnancy, breast implants can withstand these changes and resist deflation, rupture and leakage.

That said, it’s not uncommon for existing breast implants to be affected in some way by pregnancy due to natural weight gain and other factors. After dilating and contracting during and after pregnancy, breasts may begin to sag or change shape, although the actual effects are unique to each woman, and some see no noticeable change.

Should you wait to get pregnant after breast implants?

For most women, it’s best to wait to get pregnant after breast implants because of the recovery period associated with surgery. However, the minimum recovery time after breast augmentation is only six to eight weeks, so you won’t have to wait long. If you want your breasts to be completely healed before getting pregnant, it’s best to wait three to six months after the operation. Dr. Chad Wu performs all operations for breast augmentation at his Toronto downtown clinic.

If you become pregnant immediately after breast implant surgery, it’s best to discuss your options with your doctor so they can monitor you and help you minimize complications.

Can I breastfeed with breast implants?

If you’ve already had breast implant surgery and are concerned about breastfeeding, you should know that it depends on how the breast augmentation was performed. However, most women shouldn’t encounter any problems. This is because breast implants are placed either under the breast tissue or under the muscle, which means they do not interfere with the functioning of your breast duct.

However, suppose you’ve had a breast augmentation that cut the areola or nipple. In that case, the milk ducts may have been damaged during the operation, affecting milk production and your breastfeeding ability. Implants placed over the breast muscle may also affect the amount of milk you can produce after pregnancy. In addition, some patients report a loss of breast or nipple sensitivity, which can make breastfeeding difficult as the biological functions of releasing hormones and triggering ejection may be impaired. These considerations make it very important to see a board-certified plastic surgery like Dr. Chad Wu at his Toronto downtown clinic.

Should you wait until you have children to have breast implants?

While there are many factors to consider when deciding to have breast implants, it may be worthwhile to opt for breast implants after you’ve had children rather than before your pregnancy. Also, if you’re actively trying to get pregnant, you may want to wait until after your child’s birth before getting breast implants due to the effects of surgery. Note that you should not have breast implants placed during your pregnancy but should feel free to do so before or after your pregnancy.

As a general rule, you can have breast implants before you’re pregnant without it affecting the pregnancy or delivery – or your child’s health – although you’ll probably need to give yourself about a year for everything to heal completely before your body transitions from healing to pregnancy. Regarding breast implant surgery after pregnancy, it’s best to wait until you’ve finished breastfeeding to get the best possible results for your needs.