Breast Augmentation and Pregnancy: How Does One Affect the Other?

Breast augmentation has been in the Top 5 plastic surgery procedures for many years. In fact, the American Society of Plastic Surgeon’s 2019 statistics place breast augmentation in the #1 position of most performed procedures. Because we consult with a lot of patients about breast augmentation, we get a lot of the same questions over and over again. Many of them relate to pregnancy after breast implants. Here, we discuss how one may affect the other.

Is it Better to Get breast Implants Before or After Pregnancy?

Getting breast implants is a personal decision that can be made at any time after age 18. Many women do undergo breast augmentation in early adulthood, before deciding to have children. It is not dangerous to do so. However, it is a choice to consider with care because the breasts naturally swell and shift during pregnancy. One cannot predict the degree to which this will happen, neither with breast implant nor without. For this reason, women who are planning to become pregnant within a few years of their proposed breast augmentation may decide that waiting is a better option.

Will Pregnancy Affect the Appearance of My Implants?

Every pregnancy is unique. Some women may experience very little shift in the appearance of their implants and others may see a significant change. This may relate to the extent of growth that occurs naturally due to hormones, to the elasticity of the skin, and the effects of breastfeeding. Breast implants themselves are not affected by pregnancy. They do not get displaced or run a higher risk of leaks or rupture. The primary concern is that the breasts may become heavy, leading to drooping and that they may deflate after hormones regulate. If you were to get breast implants before pregnancy and your breasts changed significantly, you could have a revision procedure to lift the breasts and replace implants.

Can I Breastfeed with Implants?

Breast augmentation repositions some of the breast mound and muscle, in some cases. Incisions may also disrupt nerves and milk ducts. They may, but they usually do not. Most women who become pregnant after undergoing breast augmentation have no difficulty breastfeeding. The issue may be discussed during the consultation, as well, to explore incision techniques that may avoid affecting vital breast structure if possible.

Breast surgery is popular because it has a history of achieving beautiful results. To see what breast augmentation has to offer, call 502-425-5200 and schedule a consultation at our Louisville office.