Wait Until After Children for Breast Augmentation?

It is safe to undergo breast augmentation either before or after having children. Studies have shown that there is no significant change in the ability to breast feed after having had breast implants....The ducts that create the milk are right under the nipple and these are not messed with or gotten near to during breast augmentation. Typically we place implants under the muscle and there are so many layers between the implant and where your milk is created. If someone was planning on getting pregnant in the next year, I would suggest holding off on getting breast implants in order to go through the whole pregnancy and breast feeding phases. But if there are no immediate plans to get pregnant, I would say it is completely fine to get breast implants and continue with your normal life plans. When it comes to breast feeding....there is so much variety in women as far as do the breasts get larger and stay larger, do they sag afterwards, do they get bigger and then return to a "deflated" type appearance....no one can predictably guess what you will be like after breast feeding so it is better to just deal with whatever cosmetic concerns pop up at that time. As always, it is worth consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon in person to talk about your goals, plans for life, and the pros/cons of getting the procedure done now. Good luck on your journey!Ramsen Azizi M.D.
Double Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Chicago - R.A.M. Plastic Surgery

Thank you for your question.  It is very safe to proceed with Breast Augmentation prior to having children. And yes, you will be able to breast feed if you have implants.  The breasts may undergo many changes after pregnancy and breast feeding. However, you will always have the implant volume helping with any changes that may occur.

Deciding whether to undergo breast augmentation before or after having children is a personal choice that depends on your specific circumstances and goals. Here are some factors to consider:

Physical Changes Post-Pregnancy: Pregnancy can change the size and shape of your breasts, potentially altering the results of an augmentation done beforehand. Waiting until after you've had children may help in achieving more stable results.

Breastfeeding: Many women with breast implants can successfully breastfeed, but certain surgical techniques can reduce this likelihood. Discuss your desire to breastfeed with your surgeon so they can plan the surgery accordingly.

Ultimately, it's advisable to discuss your plans and any concerns with a board-certified plastic surgeon, who can provide guidance based on your individual health profile and aesthetic goals.

You definitely do not have to wait; it depends on your personal goals. If you want the best chance at having the ability to breast feed successfully, waiting on an augmentation may be something to consider. However, many women have a breast augmentation and go on to breast feed successfully without any issues. If you’re strongly motivated to have your augmentation now, then don’t wait.

Hi Camgirl thank you for this excellent question.
This question came to me and my resident team at McMaster University and we decided to pursue an answer from the surgical literature. Our discoveries are not ground breaking or revolutionary, and it should also be noted that our results have not yet been accepted through the peer review process by a surgical journal. But they are submitted and I am certain that they will be very soon.
What the best scientific literature indicates is that breast augmentation negatively impacts the ability to successfully breast feed after pregnancy by a small amount.
Having 3 young children, I appreciate the pressure that women are under by society to successfully breast feed. For our first child this led to many sleepless and anxiety filled nights until it finally began to work out. There is a significant portion of society that cannot breast feed for a myriad of reasons, and their babies grow up beautifully with no issues.
That being said if you are 100% committed to doing everything you possibly can to breast feed successfully, I would hold off on breast augmentation until after you have breast fed your babies.
Best of luck in your life journey!

Hello there and thank you for this great question. There is nothing wrong with having a breast augmentation prior to child rearing, as long as you understand that pregnancy and breastfeeding can potentially change your cosmetic outcome. It is not uncommon for the breasts to drop following breastfeeding which might require a future mastopexy to correct. There is a extremely small chance that you would not be able to breastfeed following a breast augmentation, however, this is not a great reason to avoid surgery as the risks are extremely small.

Hi and thank you for your question. I do not believe you need to wait until after children to get a breast augmentation unless you are planning on having children in the near future. Breast implants have no effect on breast feeding so you can safely breast feed if you choose too. After children if your breasts change from your pregnancies, you can always consider a lift at that point. I recommend you schedule a consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to discuss further. Best wishes

Thank you for the question,
This is a very common question ! I get asked this regularly during every consultation for BBA. 
The best answer i can give you is that its a personal choice and you need to discuss the pro’s and con’s with your board certified PS (the list can be exhaustive). If kid’s are on the horizon in the next 4-5 years i would wait until after. Pregnancy can alter the shape and soft tissue quality of your breasts and getting 2 operations is not desirable when it can be avoidable. 
What i can tell you is that PS everywhere do a lot of Breast’s Aug’s both before and after pregnancy safely and effectively. You just need to decide for yourself after discussion with your PS what is best going forward. 
Cheers
Waqqas Jalil MD FRCSC 

Thank you for your question.  Breast feeding with implants is safe. However, when one becomes pregnant, the breasts engorge and enlarge.  Often, after delivery or breast feeding, the breasts shrink to their pre-pregnancy size or smaller -- and sag.  Therefore, with or without implants, the breasts will often benefit from a lift after pregnancy.  More information can be found in the link and video attached.

If you are planning on having children in the near future, then I'd recommend waiting until after. If not, there is not reason to delay. There is not effect on breastfeeding.