Should I Have a Breast Augmentation Before Having Children?

Many women wonder if they should wait until their family is complete before undergoing breast augmentation. Certainly, pregnancy and breast-feeding can stretch the breast skin,  change the shape and appearance of the breasts, and cause significant loss of size; this is one of the main reasons many women choose to have breast augmentation surgery.

Should a woman who has never had a child (and plans to in the future), or a woman who wishes to have more children later, undergo augmentation mammoplasty? If your breast development is complete and you wish to have breast enlargement surgery, and then later become pregnant and breast-feed, your breasts will indeed change in appearance, just as in a woman who has larger breasts naturally, becomes pregnant, and nurses her baby.  Since breast implants are in most cases beneath the chest (pectoralis major) muscle, and in all cases beneath the breast itself, the presence of implants does not interfere with the function of the breasts.

Whatever breast tissue a woman has prior to breast enlargement surgery will swell and respond to the normal hormonal changes of pregnancy and later breast-feeding. The degree of enlargement, skin stretch, and later droop or sagging, is as individual as each woman. A patient who had breast augmentation prior to pregnancy may choose to undergo a breast lift when her family is complete, just as the woman without breast implants.  Others may simply choose slightly larger implants to further fill the stretched skin brassiere. 

Or, you can indeed wait until your family is complete, and then undergo breast augmentation surgery, or augmentation plus breast lift (mastopexy) if a lift is needed in addition to restoring volume.

What you need to know is that it is safe and appropriate to choose either way, whichever is best for you.

Breast augmentation does not generally affect the ability to breast feed. One study shows that about 54 percent of women without implants reported problems nursing. 93 percent of breast augmentation patients had their children before undergoing the procedure, so nursing was not an issue. Of the 7 percent who had children and nursed them after augmentation, 50 percent reported problems, essentially the same number as those without implants.

So if you don't mind waiting until your family is complete, and you like how your breasts look now, then wait until your child-bearing years are over to have your surgery. But, you said you have "never been happy" with  your size, and are "keen" to be a C-cup. THERE IS YOUR ANSWER!

No one knows how your breasts will change after breast-feeding; but there will be no shortage of qualified plastic surgeons to address whatever needs you have then! Good luck and enjoy your new look!

The decision whether to have your breast augmentation before or after you have kids can be challenging. The answer really depends on your goals. For women who are considering having children within the next 1-2 years,I typically recommend that women wait 3-6 months after their baby is born, or 3-6 months after nursing if you choose to breast feed. For women who would like children, but are unsure regarding timing, can have an augmentation at any time. It's important to know that breast augmentation will not affect your ability to nurse your baby, it does not affect your breast milk, and also won't affect your ability to undergo routine mammography (breast imaging). When considering breast augmentation make sure you find a board certified plastic surgeon who will take the time to answer all of your questions and explain all of your options, so that you can decide if breast augmentation is right for you.

Thank you for your question. Many women will have breast augmentation before and after having children. For women who are actively planning children or plan to have one with a year's timeframe, then I generally recommend waiting. Depending on how pregnancy changes your breasts, you may also consider a breast lift at the time of your augmentation. If you have implants before pregnancy, then you should feel reassured that the implants will not impact your pregnancy, but you breasts may develop some of the post-pregnancy and/or post-breast feeding changes.