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How Long After Breast-feeding Can I Get Breast Implants?

asked 3 years ago by rupegui24 in miami,fl
Latest answer by Naveen Setty, MD
Question viewed 14,823 times
Tags: age 18-24, breast feeding, post-pregnancy, timing

I am a 24 mother of two. I stopped breastfeeding my one-year-old child when he was 3 months old (over 9 months ago). My breasts have reached their post-partum normalcy, but I am still able to express very small amounts of milk if I squeeze my breast. How much longer should I wait before I should consider myself a good candidate for breast implants?

18 answers to How Long After Breast-feeding Can I Get Breast Implants?

Wait at least 3 months after breast feeding before pursuing a breast augmentation

Typically I advise our patients to wait at least three months after breast feeding before proceeding with a breast augmentation procedure. This is to allow time for the breast glandular tissue to settle down from lactation, for the gland to reach its ultimate post partum size, and for the breast tissue to decrease in vascularity. My very best wishes to you and your baby! I hope this helps.

Stephen A. Goldstein, MD
Englewood Plastic Surgeon

Breast augmentation after breast feeding

Nine months after breast feeding is plenty of time to wait to proceed with breast augmentation. In general, most plastic surgeons will recommend waiting 3-6 months after finishing breast feeding before proceeding with the placement of breast implants. Being able to still express a small amount of milk this long after stopping breast feeding is normal. That may continue for several months still. It should not affect your decision to proceed with surgery. ... more

Naveen Setty, MD
Plano Plastic Surgeon

Breast surgery after pregnancy

If you are considering breast enhancement surgery, i would definitely recommend waiting until you are completely finished lactating. However, consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options. However, 9 months is usually a good amount of time after breast-feeding to have breast surgery. Additional advice would be to wait on you having surgery until you are done having children. Good luck!

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

You may proceed with breast augmentation after breast feeding when engorgement is gone.

You may proceed with an augmentation now. The small amount of milk is of no consequence. I probably would recommend an inframmary approach since the milk is not sterile and with a periareolar approach there would be contamination of the implant with bacteria.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Recommended Waiting Period between Breast Feeding and Breast Augmentation

The consideration has to do with the fact that the breast milk ducts are not totally sterile and that placing implants through this environment may be associated with a slightly higher rate of capsular contracture and implant infection. The generally recommended waiting period between end of breast feeding and a breast augmentation is between 3 and 6 months. At 9 months, you should be able to go ahead and have the procedure. Dr. P. Aldea

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Do breast augmentation 6 months after stopped breast feeding.

Hi. You can go ahead right now and have breast implants since it's already been 9 months since you stopped breast feeding. A tiny bit of milk is fine.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast implants after breast-feeding

I agree with the other doctors. We recommend waiting 3 - 6 months after breast-feeding before you get implants. This allows the breasts to settle into their new shape and size. You should see a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience in this technique.

Jack Gelman, MD
Frankfort Plastic Surgeon

Breast feeding and implants

I recommend that patients wait at least 3-6 months after completing breast feeding before they have implants placed. This allows for the breasts to involute. Of course you would like to be at your pre-pregnancy weight as well. If you still are lactating, I would wait until that stops.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

It is best to wait at least 3 months post breastfeeding

I would recommend waiting at least 3 months since your last breast feeding before proceeding with breast augmentation surgery. It does not hurt to wait longer if you would like to be sure that you are no longer lactating. It is important to make sure you are no longer lactating prior to surgery to allow your breasts to shrink down to their prepregnancy size. Waiting at least 3 months will also decrease the amount of vascularity in your breasts and decrease any bleeding you may... more

David A. Robinson, MD
Munster Plastic Surgeon

Six months is typical, You should be good for breast implants

In my practice, we recommend waiting 6 months after you finish breast-feeding. Nine months should be fine. Your continuing discharge might influence the choice of incision.

Sutton Graham II, MD
Greenville Plastic Surgeon

Breast implants now is fine

Usually I ask my patients to wait 3 to 6 months. You will be able to express a small amout of milk for quite some time, so that is not the limiting factor.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

We prefer at least 3 months.

It is amazing how long breast milk can hang around after stopping breast feeding. You should be fine to proceed with breast augmentation if you stopped 9 months ago. In general, we prefer a minimum of 3 months from the time the patient last breast fed and more time is preferable. We do this for 2 reasons: 1. we want the breast to shrink down to its final size after breast feeding before inserting an implant . That way we know excatly what size the breast has settled to after breast feeding... more

Francisco Canales, MD
Santa Rosa Plastic Surgeon

Augmentation best when lactation stops

In order to get the best estimate of final breast size during augmentation it is best to allow the breast to return to a natural state as you describe. This will give a true picture of the natural breast concerning size, symmetry, nipple position, and shape and give the best prediction of the long term result anticipated from your aumentation. Lactation of the breast is maintained by stimulation of the nipple and gland causing a let down reflex or cascade of homones from the brain that... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.peterejohnsonmd.com

Ok to proceed with breast implants now

9 months is plenty of time. As long as you breasts are no longer engorged and soft, proceeding forward with surgery would be fine. I would recommend not to stimulate your breasts by squeezing your nipples. Good luck.

Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Breast implants whenever you are ready...

Hi there- I agree- as long as your breasts are no longer swollen and engorged with milk, and as long as you are not planning more children in the near future, I think it would be safe for you to proceed whenever you feel ready for your consultation. My usual rule of thumb is to wait 4-6 months after delivery or the last breast feeding, or until the patient feels a complete return to her pre-pregnancy breast size and consistency. I hope that helps.

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

Implants may stimulate galactorrhea

Squeezing the breasts may stimulate ongoing lactation but you should have stopped by now. You may want to have your doctor check a prolactin level to make sure this is not high and causing the ongoing milk production. An implant may cause your breasts to lactate, called galactorrhea. I would advise that you use the crease incision to avoid cutting across milk ducts while actively producing milk. This could potentially cause a higher chance of contamination, possible infection, and/or biofilm... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Now is o.k for breast augmentation with the following precautions

In my practice I like to wait until the milk production completely stops ,however nine months out from breast feeding cessation is a long time. I would do the following: 1-Discuss this with your board certified plastic surgeon. There are medications to help stop the milk production. Your Family physician or OB/Gyn would also do an assessment to exclude any other causes. 2-Technically I would choose an approach that does not require breast dissection (inframmary or axillary) to minimize... more

Hisham Seify, MD, PhD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Now would be fine

By squeezing the breasts you are stimulating them to continue producing milk. You should stop doing this. If you were done breast feeding over 9 months ago and your breasts have stopped changing, it would be fine to proceed with an augmentation now.