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Stop Breast Feeding Before I Can Get Breast Implants?

asked 3 years ago by sarina in canada, Ontario
Latest answer by Jaime Perez MD
Question viewed 10,379 times
Tags: breast feeding, nursing

I have 6 children the youngest being a year and I am breastfeeding her as well. I'm sure you know after so many children, the breasts just end up drooping. That is mine and I want to know if I can get implants while nursing or how soon after I stop breastfeeding my last child. I am really depressed about this and my sex life with my husband is horrible because of my feelings about my breast. I am really embarrased about myself. Please let me know my options.

16 answers to Stop Breast Feeding Before I Can Get Breast Implants?

Don't consider surgery while nursing.

After breast feeding, your breasts will tend to shrink as the hormonal demand for milk production stops. You should wait 3 to 6 months after stopping breast feeding before considering surgery. By then, your breast size will have stabilized. (Simply put, it is hard to hit a moving target.) Once you know your final size and shape, you can confidently choose the right size implant, or be certain if you also need a lift to get the results you desire. I hope this helps!

Michael A. Bogdan, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Wait 3 Months For Implants After Breast Feeding

This is a common question among women who have noticed deflation and drooping of their breasts after pregnancy and breast feeding. The hormone changes of pregnancy often have a profound effect on the size and shape of a woman's breasts. Nursing stimulates hormone production that affect the breasts. There can be further loss of volume during the month or two after a woman stops nursing, while the hormones and breasts adjust to the cessation of nursing or pregnancy.... more

Paul C. Zwiebel, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

www.pzwiebel.com

After breast feeding, wait until all the milk has dried up before getting breast augmentation.

I don't know that having implants is contraindicated even during lactation but reasonably most plastic surgeons would want the lactation to have ceased before placing implants. The size of the breasts will have steadied and this will help with size selection.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

How long to wait

In my San Francisco area practice we ask patients to wait for 3 - 6 months after they have stopped breast feeding before performing breast augmentation. It takes at least this much time for your breasts to return to a non-lactating, post-partum size. Waiting allows you to find an implant size that is correct for you. Milk production may continue for some period after you have stopped breast feeding. This can cause problems with wound healing and infection. In addition make sure you have... more

Steven H. Williams, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Wait 3-6 months before undergoing breast augmentation

Thank you for your inquiry regarding Breast Augmentation. It is recommended to wait 3-6 months post breast feeding, until the breast glands stop producing milk. Your breasts need to go back to their natural size and this will also reduce the risk of infection. Kao Plastic Surgery

Chia Chi Kao, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Don't get breast surgery until after breast feeding

You should wait at least 3 months after stopping breast feeding to have enhancement surgeries including augmentations and lifts. Only after at least that time will you know what your true starting point will be so the right surgery and implant size can be determined. If it is negatively impacting your life so significantly perhaps it would be worth considering stopping breast feeding now so the breast restoration can be acomplished sooner. The only other consideration would be to use a... more

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Stop breast feeding before surgery.

Hello. I usually recommend patients stop breast feeding 3-6 months before surgery. This time should allow your breasts to settle into the post breast-feeding phase and you will be ready for surgery. Most importantly, consult with a board certified plastic surgeon who is experienced in breast augmentation. Best of luck to you.

Jaime Perez MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

www.jaimeperezmd.com

Breast feeding and breast augmentation

I recommend that my patients wait at least 3 months after they stop breast feeding to have a consultation on breast augmentation. There are breast size changes that may occur during this time that would change the accuracy of your consultation.I would have you wait till you are done breast feeding.

Richard H. Fryer, MD
Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon

Breast surgery post breastfeeding

Once you have finished lactating and nursing your child, you would be able to proceed with surgery. However, make sure you are completely sure you do not want to have any more children. Plastic surgery does not guarantee permanent results and another pregnancy, weight gain/loss, nursing may affect results. The best advice Ican give you is finding a board certified plastic surgeon to consult with regarding your goals and best possible options. You may benefit from a lift or... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Wait 6 months after breast feeding to do breast augmentation.

Hi 1) Unfortunately, you are not a candidate for just breast implants. You have too much sagging. You need a combination breast lift and breast augmentation. 2) No surgery for 6 months after you stop breast feeding. Your breasts will change, and your hormones need to settle down. 3) Congratulations on your 6 children.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast Feeding and Breast Implants

Hormonal fluctuations during lactation can affect the size of the breast as well as the laxity of the skin. Patients considering breast augmentation should wait six months after stopping breast feeding before they undergo surgery. Earlier surgery may risk mastitis and infection of the breast parenchyma.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Post-pregnancy breast changes

The changes which a woman's body undergo after pregnancy and lactation are complex. Like you, many mothers suffer from a decline in their self-esteem as they try to juggle looking after children, running a household, taking care of their spouse, occasionally working outside of the home and feeling like a "domestic diva". Our historical era requires that we can do it all, effortlessly and this is a myth which can make us feel inadequate. It is tempting to schedule cosmetic breast... more

Lavinia Chong, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Finish nursing first before breast implants

You should be very proud of having nursed your children. The effect of pregnancy and nursing on the breast are natural and could be reversed by breast lift/augmentation. The best scenario is to get done with nursing, wait for few months and proceed with surgery afterwards. Best of luck!

Hisham Seify, MD, PhD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Stop breast feeding then implants.

Most plastic surgeons will have you wait 3 to 6 months after breast feeding before placing implants. This time should allow your breasts to settle into the post breast-feeding phase. Then one can evaluate what you need, (breast augmentation +/- lift, etc).

Jeffrey Roth, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

Breasts and implants after breast feeding

If you are currently breast feeding, you should probably wait at least 3-6 months. Allow the breasts to involute and dry up. Once the breast have settled, and provided you are back to your usual weight, then you can go ahead with an augmentation and/or lift.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

I would recommend you wait at least 3 months

In general, I have my patients wait 3 months from stopping breast feeding prior to being evaluated for breast augmentation. This allows me to better assess the size that a patient is, as their breast tissue will involute or atrophy (shrink) following pregnancy and nursing. Additionally, one does not want to have oral contact on the nipples following breast augmentation to minimize the chance for infection, as the mouth has many bacteria and the ducts are in contact with the implants. more