Breast Reduction: Q&A

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Breast Reduction Surgery After Pregnancy?

How long after giving birth should I wait before I can undergo breast reduction surgery?

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27 Doctor Answers | Asked by marisol785 in New York

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At least 6 mo after stopping breast feeding

If you are breast feeding then you should not do any breast size change till six mo after the last time you stopped pumping your breast. If you are not breast feeding then see a doctor six months after delivery and when you achieved the weight you want-as many have to loose weight after pregnancy. So both should be achieved before doing a breast reduction. You must also consider the fact that if you get pregnant again then your breasts will stretch and change size again and so perhaps you... more

At least 6 months after there is no more milk.

To marisol785, Hi! This is a very common question. You really want to be sure all of your hormones are back to normal. Also women typically lose quite a bit of weight right after giving birth. Once you are ready, it is a very good operation. It improves the quality of women's lives. We can now create good LONG TERM shape with less scarring.

3 months after completion of breast feeding.

In order to achieve the optimal shape with a breast procedure of any kind after a pregnancy, the breast size should be stable and there should be no significant milk production. This allows your surgeon to select the right procedure to achieve the shape you desire with minimal chance of complications. Future pregnancies often will affect the new shape so it is wise to consider delaying the operation until no further pregnancies are planned.

If you don't nurse - usually 3 to 6 months.

After childbirth, the breasts become engorged with milk and much larger than they were before. When you stop nursing ( or decide not to nurse) you must allow the breasts to settle and recover from their changes. It is best if you wait at least 3 to 6 month. Some physicians even like to wait longer, they feel that it takes quite a while for the glands to atrophy and all of the changes that are going to occur to have a chance. You may notice that your breasts end up smaller than they started... more

Breast reduction after giving birth

When your breasts are of stable size and shape for one month, then you are ready to consider a breast reduction.Always carefully search out a physician that is skilled in the different newer breast reduction techniques. The latest and best techniques include: The Lejour technique; The Goes Technique; and the hall-Findlay technique. Your doctor should be skilled in all the techniques described above.

Allow your breasts to return to their steady state

Marisol785, During pregnancy the breast tissues undergo significant change due to hormonal effects. You are correct to wait some time to undergo breast reduction after childbirth. Another factor which would also contribute is if you are breast feeding. Basically, you want to wait for your breasts to return to their steady state, unaffected by the hormonal influences of the pregnancy. Another factor is your mobility with your new baby. If you undergo surgery too soon, you may be hindered... more

Breast Reduction Following Pregnancy: Wait Until Lactation Has Stopped For 3-6 Months

It’s not unusual for women to address changes in their bodies following pregnancy. In many cases this is part of the mommy makeover procedure which addresses areas of fat accumulation in the hips and thighs, redundant abdominal tissue and changes that occur in the breasts. When contemplating breast surgery, of any type following pregnancy, several issues require consideration. It’s important that the breasts have reached a stable size and contour and that lactation has stopped for at... more

Breast Reduction Surgery After Pregnancy?

If you are breast feeding, it is best to wait 6 months after cessation of breast feeding. If you are not breast feeding then 6 months after delivery should be the right time provided that you have stabilized your weight loss after delivery.

Breast Reduction after Pregnancy?

If at all possible, it is best to wait until after completing pregnancies before undergoing breast reduction surgery. Again, doing so will minimize the chances that patients will require further surgery after pregnancy related breast changes. Patients who seek breast augmentation after pregnancy should wait at least 3 to 6 months after they have stopped breast-feeding him when they have reached their long stable weight. I hope this helps.

How long after pregnancy & nursing for breast reduction

I would agree with the majority of my colleagues in saying that you should wait a minimum of 6 months following cessation of nursing AND lactation prior to considering reduction mammaplasty. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Yes, Breast reduction is possible after surgery

Yes, they can but this does vary very much between individuals. Some people lose a volume particularly from the upper part of the breast following pregnancy while other people maintain volume and even others actually naturally develop bigger bust following pregnancy. Often this will run in the family and if your mother and other female members of your family either got bigger or smaller it is possible that you may as well.

Timing of breast reduction surgery after pregnancy

You should wait at least 6 months after pregnancy and breastfeeding before undergoing breast reduction surgery, and longer if your breasts are still changing or you have not yet reached your ideal weight.

Breast Reduction after pregnancy

The typical waiting period after pregnancy before having a breast reduction period is generally 6 months. However, patient selection is very important, and a thorough breast reduction process is required.

Breast reduction after pregnancy

Most physicians prefer you wait a minimum of six months. If you plan to breast feed most of that six month period of time, it may be best to wait an additional six months.

Wait 4-6 months after breast-feeding before considering a breast reduction

It is best to wait at least 4 to 6 months after breast-feeding and pregnancy before considering a breast reduction. Keep in mind that after pregnancy your body undergoes significant changes. Directly after birth place all your focus on your beautiful new baby. Once you waited four to six months after you have completed breast-feeding, the hormones will have left your body and you will notice your final shape. At this time to visit with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can... more

Wait until breasts are stable in size after pregnancy before undergoing breast reduction

After pregnancy, the breasts will go through some metabolic and anatomic changes. If you choose to breast feed, it will obviously take longer. Breast reduction should be postponed until breast feeding (if you choose to do it) is complete and the breasts are stable in size.

Need to wait for breast reduction after pregnancy

It takes about 10 months for pregnancy to change your body...and it takes about 10 months for your body to recover afterwards. So wait; there's no rush. You also need to factor in your breast-feeding schedule. It is common to continue to produce breast milk up until six months after you stop breast-feeding. I recommend that my patients wait six months after completing breast-feeding before they have any elective breast surgery.

Wait to do breast reduction after breast feeding for 3-6 months.

Timing is everything. When breast feeding, especially if you favor one side, the milk will skew what size you truly are and can make you look more asymmetric. While breastfeeding, try to feed equally from both sides. IDEAL TIMING FOR BREAST REDUCTION AFTER PREGNANCY: Stopped breast feeding for 3-6 months. No more milk evident (no leaking, etc) Breast size has stopped changing. You are at your ideal weight (If you still have some more "babyweight" to lose, do so before we lift... more

Breast Reduction Surgery and Pregnancy

The breast tissue is sensitive to hormonal fluctuations during and after pregnancy. This additional volume may affect decision making during breast reduction. As such, it is advisable to wait 6 months after pregnancy and lactation.

Breast Reduction After Pregnancy Timing

Thanks for your question - You've received some great information below. The one thing I'd like to bring up is that in addition to needing to lose the baby weight, stop breast feeding and wait for skin to tighten you also need to consider the social changes in your life. Many times people considering surgery forget that surgery creates a big change temporarily in your life. For breast reduction this can mean that you may not be able to pick up your little one for a month or so and may need... more

Few things to consider for breast reduction after pregnancy

There are a few things to consider. First, are you going to have another child? Also, if you breast fed, then you would want to wait about 6mo from the time you stopped to allow your breast size to stabilize and you have had a stable weight also. Once you are ready for the surgery you will enjoy the results more and will have a longer lasting outcome.

Wait 3 months after breast feeding before having breast reduction

Breast reduction after childbirth should not be done until at least 3 months following completion of breast feeding, due to the loss of breast volume and body weight , and to ensure that breast milk production has completed. A stable weight for at least 3 months is ideal with no plans to loose further weight. Any weight loss following breast reduction surgery may alter the shape of the breast. A recent study of breast shape with implants following pregnancy has shown that implants do not... more

Get to your stable weight first.

Hello, Pregnancy is associated with at least some weight gain and swelling of the breasts. I'd say wait around 3-6 months afterward to let these things subside and get back into shape. Once you feel you are back to a weight that you feel you can maintain, then a breast reduction might be in order.

Let your body "stabilize"

You should get as close as your pre pregancy weight as you can. If you have breast fed you should wait at least 6 months before a reduction mammoplasty is performed. Your breast tissue needs to return from the changes of pregnancy. If you have a reduction too early and your breasts "involute" afterwards, you may end up with breasts smaller than you would like.Something was wrong if you want implants after a reduction!

Need to give your body time to recovery from the pregnancy

Hi there- How long an appropriate wait would be is going to vary, depending on the degree to which your breasts were affected by the hormonal surge of the pregnancy, how long you breast feed, and how quickly your body recovers once you stop breast feeding (or if you choose not to breast feed, how quickly it recovers from the pregnancy itself). I usually base these decisions on examination of my patient's breasts and a discussion of how she feels she is doing with regard to return to... more

Probably at least 6 months

First of all you want to be done breast feeding and to have allowed your breasts and tissues to shrink and recover from preganacy to their maximum capacity before doing breast reduction surgery. Breast reduction includes lifting and reshaping and tightening the breasts and the tissues should be completely recovered from preganacy to get the best result possible for you. Generally, this would be at least 6 months after giving birh.

Breast reduction after pregnancy

I would recommend waiting until your weight is stable and you have stopped breast feeding for at least 6 months to a year before undergoing breast reduction.