How long should I wait after breastfeeding before I undergo a breast lift?

Breast feeding and lactation may artificially increase breast volume and dimensions because of the hormonal response of the breast parenchyma during that period. Most surgeons would recommend waiting 6 months after breast feeding before performing breast contouring surgery.

The idea is that we do not want to operate on a breast that is still decreasing in size for the best results, we want the breast size and shape to reach a stable state.  While different numbers are thrown about, most women reach that point approximately 4-6 months after stopping breast feeding. Good Luck... more

I generally recommend patients wait 3-6 months after finishing breast feeding so that your body has had a chance to adjust from the hormonal changes as well as eliminate excess fat.  The most important issue to manage is to ensure that milk production has ceased because the presence of protein rich fluid,... more

Thee months is a reasonable amount of time to wait for a breast lift following the cessation of nursing. This allows the breasts to 'normalize' and involute/atrophy to their final size. Additoinally, it allow the body adequate time to normalize hormonally.

Amandan I recommend that you wait 2 to 3 months after you stop breast feeding and lactating.  This is usually enough time for the milk glands to shrink and the breast size to stabilize.  This allows your surgeon to obtain the best results.

Amandan, We frequently get this question in our practice.  The changes that your breasts go through with pregnancy and breast-feeding resolve gradually over a period of time.  As we all know, not all changes go away no matter how long you wait.  Patients have noted continuing decrease in size... more

There isn't a one right answer. I like the patient to wait about 6 months, or at least until the milk is dry. I would like to see that the shape and size of the breast is stable, and there are no infections or other issues that may impact the surgery or outcome.

Certainly wait until your milk dries up but also your weight is stable and your lifestyle ( i.e. exercise, habits, diet) is stable, generally at least 3-6 months. The more stable the size and shape of your breasts, the more accurately a particular technique can be applied, and the more predictable the... more

To amandan, Hi!  You want all of your hormones to return to normal, and you want to see exactly what damage to your breasts the pregnancy and breast feeding have caused. Some women need a small reduction as well as a lift, and others need implants together with a lift.  The lift needs to be performed... more

To my knowledge, there is no hard and fast answer. The peurperal period is defined by the hormonal changes following the birth and breast feeding of an infant and can last as long as 6 mos. I like to wait 6 months for the vascularity and lactiferous changes in the breast to subside to fascilitate surgery and... more