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

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 while you are recovering. Waiting 6 to 12 months would be appropriate.

My recommendation is to wait 6 months after the completion of breastfeeding. This will give your breasts enough time to shrink back down to their normal size. I also recommend you get to your ideal weight before planning a breast reduction surgery to achieve the best outcome. Best wishes.

Your best results will come from waiting until you are back close to your pre-pregnancy weight. The answer also depends in part on whether you're breastfeeding. Generally, I would recommend waiting 3 months after you stop breastfeeding before scheduling the procedure. You may find that the size and shape of your breasts change significantly after breastfeeding. If you don't breastfeed, waiting 3 to 6 months after having the baby is advisable. If you plan on having another child soon, I recommend waiting until you're finished having children before getting breast surgery.

You should wait about 6 months after pregnancy, or after you've stopped breastfeeding, before you consider surgery.

Most surgeons recommend waiting 6 months following childbirth for a breast reduction. This time period is somewhat flexible. Some patients may not breast feed and their milk will dry up fast, and the breasts will return to their normal size relatively quickly. As long as there is milk present or the breasts are larger then normal, you would wait for a breast reduction.

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 least three to six months. It’s also important that the patient has returned to their baseline weight. Once these requirements have been met, it’s reasonable to proceed with breast reduction surgery. If you’re considering breast reduction following pregnancy, consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon that has experience in this area would be appropriate.

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.

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.

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.

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.