Breast augmentation and changes through pregnancy - should I do surgery now or wait? (photos)

Hello, every person's body changes differently during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Whether or not a person chooses to have implants, after childbirth their breasts might rebound to their pre-pregnancy shape or they might change (sagging, asymmetry, size change, etc). It is a personal decision whether to wait until having your children. It is important to discuss specific risks with your surgeon, such as the possible effect of breast implants on your ability to breast feed. Thank you for your question.

Although it is not guaranteed, it is very common for women to experience a change in size and shape following pregnancy. The breasts may become larger or smaller, and there may be some loss of perkiness and fullness. For this reason, it would be best to wait until after you’ve had children before proceeding with cosmetic breast surgery. That way, there would be no risk of your results being negatively impacted by a subsequent pregnancy.

Breast augmentation would be insufficient in solving your problems. Your breasts are already too low on the chest wall and bottoming out. You need a breast lift and the technique I recommend The Bellesoma Method. This will reshape your breast tissue creating upper pole fullness without implants, elevate them higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage. Vertical scars are avoided, nipple sensation (in 95%) and the ability to breast feed are maintained. Later, fat transfers can be performed if additional volume is desired.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Hi. If you think that you will start having children in the near future, I would suggest you wait until after pregnancy to have your augmentation. Your breasts will definitely change during pregnancy, and all of this can be addressed in one surgery if you wait. If you don’t think that you’re going to have children right away, then you can have breast enhancement surgery now to enjoy your new breasts right away. However, pregnancy usually changes the appearance of women’s breasts, and then after pregnancy you may need to have another surgery to fix these changes. Hope that helps. Best of luck!

Thanks for your question and photo. Pregnancy can indeed result in significant changes in a woman’s breasts but the decision to undergo breast augmentation hinges on whether or not you want to enhance your quality of life now and for the foreseeable future. If you are actively planning a family in the present it would be advisable to defer your surgery. If pregnancy is not in your immediate future then you can indeed consider augmentation sooner rather than later.

Please consult with an experienced board certified plastic surgeon whose results are appealing to you based on his or her Before and After gallery. Best of luck to you.

If you are planning on having children in the next year, then I would wait on having breast augmentation surgery until afterwards. If having children is further out in your timeline, then you can proceed with breast augmentation whenever you feel ready. The breasts will be enlarged during pregnancy and breast feeding. It is best to wait at least 6 months after completion of breast feeding to allow the breast to return to its final size and shape. At that time, you and your plastic surgeon can make a plan to address any concerns about your breasts.

If you did have a breast augmentation beforehand, know that pregnancy and breastfeeding after breast augmentation are safe for mom and baby. The ability to exclusively breastfeed your baby (ie no formula) may be decreased after having breast augmentation, especially if the implants are placed above the muscle. Many women worry about “ruining” their breast augmentation because they breast fed. A recent study showed that the enlargement of the breasts during pregnancy has the biggest impact on sagging of the breasts than breast feeding. So, make the decision on breastfeeding based on your preferences and specific situation.

Dear michellecad,
you can get surgery now or wait untl you are done with pregnancies and breastfeeding since your breasts will most likely change during that time. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

If you are thinking about having a child in the next year or working on it now, I would suggest that you wait because your post-pregnancy breasts might look different from your current pair. During pregnancy, your breasts will enlarge from hormonal changes and milk production. Afterward, they might return to their original size or get smaller, bigger or droopier. You won’t know the verdict until six months after you have stopped breastfeeding or, if you are not breastfeeding, six months after childbirth.
If parenthood is further in your future and you are anxious to enjoy new breasts now, you don’t have to wait. Just understand that you might need a revision after pregnancy. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

From your photos, it looks like you will likely have further ptosis or breast sagging after breast changes with pregnancy and breast feeding. If you were to have surgery now you may need a revision with a lift after having children. If you wait, you could potentially avoid a revision and have a good stable result in one surgery. Good luck!

If you are considering pregnancy in the very near future you may want to wait. If it is several months or even years in the future, have the surgery now. Pregnancy and aging can impact the breasts, as can weight gain and loss. During pregnancy the breasts will enlarge. Breastfeeding can impact the appearance as well. Afterwards some women return to a look very similar to pre-pregnancy while others have sagging, deflated looking breasts.