How long after a breast reduction can I get pregnant?

Question

I have been planning breast reduction for a very long time. I am 40 years old now and I am planning to get pregnant soonish. My question is how long after surgery should I wait to get pregnant. Or is it the best to wait after having baby

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

My recommendation would be to postpone BR until after having a baby.  Otherwise, wait until incisions are healed which could take as long as three months.  With most modern techniques of breast reduction, the ducts should be preserved as well as the sensation.  Therefore, breast-feeding should be possible.Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Andrea Marando, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. The answer depends on your personal circumstances and if you had children in the past. If this is the first pregnancy, it is not possible to foresee if this will affect the size and shape of your breast significantly. The concern is that, if you have your breast reduction and then get pregnant (within a few years), it is likely that your breasts will change shape and size under the effect of the hormones and this might affect the cosmetic result of your operation. On this basis, you might benefit from surgery again. If you would like, ideally, to have surgery just once, I would then recommend to have first your child and when the breasts have settled again, consider whichever procedure will be most appropriate at the time to enhance/ reduce size or improve shape. I hope this helps. All the best.Andrea Marando, Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon, Manchester and London, UK

Lisa Sacks, MBBCh, FRCS · Answer

Dear sylvinka,
I always advise my patients to wait at least 6 months after a breast reduction before falling pregnant.

Pankaj Tiwari, MD · Answer

Hello! It is possible to become pregnant after breast reduction provided you allow your breasts to heal for at least 1 year so that your breast tissues grow back and reconnect with any severed milk ducts and to give the nerves a chance to regenerate in a process called recanalization and reinnervation.

Charles Nduka, MD · Answer

It is more advisable to have pregnancy first before having breast reduction, as breastfeeding could alter the shape of your breasts. Also it would have lesser possibility of complications. But if you insist on having the breast reduction first, usually it takes 6 months to fully recover from the surgery and is considered safe for pregnancy. It is best to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon as each surgeon has his or her own protocols.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.  You will find that there is no single "right answer". 
Breast reduction surgery is one of the most patient pleasing operations we perform. By removing “excess” breast tissue, adipose tissue, and breast skin this operation reduces and lifts the breasts to a higher position on the chest wall. By doing so, patients often find improvement in neck, back, and shoulder discomfort and find it easier to form their activities of daily living and exercise.
Timing of the operation will depend on the patient's life circumstances. In general, it is best to do this procedure ( like all other elective body contouring the stages, when patients have reached their long-term stable weights. In doing so, improve the safety of the procedure and minimizes the need for further surgery ( in the event of weight gain/loss after the breast reduction procedure). Always, there are no "absolute rules"; in my opinion, it is best to individualize every patient's care. 
There are patients who present with “juvenile” breast hypertrophy will benefit from breast reduction surgery ( for both physical and psychosocial reasons) at an early age ( even as teenagers). Patients should consider carefully the pros and cons of the procedure as well as the potential need for further surgery if the breasts “regrow” in size.
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.
On the other hand, it can be argued that, patients with breast hypertrophy benefit from breast reduction surgery prior to pregnancy ( to prevent the symptoms that may occur as the breasts grow even larger during and after pregnancy/breast-feeding). However, in the interests of avoiding additional surgery, I feel that it is in most patients best interest, to wait until pregnancies have been completed and a long-term stable weight has been reestablished. This is especially true of pregnancies are planned in the near future. There is no "standard" recommended waiting time for pregnancy, after breast reduction surgery.  
I hope this helps.

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