Pregnant with capsular contracture, when is it safe to have revision surgery as I want to breast feed?

Question

I just found out I was pregnant but believe that I may have mid-grade capsular contracture in my right breast. I want to breast feed my baby. When is it safe to have revision surgery? Sometime during the pregnancy or will I need to wait after the pregnancy?

Seth Jones, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  I would advise that you wait on your surgery. I would recommend at least 6 months after you stop breast feeding.  This way the breast is down to normal size and there is no milk production.

Steven Goldman, MD · Answer

Mild capsular contracture can be a subjective diagnosis: it may be difficult to tell if contracture is really present. Following over time is useful because generally contractures will progress, get worse. No medications/pills have ever been shown to improve contracture. However, early, mild contractures may  soften and sometimes even resolve with aggressive implant massage to soften the capsule. Especially if you are pregnant, this is a reasonable starting point. Massage the implant in multiple directions firmly a few times a day for at least a month.Also, see your plastic surgeon to evaluate for any other issues that may need to be worked up, like a breast mass. Even advanced contractures may be observed for months, as long as other diagnoses are ruled out, although I prefer to treat them surgically if they persist. I will generally send the capsule to pathology for analysis if removed. Good luck. Thanks for your question.

Joanne Lopes, MD · Answer

Capsular contraction should not impede your ability to Breast feed . Some women find they are not able to breastfeed feed with or without breast implants. Capsular contracture is not a health risk and therefore can be addressed after your pregnancy . A consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon is advisable .

David A. Lickstein, MD · Answer

Revision should not be undertaken until after your pregnancy and a few months after you have finished breast feeding.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

If you are thinking about having revision surgery, then I would wait a few months after you stop breast feeding.

David Finkle, MD · Answer

All women experience CC to some degree with breast implants.  Most CC can be treated with medications, and if they fail, surgery would be the last option.  I would not operate on CC until after breast feeding and all the milk has dried up.Congratulations on the baby and Good Luck!

Tyler C. Street, MD · Answer

All elective surgery should wait until after pregnancy.  It has been shown that it is safe to breastfeed your baby with implants in, and capsular contracture will not change this.  Unfortunately, General anesthesia has potential risks to mom and baby that should be avoided if possible.

Morad Tavallali, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

You shouild wait till after your pregnancy to have any capsulectomy performed. You may be able to breast feed anyway with a capsulectomy and your hormonal changes may affect the capsule also.

Pregnant with capsular contracture, when is it safe to have revision surgery as I want to breast feed?

Answers (8)

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