Breast Implants and Pregnancy: What You Should Know

Breast augmentation is not merely a popular plastic surgery procedure; according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, it was the leading procedure of 2019. More breast augmentations were performed than liposuction, eyelid rejuvenation, and facelifts. And this happened amidst an FDA recall of a small category of textured breast implant devices. Because this procedure has been popular for many years, we are accustomed to getting questions about it. Some of them revolve around pregnancy and how having breast implants may affect this life stage. We’ll cover some of those questions here.

Is it Ok to Get Breast Implants Before Pregnancy?

Pregnancy is transformative in many ways. When a woman is pregnant, the ducts and glands in the breasts swell and shift. This is unique to each woman so is not something we can predict in terms of how much growth will occur. Without the ability to predict how pregnancy could affect the overall shape of the body, surgeons sometimes recommend that women wait to have breast augmentation if they are planning to have children within a year or two.

Having breast implants will not affect pregnancy. Many women have become pregnant after having breast augmentation and have experienced the normal swelling and growth that would be expected. What may happen in these instances is that a woman may want to have breast augmentation revised at a later date due to changes in size, shape, and volume.

Can I Breastfeed with Implants?

This is a common concern among breast augmentation patients. Yes, you can breastfeed if you’ve had breast implant surgery. Surgeons operating on women who believe they may become pregnant in the future and who wish to be able to breastfeed may incorporate precise techniques to minimize the effects of surgery on the milk ducts.  With Dr. Lowenstein’s dual plane approach, breast ducts are usually not altered during surgery and so breastfeeding should not be problematic.

Will Breast Implants Look Different after Pregnancy?

It’s possible. Plastic surgery procedures like breast augmentation can achieve long-lasting improvements. However, the results achieved can be affected by lifestyle changes. For example, liposuction can sculpt the body but if a person gains weight, their body contours are likely to change. Breast augmentation enlarges the breasts and gives them shape. Pregnancy may enlarge the breasts even more, resulting in deflation and sagging after giving birth. This may be exacerbated in women who breastfeed. These issues are not insurmountable. A revision breast surgery can lift sagging breasts and replace breast implants, restoring optimal shape.

Learn more about the value of breast augmentation. Schedule a consultation in our Santa Barbara office at 805.969.9004.