Should I Wait to Have Breast Augmentation Until After Childbirth?
Breast augmentation is a popular option for women who want to increase the size of their breasts and enhance their figure, but for women who want to undergo breast augmentation and have children, the question of when to undergo surgery is something that needs to be considered.
At The Landings Surgical Centre, Drs. Richard Bendor-Samuel and Louis Boileau are often asked “should I wait to have a breast augmentation until after childbirth?” by their patients from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and surrounding areas. There isn’t one right answer. Instead, determining the timing of breast augmentation depends on personal preferences and is best discussed during a consultation with one of our doctors.
If you’re considering breast augmentation, we welcome you to schedule a consultation at The Landings Surgical Centre. In the meantime, let’s take a look at some things to take into account when deciding whether or not to wait until after childbirth to have a breast augmentation.
How Does Having Children Change the Breasts?
Many changes happen to a woman’s breasts during and after pregnancy. For example, the breasts typically enlarge in preparation for producing milk and breastfeeding. Weight gain during pregnancy can also cause the breasts to become bigger and breastfeeding can cause the breasts to remain enlarged after pregnancy, further stretching and changing the breasts.
As a result of the changes from pregnancy and breastfeeding, the breasts may lose their firmness and look saggy or deflated, causing many women to feel insecure or unhappy with their breasts after childbirth.
Should You Have Breast Augmentation Before or After Pregnancy?
Deciding when to have a breast augmentation largely depends on how soon you plan to have children. Pregnancy will change the breasts, even after breast augmentation.
With this in mind, women who don’t plan on having children for several years may not want to wait until after pregnancy to undergo breast augmentation. In such cases, having breast augmentation before childbirth may be the best choice.
On the other hand, those who want children within a year or two may find it best to wait until after having children and no longer breastfeeding so that they get the most benefit from breast augmentation. Delaying breast augmentation can help restore the breasts to their pre-baby fullness or make them larger.
Are Breast Implants Safe During Pregnancy?
Having breast augmentation before having children won’t affect pregnancy or fertility. There is no evidence that breast implants pose a risk to an unborn child during pregnancy. Additionally, changes to the breasts during pregnancy and breastfeeding will not harm the implants.
Can You Still Breastfeed If You Have Breast Implants?
Yes, you can still breastfeed if you have breast implants. However, it’s important to be aware that there is a slight chance that breast implants can affect milk production.
Those who plan to breastfeed should discuss this with their surgeon so that implants and incisions are made in a way to reduce the risk of interfering with milk production.
Contact The Landings Surgical Centre
Timing breast augmentation in relation to having children is a personal choice. To discuss whether breast augmentation is right for you, please contact us online to schedule a consultation at our Halifax practice.