Breast Implants and Pregnancy: Getting Pregnant and Breastfeeding

Many women considering breast augmentation plan to have children later, and many mothers ask whether implants affect pregnancy or breastfeeding. Here is what you need to know.

Breast Augmentation Before Pregnancy: What You Need to Know

While there's no medical reason you can't have breast implants before pregnancy, there are some factors to consider.

Can You Get Pregnant with Breast Implants?

Yes! Breast implants don't affect your ability to get pregnant or give birth to a child. Because of their placement, implants don't interfere with your reproductive organs or hormones.

It's important to understand that pregnancy and breastfeeding can significantly change your breasts, with or without implants. During pregnancy, your breasts will likely increase in size as milk ducts expand and breast tissue swells. After pregnancy and breastfeeding, breasts often "deflate" and may sag. These natural changes can potentially affect the appearance of augmented breasts.

Generally speaking, women with breast implants can breastfeed without issue. However, some women may experience difficulties. If breastfeeding is a priority and don't want to be exposed to this rare risk, you may want to delay your surgery just in case.

Due to the changes breasts undergo during pregnancy, some women find they want revision surgery after having children to address changes in the shape, size, or position of their augmented breasts.

If you're planning to get pregnant within the next year or two, it may be worth waiting on breast augmentation. This allows your body to go through the changes of pregnancy without the added factor of implants. However, if pregnancy is a more distant plan, many women choose to enjoy their augmented breasts for several years before having children.

While it's perfectly possible to have breast augmentation before pregnancy, it's a decision that requires careful consideration of both short-term and long-term factors.

Breast Implants and Pregnancy

Many women with breast implants wonder how pregnancy might affect their augmented breasts or if implants could impact their ability to breastfeed. If you're considering pregnancy after breast augmentation or vice versa, here's what you should know.

Can I carry a baby after breast augmentation?

The short answer is yes. Breast implants has no biological impact on your ability to conceive, or even carry a pregnancy to term. The implants are isolated within the breast tissue and do not interact with your reproductive system.

Breast augmentation after pregnancy: how does pregnancy affect breast augmentation?

During pregnancy, your breasts will naturally enlarge as they prepare for milk production. This occurs regardless of whether you have implants or not. Today's breast implants are designed to be flexible and can typically accommodate these changes without issue.

However, it's important to note that pregnancy and breastfeeding can cause changes to your natural breast tissue. Some women may experience:

Changes in breast shape or size
Stretching of the skin
Sagging (ptosis) after pregnancy and breastfeeding

These changes can occur with or without implants and are part of the natural process of pregnancy and motherhood.

Breastfeeding with Implants

Generally speaking, women with breast implants can successfully breastfeed. The ability to breastfeed largely depends on the type of incision used during your augmentation surgery. Incisions made under the breast fold or through the armpit (transaxillary) are less likely to interfere with milk ducts and nerves crucial for breastfeeding.

However, if you're planning to get implants and want to breastfeed in the future, it's crucial to discuss this with your surgeon. They can choose surgical techniques that preserve your ability to breastfeed or recommend that you wait until after you've had children before proceeding with surgery.

Safety Concerns

There's no evidence to suggest that silicone from implants can pass into breast milk or harm a fetus. Whether you have silicone or saline implants, both are considered safe for pregnant women and nursing mothers.

After pregnancy and breastfeeding, some women may notice changes in the appearance of their augmented breasts. In some cases, a breast lift or implant replacement might be desired to address any changes. It's best to wait until you've finished having children before considering any additional breast surgeries.

Having breast implants doesn't prevent you from experiencing a healthy pregnancy or breastfeeding your baby. However, it's important to have realistic expectations about how pregnancy might affect your augmented breasts. Always consult with your plastic surgeon and obstetrician if you have any concerns about your implants during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

If pregnancy has changed your breasts, a breast lift or mommy makeover may help. Dr. Kesarwani will talk through your plans at your consultation.