Pregnancy does indeed raise some concern when one is considering breast augmentation. This is facilitated by the fact that pregnancy has some considerable effects on a woman’s body. Besides hormonal changes, soon-to-be moms do go through many physiological changes as well. One of the significant anatomical changes happens in the breasts; the size and shape of the breasts change. Can this affect breast augmentation results?

How Breast Augmentation Works

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure whose goal is to add fullness to your breasts and enhance their shape. At Madison, Dr Tornambe our specialist cosmetic surgeon gives priority to technique and paying attention to the details of every individual patient’s needs so as to not only realize their desired results but to also ensure their safety.

Typically, breast augmentation is recommended for pre-pregnancy. The surgery involves inserting breast implants either under the chest muscles or behind the patient’s breast tissue. During the post-surgery period, you will be undergoing recovery, and you might need to avoid specific activities. After that, you shall meet Dr Tornambe on a regular basis so he can see to it that the recovery process is going smoothly.

How does Pregnancy Affect Your Implants?

On ordinary occasions, your breast implants should stay in the desired perky position for years after the surgery. Your chest will retain the fullness and shape which you decided on during the consultation for your breast augmentation procedure. Ideally, this is the situation for most Madison patients who get this surgery to alter their breasts. However, if you do get pregnant, you can expect some changes which include:

• Increased Volume

Your breasts will typically increase in volume during pregnancy and at times by a couple of cup sizes. For some breast augmentation patients, this might be more than what they bargained for, while for others, the increased breast size could be a welcome enhancement. Nonetheless, this increased volume is usually temporary, and the breasts should resume their normal size after weaning. If this is the case, some ladies usually opt to change their implants for a bigger size after they have gotten used to their new pregnancy breasts.

• Sagging

Pregnancy and nursing usually cause the breasts to become swollen, and thus the skin will tend to stretch out. After nursing, the breasts return to their normal volume but may adopt a certain degree of sagging, also known as ptosis due to skin expansion. While ptosis does not necessarily move the implants from their position, it will change your breasts’ position. This is especially seen in cases of submuscular placement whereby the breasts tend to sag off the implant. To alleviate the degree of drooping post-pregnancy, your surgeon can decide on whether to perform a breast lift or to swap your implant for a bigger size.

• Change in Shape

As females grow older and go through the characteristic weight fluctuations of pregnancy, their breasts typically become less rounded. Ladies who have round implants can choose to switch these implants for teardrop shaped ones that are better suited to accommodate the natural shape of their breasts. Nevertheless, if you are a rounder, and you still desire the high profile shape, the surgeon may perform a breast-lift to help you maintain a youthful bust-line.

To minimize the above effects, you need to work towards maintaining a healthy weight during the course of the pregnancy according to your physician’s recommendations. Work, eat well and exercise so you can avoid excessive weight gain according to your doctor’s orders. This will help restrict the amount by which your breasts stretch which will directly reduce ptosis.

What if you get pregnant immediately after surgery?

In typical situations, your surgeon shall advise you to postpone a breast augmentation procedure if you intend to become pregnant in the immediate future. Yet, some pregnancies do show up as a surprise, and you could be recovering from your breast augmentation surgery when you see the little pink line. In this case, you will have to reach out to your cosmetic surgeon as well as your doctor to deliberate on your concerns as well as knowing which precautions you might need to take to ensure your recovery proceeds smoothly. However, pregnancy after breast augmentation procedure still allows for a happy and healthy mum and baby.

Breastfeeding after breast augmentation

Generally, females should still be able to nurse their baby and feel the sensation after undergoing breast augmentation. There are no recorded cases regarding breast augmentation causing safety issues while breastfeeding. A lot of women who have had breast implant surgery have gone ahead to breastfeed their bundles of joy successfully.

Once you begin breastfeeding after the augmentation procedure, you might want to put an eye on your milk supply to see to it that your baby is getting enough nourishment. Ladies who have issues with breastfeeding often find it is a problem related to milk supply, such as passing milk with a lot of difficulties, low supply, or reduced letdown response. Note that letdown disorders and underproduction of milk face most breastfeeding mothers at some point regardless of whether they have had implants or not.

Ensure that you discuss your desire to breastfeed with your surgeon so that they may choose the best incision location that will facilitate successful nursing.

Is a breast implant revision surgery necessary?

Like most ladies, if you are expectant, you are most probably already plotting on how to get your pre-baby body back after your child is born. Well, the breast tissue does enlarge to accommodate the engorged breast gland. These changes are typically temporary, and most women who had implants pre-pregnancy do not need revision surgery post-pregnancy. However, a simple breast lift procedure is sufficient to alleviate ptosis (sagging) from the pregnancy.

Many of Dr Tornambe’s patients have gone ahead to have children after their breast augmentation surgery without any significant changes to their breasts’ appearance. Contact him for a consultation. Lastly, congratulations;a baby is a blessing!