How Pregnancy Affects Breast Implants

Pregnancy can alter the size, shape, and appearance of the breasts. If you recently had a breast augmentation with implants and are pregnant, it’s understandable to have questions. 

This article details some of the common questions and facts about having breast implants and being pregnant. 

Pregnancy And Breast Implants Overview

If you have implants and get pregnant, don’t worry: Your breast implants will be fine. Even when the breast tissue changes and grows as the estrogen and progesterone levels increase, nothing will happen to the implants. 

According to Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon Dr. Nicholas Lahar, “Breast implants are resilient and rarely deflate, rupture, or leak. The pressure that growing breast tissue puts on the implants won’t usually affect the implants at all.”

That said, changes in the breasts, as well as the natural weight gain that accompanies pregnancy, can make the breast tissue weaker. During and after pregnancy, the breasts will expand and contract. 

This process can make the breasts sag, altering how they look even if you have implants. In this situation, you may want to consider a breast lift after building your family. 

How Long To Wait After Having Implants To Get Pregnant

There is no specific rule that says you should wait a certain number of months after having breast implants to get pregnant. But it’s best for your health and implants to be fully healed from the augmentation surgery before getting pregnant. 

Most breast augmentation patients are fully healed after six to eight weeks. So the surgery probably won’t affect the pregnancy unless you had the implants during those nine months. 

Some doctors recommend waiting three to six months after breast implants to get pregnant, so the breasts and implants can handle the changes that happen with pregnancy. 

Breastfeeding With Breast Implants

You can breastfeed with implants, but there are a few things to remember. 

The implants are put in a space under the breast tissue or under the muscles during the procedure, so they won’t affect how the mammary ducts work. So the body should be able to produce milk usually, and you can breastfeed as you usually would. 

However, some complicating factors can be depending on how the surgeon did the procedure. For example, if the surgeon made the incision in the areolae or near the nipples, some milk ducts could be affected, reducing milk production. 

Also, if the implants were placed under the milk glands, it can affect how much milk is produced, but it depends on many factors. 

Surgeons also note that your ability to breastfeed with implants depends on why you got implants. 

If you had implants because the breasts were underdeveloped, tuberous, or spaced too far apart, the ability to produce milk could be affected. 

Some patients may have less sensation in the breasts after breast augmentation, making it harder to nurse. If you lose sensation in the areolae or nipples, it could be harder to feel the baby’s mouth when it suckles. 

Suckling makes the body release hormones that trigger milk production, so lack of sensation can be a problem. 

The bottom line on breastfeeding with implants is it’s completely safe if you can do it. Talk to your doctor and plastic surgeon about breastfeeding with your implants and how the surgery was done. That information may tell you whether or not you will be able to breastfeed. 

Sagging Breasts After Pregnancy

Some women who have breast implants and get pregnant wonder if they will have sagging after they give birth. They may, but the issue isn’t caused by the implants. 

The body’s hormone changes make the breasts change and grow while you are pregnant. When the breasts are larger, the skin area increases and stretches, which can cause sagging when the breasts return to their normal size. 

The skin and breast tissue also may not be as firm after you are pregnant. But there shouldn’t be any changes to the implants from these natural changes. 

Experts report that the following factors will affect how much your breasts sag after pregnancy: 

• How much weight gained during pregnancy
• Genes
• How many weeks or months you breastfeed
• How many times you have been pregnant

Fortunately, most women who experience sagging from pregnancy and breastfeeding can have a breast lift to return the breasts to their previous position. 

Waiting To Have Breast Implants

It’s up to the patient if they wait to have breast implants until they are finished having children. Some women have breast implants before they get pregnant while others have them after. 

Experts report that if you want to have implants before having children, it’s safe to do so. You can probably still breastfeed, too, depending on how the surgery was done. 

And you also can have implants and lift after pregnancy if you want to wait. It’s up to you. 

Other Factors

Breast implants are usually safe, but any surgical procedure carries risks. The same is true with implants, whether you’re pregnant or not. 

Breast implants are made to last more than 10 years, but there is always a chance you could need revision surgery. The most common problems with implants are if they leak, move, or rupture. 

Most breast augmentations go well with no major issues, but you should be aware of the risks before going through with the procedure. 

The bottom line is having breast implants won’t affect your pregnancy and vice versa. However, your breasts will change is size, shape, and appearance during and after pregnancy. This is what makes many women unhappy with their breasts after they have children. 

But you can always have a breast lift after having kids. If you decide to have children when you have breast implants, you can probably breastfeed, too.