Breast Surgery Following Pregnancy: How Long to Wait

breast surgery pregnancy wait

In part one of this two-part blog series, we looked at the possibility of certain breast procedures, such as breast augmentation and breast reduction, for women who have recently given birth. These surgery options are often beneficial for women in this position, and those considering these programs should know a few things about which procedure might be right for them and what to expect during it. 

At the offices of Steven Warnock MD, we’re happy to offer a full suite of breast surgery options for a variety of patients, including breast augmentation, breast lifts and breast reductions. Focusing specifically on breast augmentation just for the sake of simplicity, today’s part two of our series will focus on another important part of this realm: How soon after pregnancy a procedure like this can be done, and which factors play a role in determining this. Let’s go over some basics.

Typically Not During Nursing

For new mothers who are actively breastfeeding, it’s typically not recommended to have a breast procedure like augmentation until they have completed their breastfeeding journey and gone through the associated hormonal changes. This is because breast milk production can be temporarily impaired after surgery, which could potentially impact the nursing infant. The good news is that this side effect is usually temporary and resolves within a few months post-surgery.

Generally speaking, women who are nursing will want to wait between 3-6 months after the breastfeeding process stops before they undergo surgery. This will ensure safety in the procedure, plus will allow the mother in question to breastfeed again in the future if she has another child.

Non-Nursing Mothers

For mothers who have chosen not to breastfeed or who have a medical reason for not doing so, breast augmentation can be much sooner after pregnancy. You will typically want to wait about three months — both to settle your body from the production of breast milk (this takes place whether or not you’re actively breastfeeding) and from the pregnancy itself.

Close to Ideal Weight

While the above represent the bare minimum time that should be given between pregnancy and breast augmentation, many women opt to wait even longer. Specifically, many will attempt to get closer to their ideal weight before having surgery. This helps to ensure a better surgical outcome, as excess weight can complicate the procedure and make healing more difficult.

If you’re interested in breast augmentation and have recently given birth, please feel free to reach out to our team for more information. We would be happy to discuss your specific case with you and help you determine if this is the right time for you to have surgery.

For more on this, or to learn about any of our cosmetic surgery programs for Utah patients, speak to the staff at the offices of Steven Warnock MD today.