Breast Reduction After Breast Feeding
Getting a breast reduction is a decision many overly well endowed women make in their lives due to stress, potential back problems, or rashes. During pregnancy a woman’s breast size will most likely increase, making her life often even more difficult.
After a child is born and breastfeeding has stopped it is often a good decision to get a breast reduction.
How long should I wait?
One of the most common questions that is asked is how long should I wait? It is usually recommended to wait at least three months after you stop breastfeeding for any procedure involving your breast. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can increase your breast size and once you wean your baby it can take up to three months for the that granular tissue to return to normal. Some women will find that their breast return to a smaller size. However, a majority of women will have breasts that will remain uncomfortably large.
Are you convinced you are through having children?
One of the most important things for you to consider when thinking about having a breast reduction is if you plan to have more children. If you do, we will recommend that you WAIT!. During breast reduction surgery, breast tissue is removed. Depending on your exact needs, nipples will be repositioned and sometimes even removed and replaced (this is called a free nipple graft). The removing of the breast tissue is typically not the problem; it’s the severing of the milk ducts. What does this mean for you ? If you plan to breastfeed again, you may still produce milk. However, with the severing of the milk ducts during breast surgery, you may not be able to “get the milk out”. In my 15 years of experience, I would say that only 25% of Breast Reductions patients are able to breastfeed successfully after surgery. If breastfeeding is important to you ,and you plan to have more children, your BEST option is to wait.
Breast reduction is one of the most common plastic surgeon operations and is a great thing to consider. Here at Devlin Cosmetic Surgery, we want you to make a safe decision based upon your individual goals.
If you would like to schedule a consult to address your individual concerns or if you have questions about this topic please feel free to give me a call:
