Pregnancy can be one of the most gratifying and magical parts of your life. However, it also comes with sacrifices. One of these sacrifices is that your body goes through some changes that can be difficult—or even impossible—to reverse on your own. A breast augmentation at our plastic surgery center in Sacramento can help you get your pre-baby body back.
Many women are eager to get the procedure immediately after childbirth, but as any board-certified plastic surgeon will tell you, timing is an integral part of achieving your cosmetic goals. I typically ask my patients 3 questions to determine whether they are ready for a breast augmentation.
1. Do you plan on becoming pregnant again?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding can dramatically change your breasts. I advise my patients to wait until they are done bearing children to schedule their augmentation. In some cases, pregnancy after surgery can impact the procedure’s results.
If you are planning on getting pregnant after your procedure, it is important to tell your surgeon because they can take extra precautions to keep the milk glands intact. If you are able to breastfeed prior to surgery, there’s about a 98% likelihood that you will be able to do so afterward. To be safe, we probably would not choose an areolar incision, which may increase the chance of disrupting the glands. Instead, we would use an incision underneath the breasts to insert the implants.
2. Has your body recovered from pregnancy?
We recommend that you wait about 3 to 6 months after you’re finished having children and breastfeeding before scheduling your breast augmentation. This allows time for your hormone levels to return to normal, which greatly affect weight fluctuations and breast size. Significant weight fluctuations can compromise your results. Every patient is different, so it is important that you discuss your specific situation with your doctor.
3. Can you take time off from work and other responsibilities?
Make sure that your surgery aligns with other aspects of your life. You will need to take off time from work, so you may want to consider using some vacation days. Additionally, you will need to avoid lifting anything over a few pounds during your recovery, so you will need some extra help around the house, especially if you have pets or small children. Giving yourself ample time to heal is essential to achieving your aesthetic goals. Overexerting yourself too soon may affect your results.
I review additional factors to consider when having breast augmentation in a separate blog post. Check out our online photo gallery of real breast augmentation patient results. If you want to discuss your breast augmentation options, I encourage you to request a consultation online or call our office at (916) 929-1833.
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