Most women consider pregnancy and childbirth the most joyful, rewarding, and meaningful experiences of their lives. But that doesn’t mean they love how their body changes with each birth. Hips widen, abdomens pooch, and breasts enlarge, shrink, then sag.
Moms throughout McLean, Virginia, and Rockville, Maryland, trust Frederick H. Watkins, MD, to get their bodies back to prepregnancy form. As an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Watkins is highly qualified to perform both routine and complex procedures, but our patients love him for his personal demeanor, artistic eye, and collaborative spirit.
Here, he explains the benefits of a post-pregnancy breast lift and how to time it.
Not all breast procedures are the same. Before recommending a treatment, Dr. Watkins examines your breasts and listens to what you hope to accomplish. Depending on your overall health, medical history, age, weight loss or gain goals, and future childbearing plans, he guides you through your options.
If you’re looking for fuller, larger, firmer breasts, consider a breast augmentation. In this procedure, Dr. Watkins places silicon-gel or saline-filled implants underneath your breast tissue and chest wall. The result is a natural-looking, symmetrical, and ample set of breasts.
You can still breastfeed future babies after receiving breast implants.
If your breasts are too large and cause bra-strap grooves and back problems, you might want a breast reduction. In this case, Dr. Watkins removes excess fat, skin, and glandular tissue to reduce the size and weight of your breasts.
You likely can’t breastfeed future babies after this procedure because it removes many of your milk ducts.
A breast lift doesn’t change the size of your breasts, so if you’re looking for bigger or smaller breasts, talk to Dr. Watkins about an augmentation or reduction.
However, if your main concern is sagging breasts due to pregnancy and breastfeeding, a breast lift could be the solution. In this procedure, Dr. Watkins reattaches lax muscles and repositions your breasts to a higher location on your chest — perfect for women who have breastfed their children and discovered the effects of gravity.
A breast lift doesn’t interfere with your ability to breastfeed your babies in the future.
Timing is everything when you schedule your post-pregnancy breast lift. Your body underwent massive changes during the past year, and it will take some time to return to normal. Depending on how much weight you gained during your pregnancy, you may need to lose that weight before determining whether your breasts will return to their prepregnancy shape and size.
If your weight isn’t an issue, you still should hold off on scheduling a breast lift for at least six months after delivery or six months after you’re done breastfeeding. This allows your skin and underlying tissues to heal and recover from the hormone shifts of pregnancy. It’s best to plan the details of your breast lift, starting with stable breast tissue.
Ideally, you’ll schedule your breast lift only when you’re certain you’re done growing your family. While you can still breastfeed future babies after undergoing a breast lift, future pregnancies will result in additional skin stretching that will alter your results.
Dr. Waltkins can also combine various treatments to address multiple breast concerns at once or combine multiple body procedures for a complete mommy makeover. For more information on breast lifts and other post-pregnancy options, call our team at either location today or book an appointment online.
