Breast Augmentation After Childbirth: 3 Things To Know

Breast augmentation is the most common cosmetic procedure in the United States. In 2015 alone 280,000 patients had breast augmentation. Breast augmentation is performed on women of all ages, however, many women choose to go through with the procedure after having children. While there are many benefits to waiting until after childbirth to have breast augmentation, there are a few things that should be considered. Here are three things to know before getting breast augmentation after childbirth.

A Lift May Be Needed

Childbirth and breastfeeding can lead to major changes in a woman's body. The breasts in particular can go through major changes. Sagging breasts are a common complaint after childbirth, especially for women who breastfeed. Before getting breast augmentation, a breast lift may be recommended in conjunction with the augmentation. A breast lift can help resolve sagging issues while an implant can add fullness and volume back to the breasts. Women who are considering a lift and augmentation should also consider the added cost. The average cost of a breast lift is $4,636 while the average cost of breast augmentation is $3,719.

Recovery Time

Recovery after breast augmentation can vary depending on the type of implants used, whether or not a breast lift was performed, and what type of implantation method was used. Often heavy lifting is discouraged for the first six weeks and drainage tubes may be left in for a few days after surgery. Recovery time should be considered carefully before getting augmentation. Taking care of children, especially young children, may be difficult during this time. Any woman considering breast augmentation after childbirth, should consider the amount of recovery time that may be necessary.

Timing

While recovery time is important, the timing of the surgery itself must also be taken into consideration. Getting breast augmentation too soon after childbirth can be an issue. If a woman plans to lose more weight or continue breastfeeding, it may be a good idea to delay the breast augmentation for a few months or even years. It's also important to consider any future additions to the family. During breast augmentation nerves, milk glands, and milk ducts can be damaged making it difficult to breastfeed. One way to prevent this type of damage is to have the incisions for the breast augmentation placed below the breast, through the armpit, or through the bellybutton instead of the areola.

For more information, you will want to contact a company such as Renaissance Center For Facial & Body Sculpting.