Breast Reduction & Pregnancy
Women who have had a breast reduction have the same chance at a normal, healthy pregnancy as women who have not had the surgery. However, breast changes can be exaggerated in pregnancy for breast reduction patients.
Breastfeeding
There are numerous surgical methods used in a breast reduction. If you plan to breastfeed after surgery, tell your surgeon. While some methods leave the possibility of being able to breastfeed, methods that involve detachment of the nipple do not.
Size
Women who get pregnant after a breast reduction often experience a larger increase in breast size than other women. According to the American Pregnancy Association, 2 lbs. of weight gain is attributed to breast tissue for the average woman. This could be significantly more for a woman who has had breast reduction.
Scarring
No matter which method is chosen for breast reduction surgery, there will be scars. Breast tissue growth in pregnancy can cause the scars to stretch and become more prominent.
Support
Wearing a supportive bra is important for all women during pregnancy. For breast reduction patients, it is even more important to avoid stretching of the skin and tissues.
Considerations
Be honest with your surgeon about your pregnancy plans. He may recommend waiting until after pregnancy to have the procedure as the breast changes in pregnancy could greatly alter the appearance and size of your breasts.
Tags: breast reduction, breast changes, breast reduction, breast reduction patients, Breast Reduction Pregnancy, pregnancy breast
