Will Pregnancy Affect My Breast Implants?

This is a great question asked by numerous women seeking to enhance the size and/or shape of their breasts with implants. Prior to answering this question, it should be noted that pregnancy and any subsequent breastfeeding will have a unique effect on every woman’s body and breasts, so the physical changes experienced by some individuals will be completely different than what some others may encounter. That being said, the majority of women usually notice swelling and enlargement in the breasts during pregnancy, often followed by some degree of volume reduction once they have stopped breastfeeding.

Fortunately, regardless of the specific physical changes the breasts endure, the structural integrity of breast implants should not be affected and/or compromised by pregnancy. As a matter of fact, a possible benefit of having received breast implants before becoming pregnant is that they tend to provide some degree of protection against any volume reduction that might be experienced. However, none of this is to claim that the presence of breast implants automatically means the breasts will return to their exact pre-pregnancy shape and size. Depending on the particular physical changes that occur, there may be some breast sagging and/or skin laxity that wasn’t present beforehand. Based on the the severity of these concerns, a mastopexy (breast lift) and/or bigger implant might be needed or desired to regain the breasts’ pre-pregnancy size, contour, and position on the chest.

If you have additional questions about breast implants, or if you would like to schedule a consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeon—Tiffany McCormack, MD—please don’t hesitate to contact our practice today.