Factors such as hormonal changes, milk production demands, and physiological remodeling can cause unwanted changes to women’s breast appearance during and after breastfeeding. While some women’s breasts may eventually return to a pre-pregnancy shape, changes in glandular tissue and skin elasticity tend to be long-lasting.
If you are experiencing changes to the shape or size of your breasts after breastfeeding that impact your self-esteem, double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Matthew H. Steele offers solutions. Below, we explore the issue of how breastfeeding changes your body, and how plastic surgery can address it, in more detail.
How Does Breastfeeding Change the Body?
Both during and after breastfeeding, you may experience unwanted bodily changes; notably, your breasts will swell, stretch, and produce denser tissue. Once you have finished breastfeeding and your milk production stops, glandular tissue and skin elasticity decreases, and the breasts will begin to shrink, sag, and appear deflated. Some women notice that their breasts are uneven in size during or after nursing, especially if their baby tends to favor one side during feeding.
During the time when the baby is breastfeeding, rapid tissue growth often causes stretch marks to form. These stretch marks remain once you finish breastfeeding and the tissue deflates, resulting in cosmetic challenges for many mothers. Your areolas can also become slightly larger and darker.
Your Options for Restoring Breast Appearance After Breastfeeding
Many women struggle with the lasting changes to their bodies that occur after pregnancy and breastfeeding; however, if your breasts appear deflated or are sagging, plastic surgery can address these changes and help restore your desired appearance. There are two different surgical procedures for doing so.
Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation is a good option for women experiencing a decrease in breast size or upper breast fullness. This cosmetic procedure restores breast volume using implants customized for your body shape and aesthetic needs. If your breasts are uneven, an augmentation can improve symmetry. Dr. Steele offers several implant sizes, types, and textures to ensure we can create a surgical plan aligned with your goals.
Breast Lift
A breast lift is appropriate for women who have developed sagging breasts. This procedure lifts and reshapes natural breast tissue toward a higher, firmer position, and can improve symmetry while minimally altering breast size.
Many clients choose a breast lift with augmentation, a combined procedure which adds volume while restoring natural breast shape. Our surgical team can discuss your options for breast enhancement with you once your body has reached its post-breastfeeding shape, which is typically 3-6 months after it is completed.
Other Pregnancy-Related Changes and Your Options
While breastfeeding most directly affects breast tissue, pregnancy itself can affect other parts of your body. In your abdominal area, muscles may weaken and separate after you give birth, a condition known as diastasis recti. Hormonal changes can also result in an increased risk of accumulating stubborn fat in your midsection.
For these concerns, a tummy tuck or liposuction can slim and contour the waist. If you are seeking comprehensive cosmetic intervention that can address both the breast tissue and midsection, a mommy makeover may be the best option for you. Mommy makeover refers to a combination of plastic surgery procedures specifically designed to manage post-pregnancy and post-breastfeeding bodily changes.
Contact Us Today To Learn More About Post-Breastfeeding Changes to Your Body and Your Surgical Options
With advances in cosmetic medicine, you no longer need to struggle with the impact breastfeeding can have on your body. Our team helps you understand how breastfeeding changes your body, and how plastic surgery can address it. Your journey toward restored breast tissue and improved confidence can begin right now. Contact Dr. Steele today to schedule your surgical consultation.