How Long After Breastfeeding Can I Get a Breast Lift?

Pregnancy and breastfeeding can cause significant changes to a woman’s body, including the breasts drooping, sagging, or “deflated” appearance. 

These changes can often be permanent, leading many women towards cosmetic surgery as they attempt to return their bodies to their previous state. Breast lift surgery, also known as mastopexy, is a popular option, but how long after breastfeeding can the procedure be safely performed? 

The CREO Clinic’s body contouring surgeon, Dr Omar Tillo, specialises in mastopexy and has years of experience performing the procedure for women of all ages. As one of the leading cosmetic surgeons in the country, he has the expertise to design a bespoke treatment plan according to the needs of each patient.  

How Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Impacts Breasts

During pregnancy, breastfeeding, and weaning, the breasts typically undergo  changes in shape and size. These  changes can be minor for some women, while others may experience a drastic transformation.

Breasts change  during pregnancy due to an increase in hormones as they prepare for breastfeeding. Listed below are some of the changes you can expect: 

• Your breasts may feel fuller and more tender
• The colour and size of your nipples and areola may change
• Montgomery glands on your areola may become bigger and more noticeable
• Inside your breasts, the milk ducts and milk-producing glandular tissue begin to grow

When it comes to breastfeeding, your milk supply will increase during the first few weeks postpartum. This may lead to swelling and breast engorgement, although most swelling and pain should resolve within a few days. 

After breastfeeding, many women are left with flatter, saggier breasts because their skin has stretched to accommodate all the milk. In addition, some women also notice that their breasts are smaller than they once were after breastfeeding. This makes a combined lift and augmentation procedure an attractive proposition for many women post-lactation. 

When Can You Get a Breast Lift After Breastfeeding?

Generally, women are recommended to wait at least six months after breastfeeding before getting any cosmetic procedure, including mastopexy. This allows your body time to adjust and your breast tissue to settle into its final shape following lactation. Providing an exact timescale, however, can be difficult, as every woman is different.

What If You Didn’t Breastfeed After Pregnancy?

For women who don’t breastfeed after pregnancy, it’s still important to wait at least six months after giving birth before having any kind of mastopexy. This gives your body the time it needs to recover after the physical demands of childbirth. 

Factors to Consider Before Getting a Breast Lift

There are several important factors to consider before making a final decision on surgery: 

Are You Close to Your Ideal Weight?

Try to maintain an optimal weight for your body type prior to breast lift surgery. The ideal BMI for a breast lift procedure is 18.5 to 24.9. Women in this category are usually of a suitable weight for cosmetic surgery and less at risk of postoperative complications such as infection and wound breakdown. 

Your BMI will significantly affect how well your breast lift procedure goes, your recovery, and the final results. If you have a BMI of around 30 or slightly higher, your surgeon will advise you on weight loss before surgery to ensure safe and optimal results. Working with a nutritionist can help with this. 

Do You Plan on Getting Pregnant Again?

When considering mastopexy, women should wait until after their final pregnancy before committing to surgery. This is because pregnancy can stretch breasts and reduce their volume – which may compromise breast lift results. 

Ideally, you should be at a stage in your life where you don’t foresee any significant changes to your body shape to enjoy the full range of breast lift benefits. 

Schedule a Consultation With CREO Clinic Today

If you’ve finished breastfeeding and believe breast lift surgery is the right choice for you, contact us to schedule a 1-on-1 consultation with CREO Clinic today. 

Our double board-certified surgeon, Dr Tillo, specialises in a host of cosmetic procedures, including mastopexy, and will be able to design a bespoke treatment plan according to your unique anatomy and desired aesthetic.