Breast Reduction Surgery After Childbirth

There’s a good probability that you’ve breastfed if you’re a woman who has had kids. Also, if you breastfed, you probably noticed some breast changes as a result. Here’s what you need to know if those changes have made you feel self-conscious and are making you consider getting breast reduction surgery after baby.

Atonia, a condition brought on by breastfeeding, can make the breasts appear smaller than they did prior to becoming pregnant. Breastfeeding also causes the skin around the nipples to become more elastic and flow more blood, which causes more swelling there.

These alterations may give the impression that the time is right for a breast reduction treatment since they can make breasts look unequal or droopy. We normally advise waiting until after the first six weeks postpartum before considering cosmetic surgery because there are dangers involved with having such a procedure done before fully recovering from childbirth.

In this article, we’ll also discuss common surgery after childbirth and emergency surgery after birth.

Breast Reduction Post Pregnancy

Most women find that their breasts swell to a fuller size and shape while they are pregnant. Afterwards, a natural reduction in breast size leaves some women with the empty-looking, drooping breasts discussed above in the breast lift section. For many other women, however, the breasts remain larger than desired after childbirth. Breast reduction surgery may be the solution in these cases.

One reason women may seek breast reduction after giving birth is to return the breasts to the smaller size they had before becoming pregnant. In addition, breast reduction can relieve the common symptoms of large breasts, such as pain, improper posture, rashes, breathing problems, skeletal deformities and low self-esteem. Breast reduction achieves these goals by removing fat and glandular tissue and tightening skin to produce smaller, lighter breasts that are in a healthier proportion to the rest of the body.

Note: Because many of the milk ducts leading to the nipples are removed during breast reduction surgery, it is not advised for women who plan to breastfeed in the future.

A timeline for plastic surgery after pregnancy

How long after pregnancy should you consider plastic surgery?

It goes without saying that a woman’s body changes significantly throughout pregnancy and may continue to change for up to a year after the baby is born. More and more pregnant women who are desperate to reclaim their pre-pregnancy shape are thinking about having plastic surgery.

There’s no simple answer to the question “how long after pregnancy should I wait to have plastic surgery?” It mostly depends on which area of the body you want to focus on. Women usually are interested in having surgery on their breasts, abdomen, love handles, labia, and vagina. Here’s a look at each.

Breasts

Your breasts will be changing for several months after giving birth. If you’ve decided to breastfeed, the changes will continue until your baby is completely weaned. Breast surgery, including breast reduction, breast enhancement, or a breast lift should be avoided until the skin and breast tissue have stabilized.

The timeline: Wait three to six months after breastfeeding, or three to six months after giving birth if you’re not breastfeeding.

Abdomen

At 6 months postpartum, it may look like your abdomen has stabilized, but your abdominal wall may still be changing and reshaping itself under the skin and fat cells. Having liposuction or a tummy tuck at this time may be premature.

The timeline: Wait at least 12 months after giving birth before having any abdominal surgery. Give your body more time if you’ve had multiple pregnancies within 24 months of each other.

Love Handles

Love handles are heavily influenced by fluctuating hormones. And of course a women’s body is flooded with hormones during pregnancy, after giving birth, and while breastfeeding. If the love handles appeared at the onset of your pregnancy, then see if they will disappear on their own or with even small changes to diet and exercise.

The timeline: It is typically safe to pursue liposuction to target love handles within a year of giving birth. Follow your surgeon’s recommendations.

Labia and Vagina

Elongated labia and widening of the vaginal canal are some of the possible consequences of giving birth. As with other parts of your body, time is needed for these areas to return to their original shapes after delivering a baby. If you feel if your vagina is looser than it was before having a vaginal delivery and it’s affecting your sex life, then surgery may be helpful.

Your labia will typically shrink after delivery. But if you find that they get in the way of intercourse, exercise, or inhibit your choice of clothing, then a labiaplasty may be the surgery for you.

The timeline: Wait at least 6 months after giving birth before pursuing surgery on your vagina or labia. In addition, it’s best to wait until you are sure you are done having children as giving birth can undo any surgical improvements.

A Good Rule of Thumb

Give yourself at least 6 months to recover before pursuing plastic surgery after pregnancy. Allowing yourself a full year of recovery is even better. Remember, you’ve just given birth and are now taking care of an infant, which puts a lot of stress on the mind and body. Even a minimally invasive procedure will only add to that stress.

But not having the surgery you want right away doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself to something special. There are a number of non-surgical skin care procedures that may be appropriate for new mothers who want to look and feel their best. At Northeastern Plastic Surgery, we have an on-staff aesthetician who can perform microneedling, extractions, and SilkPeel^® Dermalinfusion, which all help improve the health and appearance of the skin.

Northeastern Plastic Surgery understands your desire for a beautiful, youthful looking body and facial appearance. We use the latest plastic surgery techniques to perform a variety of surgical procedures. Dr. Fodero and the staff are very friendly, helpful, and available to answer any questions you may have. Please contact us today to learn more about the services we offer.

Breast Reduction After Pregnancy: What You Need To Know

There is no denying that a woman’s body changes when she is pregnant. The midsection and breasts undergo a dramatic transformation. The breasts begin to increase in size as early as eight weeks into pregnancy. By the time the baby is born, the breasts may be up to two cup sizes larger.

Plastic surgery can restore a woman’s figure after pregnancy by lifting, tightening, or eliminating fat and skin tissues. A breast reduction decreases the size of the breasts to create a perkier bustline that is more proportionate to the rest of the body. Here is everything you need to know if you are considering a breast reduction after a pregnancy!

Am I candidate for a breast reduction after surgery?

For starters, patients that are interested in surgery should not have any medical conditions that would increase the risk of plastic surgery.

Most women find that their breasts swell to a fuller size and shape while they are pregnant. Afterwards, a natural reduction in breast size leaves some women with the empty-looking, drooping breasts discussed above in the breast lift section. For many other women, however, the breasts remain larger than desired after childbirth. If the breasts are still overly large after you have lost your pregnancy weight and stopped breastfeeding, then a breast reduction may be the best solution.

How Long Should I Wait to Undergo Breast Reduction after Pregnancy?

It can take several months for a woman’s breasts to settle into their new size and shape. Surgery can stimulate the lactation process therefore it is wise to wait, and it is generally recommended to wait at least four to six months after having completed breastfeeding.

While each patient will recover on their own timeframe, it is important to note if you will want to breastfeed in the future. A significant amount of glandular tissue may be preserved during breast reduction surgery, leaving milk glands intact and functional. Most women who undergo breast reduction can breastfeed after their procedures, however, there is a risk that your ability to breastfeed could be affected following surgery. This is an important topic to be discussed with our surgeons at the time of your complimentary consultation!

While you will need a sufficient amount of time to recover after surgery, it is also a good idea to make sure that you plan for proper support with your infant after surgery.

The Procedure

For optimal safety, our surgeons perform breast reductions in our own state-of-the-art surgery centers. During the procedure excess breast tissue, fat, and skin is removed. The areolas are then reshaped and repositioned. While this procedure does leave fine scars, the benefits outweigh this concern for most women.

After breast reduction, you will likely be pleased with your smaller, more manageable breast size right away. It is common to have temporary nipple and breast numbness for the first 1 to 2 months or, in some cases, as long as a year. Most patients are ready to resume their normal routine within about 2 weeks; however, strenuous exercise should be avoided for at least the first month.

Common Surgery After Childbirth

Understandably the most common surgeries after childbirth are abdominoplasty aka a tummy tuck, liposuction and or a breast lift or implants. All of these procedures target the areas most affected by childbirth and are best done after you’ve finished having babies.

Emergency Surgery After Birth

Severe bleeding after giving birth is known as postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). This condition is hazardous and terrible. PPH typically manifests within 24 hours of delivery, however it can also appear up to 12 weeks after delivery. Early detection and prompt treatment of bleeding result in better outcomes.

Postpartum hemorrhage is when the total blood loss is greater than 32 fluid ounces after delivery, regardless of whether it’s a vaginal delivery or a Cesarean section, or C-section, or when bleeding is severe enough to cause symptoms of too much blood loss or a significant change in heart rate or blood pressure.

Why does postpartum hemorrhage occur?

There are several causes of postpartum bleeding.

Throughout pregnancy, your placenta connects to the uterine wall and feeds and oxygenates the developing fetus. Your uterus continues to contract after the birth of the baby in order to deliver the placenta. We refer to this as the third stage of labor. The blood arteries where the placenta was linked to your uterine wall are likewise compressed by contractions. These contractions may not always be powerful enough to halt the bleeding (called uterine atony). Up to 80% of postpartum hemorrhages are brought on by this.

A postpartum hemorrhage may also occur if your reproductive organs are injured after birth or if some of the placenta remains attached to your uterine wall. If you suffer from a blood clotting (coagulation) disease or certain medical conditions, your risk of developing PPH is enhanced.

Who does it affect?

Anyone can get postpartum hemorrhage after giving birth. Although there are multiple PPH risk factors, over 40% of hemorrhages in women happen without any known risk factors. The majority of postpartum bleeding happens immediately after placenta delivery. PPH might become more common following a C-section.

How common is postpartum hemorrhage?

Between 1% to 10% of pregnancies result in postpartum hemorrhage.

How serious is postpartum hemorrhage?

A dangerous and sometimes lethal condition, postpartum hemorrhage. You can lose a lot of blood quickly if you have PPH. Blood pressure suddenly drops as a result, which may prevent your brain and other organs from receiving enough oxygen. This condition is known as shock, and it can be fatal. A postpartum hemorrhage is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.

Symptoms and Causes

What are the four most common causes of postpartum hemorrhage?

The causes of postpartum hemorrhage are called the four Ts (tone, trauma, tissue and thrombin).

The most common causes of PPH are:

• Uterine atony: Uterine atony (or uterine tone) refers to a soft and weak uterus after delivery. This is when your uterine muscles don’t contract enough to clamp the placental blood vessels shut. This leads to a steady loss of blood after delivery.
• Uterine trauma: Damage to your vagina, cervix, uterus or perineum (area between your genitals and anus) causes bleeding. Using instruments like forceps or vacuum extraction during delivery can increase your risk of uterine trauma. Sometimes, a hematoma (collection of blood) can form in a concealed area and cause bleeding hours or days after delivery.
• Retained placental tissue: This is when the entire placenta doesn’t separate from your uterine wall. It’s usually caused by conditions of the placenta that affect your uterus’s ability to contract after delivery.
• Blood clotting condition (thrombin): If you have a coagulation disorder or pregnancy condition like eclampsia, it can interfere with your body’s clotting ability. This can make even a tiny bleed uncontrollable.

How do I know if I’m hemorrhaging postpartum?

The most common symptom of postpartum hemorrhage is persistent, excessive bleeding after delivery.

Other signs of PPH are:

• Symptoms of a drop in blood pressure like dizziness, blurred vision or feeling faint.
• Increased heart rate.
• Decreased red blood cell count.
• Pale or clammy skin.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Worsening abdominal or pelvic pain.

Be honest with your healthcare providers about how you’re feeling after delivery. In some cases, PPH doesn’t cause symptoms until after you’ve left the hospital. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you feel any of the symptoms above in the days or weeks after giving birth.

Diagnosis and Tests

How is postpartum hemorrhage diagnosed?

Healthcare providers diagnose postpartum hemorrhage through visual and physical examinations, lab tests and a thorough review of your health history.

They may detect postpartum hemorrhage based on the amount of blood you’ve lost. Measuring the volume of collected blood and weighing the blood-soaked pads or sponges from delivery is one common way to approximate blood loss.

Other methods to diagnose PPH are:

• Continual monitoring of your pulse rate and blood pressure to detect problems.
• Blood tests to measure red blood cells (hematocrit) and clotting factors.
• Ultrasound to get a detailed image of your uterus and other organs.

MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT

How do doctors treat postpartum hemorrhage?

Healthcare providers treat PPH as an emergency in most cases. Stopping the source of the bleeding as fast as possible and replacing blood volume are the goals of treating postpartum hemorrhage.

Some of the treatments used are:

• Uterine massage to help the muscles of your uterus contract.
• Medication to stimulate contractions.
• Removing retained placental tissue from your uterus.
• Repairing vaginal, cervical and uterine tears or lacerations.
• Packing your uterus with sterile gauze or tying off the blood vessels.
• Using a catheter or balloon to help put pressure on your uterine walls.
• Uterine artery embolization.
• Blood transfusion.

In rare cases, or when other methods fail, your healthcare provider may perform a laparotomy or a hysterectomy. A laparotomy is when your surgeon makes an incision in your abdomen to locate the source of bleeding.

What medications treat postpartum hemorrhage?

You may be given medications to help induce contractions if uterine atony is the cause of the bleeding. The most common drugs used are oxytocin, methylergonovine or prostaglandins like carboprost or misoprostol.

What are the potential complications of postpartum hemorrhage?

Excessive blood loss can cause several complications like increased heart rate, rapid breathing and decreased blood flow. These symptoms can restrict blood flow to your liver, brain, heart or kidneys and lead to shock. In some cases, Sheehan’s syndrome (a condition of the pituitary gland) is seen after postpartum hemorrhage.