4 Things Moms Can Still Do with Breast Implants

There’s a lot of misinformation floating around about breast implants. For example, have you ever heard that breast implants need to be replaced every 10 years? Or what about breast implants preventing new moms from breastfeeding?

Yeah, we’ve heard that too.

The truth is, breast augmentation is a popular and common procedure. For the most part, having breast implants shouldn’t inhibit your lifestyle after surgery (with the exception of a few restrictions during your recovery, of course). Below, we’ve outlined 4 common concerns you may have about your life after implants.

Breastfeeding

Rest assured that having breast implants won’t harm your baby, but it can impact your milk supply. If you have breast augmentation before having children and plan to breastfeed in the future, there are 2 important considerations:

 Your incision location

Incisions under the breast or through a remote location (such as the armpit or belly button) are most compatible with breastfeeding because the milk glands, ducts, and nerves are preserved. Incisions around the nipple and areola are more likely to cause problems with breastfeeding because there’s a greater risk of damage to these important breast structures. Still, problems breastfeeding are often rare even with these incisions.

Implant placement

Where your implants are placed also factors into your ability to breastfeed. Implants placed under the muscle have less impact on milk production because they exert less pressure on the milk glands. Implants placed over the muscle, however, might interfere with milk flow. Most surgeons like to place implants under the muscle anyway.

According to the website for the Sinno Center for Plastic Surgery, a dedicated cosmetic surgery practice located in Columbia, MD, most women can successfully breastfeed after breast augmentation surgery. Just be sure you choose a qualified, skilled surgeon who can preserve your milk glands and ducts so that breastfeeding is not impaired.

 Getting a mammogram

Yes, you can get accurate mammography screenings after breast implants. In fact, the recommendations for mammograms are no different for women with breast implants than for those without implants. But be sure to tell your imaging technician that you have had breast augmentation before your test. He or she will be able to use special techniques to avoid harming the implant and to get the most accurate view of your breast tissue.

Getting in a hot tub

Some women worry that getting in a hot tub, like the ones you can find in the https://www.globosurfer.com/best-hot-tubs guide, will make their breast implants melt or get so hot they burn the skin from the inside out. Neither are true. However, you should not submerge your breasts in any water (including bath water) until your incisions have fully healed or you risk infection. Most incisions heal within 4 to 6 weeks.

Tanning

If you enjoy a golden glow, don’t worry – you can’t “cook” your breast implants in a tanning bed. Your implants will retain your core temperature, but they may feel warm for a few hours after you’ve been laying out or spent some time in the tanning bed.

However, sun exposure isn’t great for implant scarring. Some plastic surgeons recommend spray tanning for up to 1 year after your breast augmentation surgery to avoid pigmentation changes from UV rays (sun exposure can change the scar pigment, making them more noticeable). But if you insist on the real deal, make sure you use sunscreen on your incisions to protect them.