Would you consider breast implants once you've done with baby rearing?
Did your body undergo significant change as a result of pregnancy and breastfeeding? Would you consider breast implants to get your pre-baby boobs back? EB blogger Justine Davies discusses the pros and cons of boosting your bosom.
Justine,
My query is about whether or not I should get breast implants.
We have had two kids, who are now 5 and 3 and I desperately, desperately want my breasts to look the way they did before we started our family. They used to be a nice full c-cup, but now they look like two socks that have been half-filled with sand. Sad and saggy!
Don't think that is a complaint though - I have two beautiful children who are worth all the big breasts in the world. But still, if I could have my kids and my breasts I'd be very happy!
So, I have been scrimping and saving and can now finally afford to get implants. It is like a dream come true - almost. Because the thing is I'm not completely sure whether we might still have another baby. My hubby has always wanted three and I'm still wavering ...
Is there any problem with having breast implants and then having more kids? Or should I wait until we've definitely finished our family?
Z.
Hi Z,
Having kids AND breasts sounds wonderful, doesn't it! Because once breasts change from being a fun source into a food source as well, things are never quite the same again. In order to help you I have asked Dr Robert Goldman of Cosmetic Image Clinics www.cosmeticimage.com.au/ for some advice:
"As part of my standard cosmetic consultation one of my first questions is always: what are the patient's plans for more children," says Dr Goldman. "When it comes to cosmetic surgery of the body, specifically breasts and abdomen (such as liposuction, etc) having further pregnancies and children can almost completely reverse the beneficial effects of the surgery. As such I advise my patients that it is best to wait until they have finished their family, finished breastfeeding the final child, before they consider cosmetic surgery."
According to Dr Goldman, if you do have breast implants and then fall pregnant you can expect your breasts to lose volume and droop - in much the same was as they would without implants. "Not breastfeeding will reduce the amount of damage, although pregnancy alone enlarges breasts due to the estrogens," he says. "During pregnancy, breast gland tissue enlarges. When this eventually shrinks sometime after birth there is a certain amount of redundant skin."
However if you do enhance yourself and find out down the track that you're unexpectedly expecting, Dr Goldman reassures that it isn't a disaster. "We can certainly do some additional surgery down the track to rectify any changes that the extra pregnancy has caused," he says. "Sometimes this may require major surgery such as a breast lift operation, or sometimes it may just require larger or different shaped implants."
So that's the professional opinion, Z. And personally, based on that I reckon it's an awful lot of money to spend before you're sure that you won't be having more children - you don't want to have to do all that scrimping and saving all over again, with another family member to afford as well!
You can find our more about Dr Goldman here.
What do you think? Chat with Essential Baby members and Comment on Justine's blog here.
