Women considering breast augmentation at St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery arrive at their consultations well-informed, but many still have plenty of questions. The most common questions are about the procedure itself, the different types of breast implants, and what to expect during the recovery.
Other questions, however, are a bit more private or related to a patient’s unique circumstances. In this blog post, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions that fall into that category.
Can I lose sensation in my breasts after getting implants?Some women are concerned about breast augmentation resulting in the loss of sensation in their breasts or nipples. In some cases, patients do notice a change in the sensitivity of either their breasts or nipples in the first few weeks after surgery. This occurs because the stretched tissues can include nerves. Those nerves are quite resilient, though, and the sensitivity returns to normal in almost all cases.
How soon after breast augmentation surgery can I have sex?
Patients who decide to go with our rapid recovery approach to breast augmentation often want to get back to every aspect of life as quickly as possible. But no matter the technique, it’s still important to avoid any activity that can boost the heart rate significantly for at least 2 weeks after the procedure. That includes having sex. Raising your heart rate too much can increase the risk of bleeding around the implant. Additionally, you don’t want to jostle the implants or apply too much pressure to them during the initial recovery period. After about 2 weeks, you can resume a sexual relationship, but still be careful.
Can I breastfeed after getting implants?
In most cases, breast augmentation doesn’t interfere at all with a woman’s ability to breastfeed. You should discuss your future plans to have children with your surgeon, though, because it can influence the surgical approach. Specifically, an incision in the area of the nipple — called the periareolar incision — poses the greatest risk to breastfeeding. That’s because the milk ducts could be disrupted. An incision at the base of the breast or in the area of the underarm is generally a better option for patients who want to breastfeed in the future.
Does smoking really affect my breast augmentation recovery?
Yes. No ifs, ands, or buts. The chemicals in cigarette smoke change the way our bodies transmit oxygen through the blood. Smoking thickens blood, so it doesn’t flow as easily through vessels, providing less oxygen to areas of the skin that are healing. Smoking also weakens the body’s immune system, making it more vulnerable to infection after surgery. It’s important to stop smoking before your surgery and to not resume smoking until you’re completely healed. Ideally, getting breast implants will result in permanently quitting smoking.
How soon after breast augmentation can I get pregnant?
Pregnancy certainly causes some significant changes to the breasts, but this doesn’t pose a problem for the implants or compromise the procedure’s results. The most important consideration is that most patients take prescription pain medication during their recoveries, and having those drugs in the system is not a good idea.
To be sure, listen to your body. Once you’re fully healed and feel up to sexual activity, it’s safe.
More questions?
If you have other questions, leave them in a comment below! We love hearing from our readers.
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