Pregnancy, Breastfeeding & Breast Implants: Your Questions Answered
Thu 16th Jul 2026
It’s estimated that over 250,000 Australian women have breast implants, and around 13,000 to 20,000 breast implant procedures are performed in Australia each year.
If you’re considering breast implants or already have implants and are thinking about creating a family, you’re not alone. And you may be wondering how breast implants fit into the picture. This article answers some of our most frequently asked questions.
Is It Safe For My Baby To Breastfeed With Implants?
Yes, it is entirely safe for your baby to breastfeed if you have implants. Many health organisations across the globe, including the CDC, state there is no evidence that breast implants harm infants or change the safety and quality of breast milk.
Silicone occurs naturally in our bodies (in fact, it’s the third most abundant trace element in the body after iron and zinc), and studies show that silicone levels in the breast milk of mothers with silicone implants are no higher than in mothers without them.
Can I Breastfeed With Implants?
It is totally safe for your baby to breastfeed with implants, and the position of the implant shouldn’t affect milk supply.
Broadly speaking, breast implants can be placed in two locations:
- Under the muscle (submuscular)
- Over the muscle (subglandular)
The incision site for your implants is a consideration, and this is something that Dr Dona will discuss with you during your consultation. For most patients, Dr Dona places the incision in the fold under the breast. This is called an inframammary incision. This option eliminates the risk of cutting any nerves around the milk ducts or the nerves that affect nipple sensation, which are responsible for sending signals to help you produce more milk.
Not all incision sites are recommended, though. Some women have implants inserted via an areola incision, which can damage nerves that are critical for nipple sensitivity and breastfeeding.
In summary, the current consensus is that breast implants do not impact the ability to breastfeed. This is particularly true with implants placed under the muscle via an inframammary incision.
How Long After Breastfeeding Should You Wait Before Breast Augmentation Surgery?
Dr Dona recommends that you wait six months after you’ve completely stopped breastfeeding before undergoing Breast Augmentation surgery. This is for several reasons:
- Breast Stability: Your hormones related to lactation cause your breasts to swell and change in volume. By waiting, you allow the breasts to shrink, settle and reach their final, stable size and shape. Then, you and your surgeon can properly choose the most appropriate implants for you.
- Physical Recovery: Your body needs time to recover from the physical demands of pregnancy and nursing. Waiting until you have bounced back to full health reduces the risk of surgical complications.
- Milk production: iF you have breastfed, it’s vital you wait at least six months after your final breastfeeding session so that your milk production has completely ceased to prevent issues like infection or milk cysts.
- Future Pregnancies: While it is possible (and safe) to breastfeed with implants, subsequent pregnancies and nursing can stretch the skin and alter the aesthetic results of your Breast Augmentation.
I Already Have Implants. I’m Now Pregnant.
While Dr Dona recommends that ideally you should wait until you’ve completed your family before having breast implants, hundreds of thousands of women have implants whose life circumstances change and they find themselves pregnant, for one reason or another. While it’s entirely possible for you to conceive, carry a baby and breastfeed successfully, there are a few things you may want to know.
What Happens To My Implants During Pregnancy?
During pregnancy, your implants stay the same. They are designed to be resilient and leak-resistant and will be unaffected by your bodily changes. However, due to hormones and weight gain, your natural breast tissue and skin will expand and stretch, which will alter the appearance of your breasts.
After your pregnancy, and once you have finished breastfeeding, your breasts will contract, and these changes (expansion, then contraction) can cause the breast tissue to weaken. This can cause them to change shape or sag (become ptotic). However, this affects some women more than others, which we’ll explain below.
Therefore, after your pregnancy, your breasts may look a little softer than before and may droop more, but due to the implants, they will be approximately the same size. Effectively, the amount they change would have been the same whether you had implants or not.
Various factors play a role in how your breasts will change after you’ve had your baby, including:
- pregnancy weight gain
- the number of pregnancies
- length of breastfeeding
- genetics
What Can I Do To Support My Breasts During Pregnancy?
Whether you have implants or not, you can take measures to support your breasts and reduce the chance of sagging (ptosis) and stretch marks.
WEAR A SUPPORTIVE BRA: Invest in high-quality, supportive maternity and nursing bras to minimise strain on your ligaments and reduce sagging (ptosis).
MANAGE YOUR WEIGHT: Aim to keep your pregnancy weight gain within the healthy range recommended by your doctor. Rapid weight gain can stretch the skin further and increase the likelihood of stretch marks.
What Can I Do If My Breasts Have Significantly Dropped?
If you have breast implants, and after pregnancy, your breasts have significantly dropped and you wish to do something about it, Dr Dona may offer one or more of several options.
BREAST IMPLANT REPLACEMENT: If your breasts have changed shape and position, he may suggest replacing your implants. Breast Implant Replacement can restore the appearance of your breasts to what they were before your pregnancy.
BREAST LIFT (MASTOPEXY): A Breast Lift (Mastopexy) aims to address breast drooping or sagging (ptosis). It alters the shape and position of the breast by repositioning the nipple, removing excess skin and tightening loose tissue under the lower breast.
Performed on its own, a Breast Lift (Mastopexy) does not add volume.
BREAST LIFT WITH IMPLANTS (MASTOPEXY AUGMENTATION): If a breast lift with added volume is required, two procedures may be combined. This is called Mastopexy Augmentation or Breast Lift with Implants.
However, Dr Dona does caution patients that Mastopexy Augmentations are difficult surgeries and should only be performed by qualified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons who are thoroughly experienced in the procedure.
BIO Lift™: Short for Breast Implant Only Lift, this surgical technique can provide volume and a small degree of lift using only a breast implant. It does not carry the extensive scarring and cost typically associated with conventional Breast Lift procedures. A BIO Lift™ is sometimes referred to as a ‘Scarless Breast Lift’, and carefully combines three key elements:
- specific implant shapes and dimensions designed to wedge and elevate the breast tissue and nipple position
- strategic approach to breast implant placement
- customised internal breast tissue manipulation
Book A Consultation With Dr Eddy Dona
If you’d like to discuss breast implants, the first step is to book an appointment with Dr Eddy Dona in his Sydney-based rooms.
During the appointment, you can discuss your objectives, have Dr Dona thoroughly examine you and review your medical history.
If he determines that surgery may be considered, he will explain the options, the surgical approach, outline the expected recovery and discuss potential risks and complications. He will also take the time to answer any of your questions, so you feel fully informed before making any decisions.
