Pregnancy changes your body in a number of ways to accommodate the birth of a new life. Hormonal changes can result in an increased blood flow, which may cause your breasts to feel sore, swollen, and unusually sensitive to the touch. Breast tenderness usually starts around 4 to 6 weeks after inception, and lasts throughout the first trimester of pregnancy.
Other breast changes you can expect during pregnancy include:
- Darkening of areolas and nipples, caused by hormones that affect skin pigmentation
- Darkening of veins along the breast skin, caused by increased blood flow
- A thick, yellow substance (called “colostrum”) leaking from the breasts
- Enlargement of areolas and nipples
- Raised bumps on the surface of the areolas
The way your breasts will look after pregnancy will depend on a number of factors, including your weight, heredity, and how large your breasts got during pregnancy. Although some women end up larger than they were before, many women end up with smaller breasts after pregnancy. Even those who experience no significant size change many notice their breasts have begun to sag. This occurs because the breast skin is stretched out during pregnancy, and may not be able to contract properly again when breast volume is lost post-pregnancy.
If your breasts have started sagging after pregnancy, a breast lift can restore your breasts back to a more proportionate position on your chest. If you want to restore the size and volume of your breasts in addition to their position, consider combining a breast lift with a breast augmentation. Dr. Kleto will discuss your options in more detail during a breast surgery consultation.
If you have further questions about breast surgery after pregnancy, please contact Dean Kleto, M.D. today or call (865) 366-4755 to schedule an initial consultation with our experienced Knoxville breast surgeon. We serve patients in Knoxville, Sevierville, and Knox County, Tennessee.