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Do I Have to Wait for my Milk Supply to Dry Up for Breast Reduction?
In our Bay area office we commonly perform breast reductions. We always ask our patients to wait until they're done breast feeding. There are several reasons for this - Breast milk can cause infections and wound healing problems. Your breasts are engorged (think bigger than normal) with breast milk and the actual size and shape of your breasts will change when you stop lactating. It is important to perform the surgery when your breasts have reached a stable size without breast milk. Anesthesia and pain medications can get into the breast milk affecting your baby. After surgery you'll need some time to recover and typically breastfeeding moms may have some trouble finding the time to devote to you. Two days is likely not enough time to prevent issues from point #1 and point #2. And you should see your surgeon as a partner in your safety and well being. Not telling your doctor things is a recipe for disaster. I Finish breastfeeding and then see a board-certified plastic surgeon.
Clinical Context
Milk production doesn't stop the moment breastfeeding ends—it can take several weeks for glandular tissue to fully involute and breast size to stabilize. Operating too soon risks incomplete drying, engorged tissue that's harder to shape, and residual milk in the ducts that raises infection risk. Waiting also gives a truer sense of your natural post-breastfeeding size and shape, so results are more predictable. Your surgeon can help gauge, based on an exam, when your breasts are ready.
