### How Breastfeeding Affects Your Breasts Breastfeeding creates a unique bond with your baby and provides ideal nutrition. However, it can also change the size and shape of your breasts. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, your breasts may become larger due to increased fatty and dense tissue. After breastfeeding, these tissues may shift, and your breasts may not return to their pre-breastfeeding size or shape. Genetics, weight gain during pregnancy, and age also play roles in these changes. When nursing, milk flow can stretch breast skin and tissue, leading to a stretched or empty look once milk production decreases. This is a common cosmetic issue but not a medical concern. Factors like breast engorgement and uneven milk production can cause asymmetry between breasts. Dimpling or puckering may indicate a lump and should be checked by a doctor. Breast tissue extends toward the armpit, so changes in milk production can alter your bust line's contours. Uneven breasts are common both before and after pregnancy. Some women may have one breast return to its pre-pregnancy size while the other remains larger or droops. These changes are usually cosmetic and not medical concerns, but regular breast screenings are important. Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast cancer. If significant changes in breast size or shape occur, some women consider cosmetic surgery like a breast lift (mastopexy) to address sagging and reposition the nipple and areola. A thorough evaluation by a qualified cosmetic surgeon is recommended before surgery.