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Breast Feeding with Breast Implants - Possible? What Are the Risks?

After years of trying, my husband and I just found out that we are about to have our first child. I am ecstatic, but I am very worried that the breast augmentation I had about 7 years ago will interfere with my ability to breast feed. And even if I can breast feed my baby, would I be putting him or her at risk by doing so? Can anyone shed some light on this subject? I would really appreciate it.

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Most Patients Are Still Able To Breast Feed After Augmentation

Your question is a common one and a big concern for clients interested in breast augmentation who also plan on having children. Although a very small subset of patients have difficulty breastfeeding following this procedure, most do not. To lower the risks of interfering with breastfeeding, the general recommendation is to avoid the periareolar incision (because of the risk for interfering with nipple sensation) and to place the implant under the muscle. And to make you feel better,... more

Gregory A. Buford, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Breast implants and breast feeding [With Video]

On average, there's roughly a 90% chance that you will be able to breastfeed after having breast implants, on the assumption that you were able to breastfeed before the surgery. Normally the breast implant is inserted under the muscle (occasionally it is placed above the muscle as well) but doing so should not effect the direct relationship between the breast glands/ducts and the nipple. see video

Michael L. Workman, MD

Portland Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Breast feeding after breast augmentation

Congratulations on the upcoming baby! It's normal to be anxious about the breast augmentation in this regard but rest assured that it has been studied repeatedly without having found any negative association. Regardless of the technique of placement (inframammary -fold, transaxillary - armpit, or periareolar - nipple) the tissues that are operated on have nothing to do with the ducts where the milk travels through and your breast tissue is still there. This does NOT mean that you ARE going... more

Ricardo A. Meade, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Breast is still the best

Congratulations on your pregnancy! There are so many documented advantages to breastfeeding your child (for both mom and baby) that I always suggest women try it. Most women with implants are able to breastfeed because the implants cause very minimal disruption of the breast gland itself. Even if the implants are sitting submammary, the dissection usually doesn't disconnect the gland from the nipple. You can expect the usual amount of breast expansion/engorgement with breastfeeding and the... more

Kim Meathrel, MD

Ontario Plastic Surgeon

Breast Feeding with Breast Implants

Women undergoing breast augmentation have a very small risk of having difficulty breast feeding after having breast implants placed under the muscle. But not all women can breast feed. When you consider the population as a whole, not all women can breast feed even if they have not had breast augmentation surgery. When studies were performed on the effect of breast augmentation on breast feeding, over 90% of patients who breast fed their first child were able to breast feed... more

Ankit Desai, MD

Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Breast Feeding with Implants

Many women with breast implants have nurses their babies successfully. Nevertheless, any breast surgery can theoretically interfere with your ability to breast feed.

Jon Paul Trevisani, MD

Maitland Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast Augmentation and Breast Feeding

Congratulations on your pregnancy!The ABILITY to breast feed, all other factors being equal, MAY be hampered with Breast Augmentation depending on the number of breast ducts and glandular units interrupted by the operation. This does NOT mean that a Breast Augmentation automatically would prevent you from being able to breast feed - just that it may not happen or not be as efficient. If you are able to breast feed, you will NOT hurt your baby by doing so. Multiple studies failed to... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Breast feeding after breast augmentation

If you were destined to breast feed, you will have that ability. However, we do tell patients that breast augmentation can interfere with breast feeding. I had many patients who breast fed after augmentation without any difficulty. There is no evidence that there is any harm to the baby if you breast fed.

Samir Shureih, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Changes with breast feeding after breast augmentation with implants

If you were capable of nursing prior to surgery, odds are that you will be able to nurse after surgery. The risks include all the risks of nursing without breast implants such as engorgement, mastitis, infection, mondor's disease, involutional atrophy (shrinkage) and ptosis, discoloration and enlargement of the areolae, The added potential risks with implants are the potential for bacterial transmission and biofilm formation with increased likelihood of capsular contracture. Several... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast implants and breast feeding

It is difficult to predict to what extent you will be able to breast feed your child. Some of the breast tissue may have been cut through to insert your implants. Still, the breast tissue that you have may not be enough to support your ability to breat feed your child. The implants should not harm your child.

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast implants and breast feeding

This is a great question and one that frequently comes up--you are not alone! There SHOULD be no problem with breast feeding from your breast augmentation surgery. The milk from your breast glands gets expressed from your nipple (obviously), and it would be very unusual if all of the ducts from the breast tissue had been cut during a breast implant procedure. This being said, remember that some women simply cannot produce enough milk to breast feed with or without implants. I routinely... more

Adam David Lowenstein, MD

Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Breast Feeding After Breast Implants

Breast feeding is usually not compromised after augmentation mammaplasty as long as there is no damage to the lactiferous ducts of the breast. Most patients who are able to breast feed will be able to breast feed after surgery.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

You will likely be fine breastfeeding after implants

Hello, Congratulations! Most women are able to breast feed without problems after breast implant placement. You may want to discuss it with your OB/GYN as he or she may have technical pointers or more information for you.

John P. Di Saia, MD

Orange Plastic Surgeon

Breast implants do not usually interfere with breast feeding

Breast augmentation does NOT usually interfere with breast feeding. As long as the implants are placed though an inframammary incision (in the fold underneath the breast), the entire breast gland will remain intact and the function of the breast will not be disrupted. If an implant is inserted through a periareolar incision (around the areola) or through the nipple (trans-areolar incision), milk ducts are more likely to have been cut and although milk will be produced when the breast is... more

Karen M. Horton, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Congratulations on your pregnancy! If your body was...

Congratulations on your pregnancy! If your body was capable of lactation before your implants were placed, it should be able to do so after and there is no known risk to you or your baby.