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Is Breastfeeding Possible After Breast Reduction?

I am 20 years old and I have 38DD breasts. I would love to get a breast reduction because as long as I can remember I have had back, neck and knee problems. I have horrible posture and running and exercising is difficult because my breasts get in the way. If I have the breast reduction done, will I still be able tp breast feed in the future?

Asked 29 months ago by kdaniels39 in Redding, CA

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age 18-24 back breasts knees neck female breast feeding DD cup exercise

Breast Reduction and Breast Feeding?

Thank you for the question. Based on your description, you may be an excellent candidate for breast reduction surgery; it is one of the most patient pleasing operations we perform. The majority of patients who undergo breast reduction surgery ( unless they have had free nipple grafting) will be able to breast-feed. Best wishes.

Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast Feeding After Breast reduction

Breast feeding after breast reduction is possible, but not assured. Some women are unable to breast feed even without having had any breast surgery, so the reason not to be able to breast feed may have nothing to do with the breast reduction itself. There are a variety of breast reduction surgery techniques that preserve the connection between the nipple and the ducts to the glandular tissues of the breast that produce the milk. While not a certainty, these breast... more

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Fredrick A. Valauri, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast feeding after breast reduction

It is possible to breast feed after breast reduction. It is dependent on many variables. During the procedure, tissue, (with ducts) are removed. This can decrease the ability to nurse. Also scarring around the nipple areola complex can also be a variable. Remember some people without any surgery will not be able to breast feed. Every individual is different, so it is difficult to predict if you personally will be able to do this. Best to speak with... more

Jeffrey Roth, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast feeding after reduction

The current data is that yes you can breast feed, to some degree it depends on the type of pedicle used. the only difference is that the amount of milk you make may be insufficient and bottle supplement may be required. if your symptoms warrant it, you should not be afraid to proceed. good luck

Rafael C. Cabrera, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast feeding after breast reduction

It is difficult to predict if a patient can breast feed after a breast reduction. I always tell my patients that some larger breasted women can not breast feed one child, whereas a small breasted woman maybe able to produce milk for more than one child. Certainly some of the breast tissue is removed during a reduction, and this may limit the ability to breast feed.

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast Reduction and Breast Feeding

The chances of you being able to breast feed without any surgery at this point is around 70%. After a breast reduction your chances are slightly decreased but not by much. Now if you tell me that you have breast fed in the past and you are thinking about having a breast reduction, then I would say that the chances that you will be able to breast feed is high. Hope that answers your questions.

Farbod Esmailian, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

You will typically be able to breast feed after reduction

Kdaniels39: Most breast reduction methods for a patient like you describe will leave the ducts intact and connected to the nipple. There is much less breast tissue, but enough to provide breast milk. In spite of conservative surgical techniques and intact duct anatomy, some patients are unable to breast-feed following reduction surgery, so your surgeon cannot assure you of breast-feeding. Your lifestyle and comfort issues should be greatly improved by breast reduction.

Sutton Graham II, MD

Greenville Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Can I breast feed after a breast reduction?

Breast reduction surgery does decrease the ability to breast feed post operatively. That does not mean that it is not possible. A reduction procedure will remove a substantial amount of breast tissue and move the nipple/areolar complex to a more desirable location. After a reduction procedure, you naturally have less breast tissue, which translates into less breast milk for your baby. The movement of the nipple/areolar complex also decreases the ability to successfully breast feed. Keep... more

Sirish Maddali, MD

Portland Plastic Surgeon

Breast reduction does not affect breast feeding.

Hi! This is very good news, and frankly a little surprising. A recent large study from Puerto Rico showed that breast reduction does not interfere with breast feeding. 30% of women with very large breasts are not able to breast feed, but this is true regardless of whether they have breast reduction or not. 70% of women who had breast reduction were able to breast feed and 70% of women with very large breasts who did NOT have breast reduction were able to breast feed. Surgery made no... more

George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast feeding after a breast reduction

You bring up a very good question, and the answer is that you should be able to breast feed, but you'll most likely need to supplement with formula. Currently, about 50% of women who have a breast reduction can breastfeed without supplementation. Make sure you go over this with your plastic surgeon before any surgery, and understand all of the risks involved. Moreover, a breast reduction is a great operation and should significantly alleviate the problems that you mentioned in your... more

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Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Post-reduction breast-feeding

Depending on the technique, reduction mammaplasty should not appreciably affect the ability to breast-feed. Even when the ducts are cut, the ability to breast-feed is retained in the majority of patients. Of course, there are patients who are unable to breast-feed adequately even without a reduction due to many factors. Modern breast reduction techniques can maintain the anatomical and functional integrity of the gland-nipple unit so that the ducts and their course to the nipple are... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Breast reduction will most likely reduce your ability to breastfeed

Breast reduction will most certainly impact future breast feeding as the bulk of the glandular and ductal tissue is removed to reduce the volume and weight of the breast. Most often the breast tissue right under the nipple is preserved to help maintain breast shape and nipple sensation. Even after reduction when you become pregnant one of the first signs will be stiffness and tenderness in the breast. After you deliver the breast will become engorged and you will produce breast milk. There... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD

Des Plaines Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast feeding after reduction

It sounds as though you would require a fairly significant reduction procedure. Traditional thinking is that breast feeding after such a procedure is not a good idea since there is a lot of internal damage to the milk apparatus. The human body can be an amazing thing and there are numerous reports of women who have been able to breast feed after this surgery. It wouldn't be a good idea to count on it and you'll have to decide which is more important. Dr. Gray in New Hampshire has been... more

Donald Kress, MD

Frederick Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breastfeeding usually possible after reduction

Breastfeeding has a number of benefits so you are right to ask the question. Unfortunately there is no simple answer, because not every woman can successfully breast feed whether or not they have had surgery. However, using the most common techniques for breast reduction, most of the studies confirm that the majority of women can successfully breastfeed. One thing that is more certain is that you will feel a lot better, given your descriptuion of the symptoms you are experiencing.... more

Richard Baxter, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast feeding, lactation, or nursing after breast reduction

This depends upon the technique and the treatment of the nipple and areolar complex. If you want a yes or no answer, then one must respond that you may not be able to breast feed. However, if you are undergoing a modest reduction and the integrity of the breast ducts and the sensation remain intact, then nursing may be possible.