Is it possible to breastfeed after breast lift surgery?

I have successfully breastfed 4 children in the past. Two years ago I had a breast lift and augmentation. Now, I am unexpectedly expecting and would love to be able to breast feed this new baby. What are my chances?

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13 answers to “Is it possible to breastfeed after...”

A: Breast feeding after breast lift

Jack Gelman, MD

The answer is simple. Yes, it is possible. It may even be probable. But you won't know for sure until you try. Many women have successsfully breast fed after these procedures, but for you as an individual, you won't know until you try. Congratulations on your family.

A: You could have high chance of breastfeeding after lift

Hisham Seify, MD, PhD

There is a good chance that you could breast feed after your surgery. As mentioned before the technique used during surgery and how much breast dissection was done are key issues. I would not worry much about it, time will tell.

A: Highly likely

Christopher L. Hess, MD

With an augmentation/mastopexy it is likely that the incision was made around the areola. This disrupts some of the breast tissue but not to a significant degree. If the incision was made in the fold and the lift done by just deepithelializing the skin than this is even at less risk. The long and short of it... more

A: You have a good chance of breast feeding

David Shafer, MD

You have a good chance of breast feeding. However, there are many factors that you have to consider. First, it depends on the type of life you had. Second, it also depends on the tissue that was removed. However, if most cases, patient are still able to breast feed without a problem. Good luck.

A: Nursing and lactation after augmentation mastopexy

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

It very much depends on the technique used. However, in the vast majority of cases, you should be capable of lactation and nursing. Many feel that there are strong benefits to nursing your child and you should proceed if this is your wish. However, there are a couple of issues which you may want to take into... more

A: Difficult to say

Armando Soto, MD

Hi there- It is very difficult to say what your chances of success are, because to some extent they will depend on variables which cannot be perfectly understood (such as how your breast tissue reacted to the surgery). It is clear that your chances of producing the same amount of breast milk as you did before... more

A: Possible to breastfeed after breast lift

Antoine A. Hallak, MD

Since you have breast fed before, the combination of breast augmentation and breast lift will decrease the chance of successful breast feeding only minimally. Even breast reduction surgery still allows over 2/3rds of patients to breast feed. A lift or augmentation interferes less with breast tissue.

A: Your chances of successful breast feeding are somewhat reduced.

George J. Beraka, MD

Hi! By all means try, but recent studies show that women who have had breast augmentation are less able to breast feed. Breast lift alone has no effect on breast feeding.

A: Rare for patient to be unable to breastfeed after lift surgery

Francisco Canales, MD

Hello Jennifer, You have proven you can breast feed, as you have done so successfully 4 previous times. Our experience has been that it is rare that a patient cannot breast feed after an augmentation/lift, so I think the odds are with you. Discuss it with your plastic surgeon and he/she will be able to give... more

A: It depends

Richard P. Rand, MD

At least you know that you are capable of breast feeding. Most breast lifts don't take away the natural mechanism for breast feeding so you will just need to see what happens. Good luck!

More answers to Is it possible to breastfeed after breast lift surgery?
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New York City - It all depends
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