Breast Augmentation Q&A
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Can I Breastfeed with Implants?

asked 4 months ago by loracm37 in Huntingtown, MD
Latest answer by Martin Jugenburg, MD
Question viewed 320 times
Tags: breast feeding, 4 years post-op

I had silicone implants placed under the muscle 4 years ago. They were put in throught the nipple and I also had a slight breast lift. If I have a baby should I be able to breastfeed? I have children that I breastfed before the surgery.

24 answers to Can I Breastfeed with Implants?

+3

Can I breast feed after having breast augmentation?

The short answer is, probably. I usually tell my breast augmentation patients that if they are very concerned about being able to breast feed that an inframammary incision is probably better. That being said plenty of patients with nipple incisions are able to breast feed. In general data shows that about 75% of all women can breast feed effectively, and about 50% of women with breast implants. Adding a breast lift can certainly cut more milk ducts but it depends on the individual patient.... more
Mahlon Kerr, MD

Austin Plastic Surgeon
+2

Breast feeding after implants...

It is common for women to have children at some point following a breast augmentation. The breast tissue should continue to function normally after breast augmentation so they will be able to breastfeed after childbirth without a problem. Many women undergo breast augmentation surgery because of small breasts and occasionally, women with small breasts have trouble producing milk. The surgery should have no bearing on that ability, however. Be sure to discuss any... more
Shain A. Cuber, MD

Marlboro Plastic Surgeon
+2

Can I Breast feed with Implants?Answr:

In the case of just a straightforward Breast Augmentation under the muscle, there should be no problem to breast feed. Factors that can alter this are some types of lifts, and some incisions can have a possible, if minimal effect, such as periareolar. It would be very rare, but possible.
John J. Corey, MD

Phoenix Plastic Surgeon
+2

Breast feeding with breast implants

More likely than you will be able to nurse since you were able to do so in the past. It is a safe option for your baby. What is not known is what your breasts will look like after nursing again...will you need larger implants, a re-do of your lift, or nothing at all?
Ann F. Reilley, MD

Baton Rouge Plastic Surgeon
+2

Breast Feeding after Breast Augmentation

In going through the lower part of the breast to place the implants, some of the breast ducts are cut. However, MANY women who have had the peration go on to breast feed without any difficulties. Only time will tell. Good Luck.
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+2

Beast feeding possible after implants

Since you were able to breast feed prior children, you should still be able to breast feed after augmentation. However, it may depend on the actual technique your surgeon used. You say that the implants were placed through the nipple and you had a lift as well. This may mean that more cutting was done to the breast itself, as opposed to just behind the breast. This could at least theoretically interfere with breast feeding. On an optimistic note, a recent study... more
Paul W. Loewenstein, MD

Milwaukee Plastic Surgeon
+2

Breast feeding and breast implants

If you have been able to breast feed before having breast implants, there should be virtually no risk of breast implants on the ability to breast feed in the future. For those who have never been pregnant and have breast implants, the same story holds true.
Steven Turkeltaub, MD

Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

+2

Breast feeding with implants

Mechanically, implants should not prevent breast feeding although the ability to do so is variable in women. I advise my patients that pregnancy and breast feeding can affect breast size and sagging so these are factors to be taken into consideration. The more weight you gain in pregnancy, the more likely that a revision or lift may be required.
Robert L. Kraft, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+2

Breast Feeing 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 their... more
Ankit Desai, MD

Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon
+2

You should be able to breastfeed after your breast augmentation

Many women are concerned that they will be unable to breastfeed after breast augmentation. It is very unlikely that the implants will interfere with your ability to breastfeed because the breastfeeding "mechanism" is not injured. Keep in mind however, that not every woman is able to breastfeed - even without implants. This is especially true in the cae of small breasts. If you were able to breastfeed an earlier child, then there is little to worry about. Fear of not... more
Matthew Schulman, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+2

Your chances for sucessful breast feeding after augmentation are good.

Good studies to assess this set of circumstances are lacking. Howver, extensive anecdotal experience indicates that you will likely be successful. Any surgery to the breast has the potential to alter physiologic function as well as sensitivity to the breast. With more extensive surgery and revisional surgery the risks of losing some or all function is higher. The shape after pregnancy is also less predictable with a more mature breast or when multiple procedures have been performed... more
Mathew C. Mosher, MD

Vancouver Plastic Surgeon

www.drmosher.com

+2

Breast feeding with silicone implants

By now, there have probably been over one million women who have successfully breast fed their children after having breast augmentation with silicone implants. I know that I have had hundreds of women do it. The incision around the bottom of the edge of the areola should not cause any problems with breast feeding either.
James McMahan, MD

Columbus Plastic Surgeon
+2

Breast feeding after implants

Breast implants usually do not interfere with breast feeding. Many women are surprised that they can still breast feed after a breast augmentation. There are 2 ways of inserting an implant. The most common position for an implant is under the pectoralis muscle. In this case this large muscle separates the implant from the breast tissue. In other cases the implant is place above the muscle, but even in these cases the implant is behind the breast and usually does not interfere with breast... more
Frank Lista, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon
+2

Breast Feeding with Breast Implants

Usually, breast feeding is possible after breast augmentation surgery. Sure, some breast tissue is manipulated during this surgery, and thus, can be negatively affected, causing problems with nursing. Just as some women may have difficulties in breast feeding WITHOUT augmentation surgery, some women can have this problems after. The only way to know, unfortunately, is to do the surgery and see. Good luck and fare well.
Daniel Kaufman, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+2

Breast feeding and implants

While some breast tissuem ay have been violated during the proceudre to place the implants. it should be possible to breast feed. However, may patients in general whether they have implants or not usually need to supplement.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+2

Yes you can breastfeed

Having performed more than 4000 breast augmentation procedures, using all approaches; under and over the muscle, all incisions - areolar, inframammary, transaxillary and transumbilical - I have not had a single complaint that a woman could not breast feed. It's a theoretical consideration, that I've never seen to be an issue in practice.
Jeffrey Hartog, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon
+2

Breast Feeding with Breast Implants

Most women are able to breast feed after having breast implants placed although they may need to supplement with formula. This holds especially true if the implants were placed through the nipple since this may cause some of the milk ducts to be damaged.
Adam Hamawy, MD

Westchester Plastic Surgeon
+2

Yes, you can breast feed.

If you breast fed your children prior to augmentation, you should be able to breast fee afterwards as well. Although breast feeding ability may decrease a little bit (depending on what type of mastopexy you had undergone), mostly likely you will not have problem with breastfeeding.
Sugene Kim, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+2

Breast feeding after Breast Implants/Lifting?

Thank you for the question. Given that you have successfully breast-fed in the past, it is most likely that you will be able to proceed again despite having had the breast augmentation procedure performed. Although the previous surgery does reduce the chances to some degree, the majority of patients are able to breast-feed successfully. Best wishes.
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

+1

Breast implants do not interfere with breast feeding

Placing a breast implant UNDER the breast tissues or under the muscle leaves the breast itself intact and should not interfere with breast feeding. There are three ways of placing an implant. Through a fold under the breast, through the armpit, or through the areola. Only the areola approach actually cuts into the milk producing breast tissue, but even with this technique you will be able to breast feed. Keep in mind, however, the some women can't breast feed no... more
Martin Jugenburg, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon

www.torontosurgery.ca

+1

Breast Feeding after Breast Implants is possible for most women who have adequate Breast Tissue

The best option to preserve Breast Feeding ability after Breast Augmentation is to place the Breast Implant through an incision underneath the Breast, an Infra-mammary Incision, and to place the implant under the muscle. These techniques do not violate the Breast Ducts that carry Breast milk during Breast Feeding. Placing Breast Implants through the Nipple Areola and procedures such as Mastopexy can cause scarring of the ducts and possibly interfere with Breast Feeding. Be aware that... more
Brooke R. Seckel, MD

Boston Plastic Surgeon

www.drseckel.com

+1

Breast feeding post implants.

Breast feeding depends on a number of factors such as hormone production, milk production and the babies ability to take the milk. If the breast gland and ducts were disrupted with the placement of the implants and the "slight lift", then you may have difficulty breast feeding.
Todd C. Case, MD

Tucson Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast feeding after implants

Yes, you should be able to breast feed following breast augmentation no matter which incision site is used. Even with breast lift procedures, the milk glands, ducts, and nipples are generally preserved intact so you should be able to breast feed after a breast lift or even a breast reduction.
Edwin C. Pound, III, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breastfeeding after breast augmentation

The breast implant will not interfere with nursing. If, however, breast ducts were cut during the procedure, which is not unlikely in a nipple-areolar approach, then there could be problems such as swelling and mastitis. These problem are not common and you should feel free to try.
William H. Gorman, MD

Austin Plastic Surgeon

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