How Will Nipple Surgery During Breast Lift Affect Breast Feeding?

I have lost well over a hundred pounds. My breasts now feels like my grandmother's skin. They have lost most of their elasticity and are practically paper thin.

For a Breast lift procedure, in what circumstances is the nipple detached? Would the areola/nipple complex have to be removed for a Breast lift on someone with such major sagging? If so, what would be my chances of still being able to breast feed?

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areola breasts nipples skin elasticity female breast feeding weight loss thin

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17 Doctor Answers | Asked by mittsy

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Weight loss and breast lift sensation changes

Hi, Usually the nipples do NOT need to be removed as free nipple grafts during a breast lift only. There are exceptions to this of course. With the skin being so loose as you describe, then you will probably be a longer distance for the nipple to be moved upward. The good part of loose tissue like this is that a good amount of tissue can stay attached to ensure the blood supply to the moved nipple complex. No promises can be given about breast... more

Breast-feeding after Breast Lifting?

Thank you for the question. Generally, the nipple/areola are not “detached” when performing breast lifting surgery. Yes there is a risk of a decreased ability to breast-feed after breast lifting surgery. Exact percentages are hard to come by ( because some ladies are not able to breast-feed even without having undergone breast surgery) but my estimation would be 5 percent risk of a decreased or complete loss of ability to... more

Inadequate breast feeding

now the nipples will still be attached to the rest of the breast tissue when doing breast reduction unless taken as a skin grafts which i dont think its you case all patient have to know that milk production will be affected to certain degree because we in this procedure will remove some of the breast glandular tissue. we can not tell you that breast feeding will disappear completely or it will stay the same 100 % .

Breast feeding usually possible after breast lift

Typically, an implant placed beneath the pectoral muscle would be required to restore volume in the breast you described. The breast tissue and nipple could then be lifted up and placed over the implant to restore the breast shape with the implant supplying the volume. Any excess skin would be excised or removed. It's unlikely the nipple/areola complex would have to be totally detached; this is usually reserved for a few instances in breast reduction cases. As far as breast feeding goes,... more

Breast lift will not affect breast feeding.

Hi. in a well done breast lift, the nipple is slid up but never detached. Breast feeding is not affected. Breast feeding is not even affected in a breast reduction.

Nipple surgery during Breast Lift and breast feeding

In most cases, in full breast lifting, the nipple/areolar complex is left attached to the pedicle flap. So there is a higher percentage of attaining normal sensation and breast feeding postoperatively. I have not heard of removing the nipple/areolar complex in only a breast lift, but in a long pedicled reduction/lift that is one of the surgical options. If this free nipple/areolar graft is done the possibilities of having decreased or absence of sensation and the in ability to breast feed... more

Nipple Sensation After Breast Lift

During a breast lift the nipple areolar complex is maintained on the breast tissue and the surrounding skin is elevated off of this tissue. The nipple tissue must stay on this tissue to give it blood supply. Because of this the nerves are not disrupted and the sensation should not be or only minimally be affected. The nipple areolar complex should never be removed as a graft and replaced during a breast lift. This can occur during a breast reduction if the surgeon uses an inferior... more

Breast lift and potential for nursing.

This is difficult to say or predict. Even without surgery you may not be able to nurse. That having been said, even in severe case of breast ptosis (sag) the nipple and areola are not removed or detached despite the appearance of the scars.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

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Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Breast lifts rarely compromise breast feeding

A breast lift rarely compromises a womans ability to breast feed. The various incisions used for a breast lift do not involve cutting through the milk ducts. Therefore, a womens ability to breast feed should not be compromised. A free nipple graft is not routinely performed when doing a breast lift. It is usually only performed for breast reduction surgery and only in a few instances. These include patients with a significant amount of breast sagging or for patients in which there is a... more

Breast Feeding is almost always possible after a Breast Lift

Hi there- In almost all cases and with most techniques, your chances of being able to successfully breast feed after a breast lift should be very high, although diminished milk production is possible. Removal of your nipple (and thus an absolute inability to breast feed) would only be necessary if in addition to being droopy, your breasts were very large. Only a well trained, board certified plastic surgeon could responsibly advise you on this issue after an appropriate physical exam... more