Breast Augmentation Q&A
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Can I Nurse After Breast Augmentation?

asked 8 months ago by Mommy of 3 kids in Henderson, NV
Latest answer by Shain A. Cuber, MD
Question viewed 465 times
Tags: breast feeding

I am 30 years old with almost no breast tissue even before pregnancies. I would like to get breast augmentation to be an average size (5'4" 115 lbs) but I'm planning on having more children. Is it okay to get implants before I finish having children if I am planning on nursing them? If so, how long do I need to wait before I get pregnant after getting implants? Can I get implants during pregnancy? Would nursing make a diff. in the size I should choose? type of implant? and incision location?

16 answers to Can I Nurse After Breast Augmentation?

+2

Breast augmentation does not impact ability to breast feed

Hello, A breast augmentation procedure will not impact your ability to breast feed in most cases. Certain procedures such as placing the implant via a areola incision may impact it slightly if ducts are cut but a breast fold incision should have no impact at all. If your are definiely trying to have another child it may be best to wait and get your breast augmentation afterwards as pregnancy may impact your breast augmentation result. All the best Dr Repta more
Remus Repta, MD

Phoenix Plastic Surgeon

www.aaaplasticsurgery.com

+1

Can you nurse after breast augmentation...

You sound like a great candidate for a breast augmentation. Having children after the procedure is perfectly fine as is nursing. Unfortunately, you can not have a breast augmentation during pregnancy because of the anesthesia and the post op medications that are needed. It is perfectly fine to get pregnant after the procedure, and by the time you are ready give birth you will certainly be healed. Nursing should not affect the size of implant you choose, as well as the... more
Shain A. Cuber, MD

Marlboro Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breastfeeding after augmentation

Most women can breast feed after a breast augmentation, especially when the incision is placed in the fold and the implants are under the muscle. There is no time period to wait after breast augmentation surgery before you can get pregnant. You should avoid any elective surgery while you are pregnant, however. Good luck.
Donna Rich, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Augmentation - Can I Nurse After Breast Augmentation?

The vast majority of women who have breast implants and want to nurse are able to do so, so the fact that you've already been able to breast feed (some women cannot) is hopeful in this regard. I think it's very likely that you'll be able to breast-feed after implants. If you're planning on have more children any time soon I would advise deferring your breast implant surgery until you've finished. The pregnancy and breast-feeding can change the volume and... more
Alan Engler, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nursing after Breast Implants

It is very unlikley that breast implants will interfere with your ability to nurse. The important thing to consider is that not every woman is able to breast feed (without implants). This may be especially true in women with small breasts because they may not be able to produce enough milk. There may be some truth to the idea that an incision in the breast fold may be less likely to damage the gland and milk ducts and be less likely to interfere with breast feeding. Also, placing the... more
Matthew Schulman, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Can I Nurse After Breast Augmentation?Answer:

Almost all women can nurse after breast augmentation. Even with a periareolar incision it would be very rare to not be able to. I prefer an incision in the underarm, under the muscle and it is never an issue. As to when you should have it done, NOT during pregnancy, and I would wait 3 months after ending breast feeding but I don’t think you have to wait until after kids. Because you don’t have a lot of natural tissue to start with, I would not expect your breasts to change much... more
John J. Corey, MD

Phoenix Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast feeding after implants

It is OK to have implants before you have had all of your children and most patients are able to breast feed after augmentation surgery. The place of the incision should not have an effect on breast feeding but you cannot have the surgery while you are pregnant. There is no defined 'waiting period' after surgery before you get pregnant. Size and type of implant also should have no effect on breast feeding.
James McMahan, MD

Columbus Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast implants and breast feeding

Breast implants and breast feeding questions are very common. Mainly because many women undergo breast augmentaation at child bearing age. To answer your questions: yes it is fine to have breast augmentation before having children. Most women who were able to breast feed before breast augmentation will be able to do that after augmentation. You definilt can not get implants during pregnancy. nursing should not make a difference in the size of implant you choose. The size of the... more
Moneer Jaibaji, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nursing with breast implants

Yes, most patients are able to breast feed after having breast augmentation but no surgeon can guarantee you that. It's usually not a problem. Discuss the location of incision, size, and implant placement with your surgeon. You do not have to wait until you are done having children to have the procedure. There is no wait time after the surgery to get pregnant but you have to have sex in order to get pregnant. (Okay, I know there are other ways to get pregnant but most... more
J. Jason Wendel, MD

Nashville Plastic Surgeon

www.mc.vanderbilt.edu

+1

Pregnancy and nursing after implants

Yes, it's OK to get implants before you finish childbearing. Several of my patients have become pregnant within weeks of augmentation, and one went on to nurse all four of her children. No, do NOT have breast augmentation surgery during pregnancy. You do not want to take any unnecessary chance of interfering with your pregnancy by having general anesthesia and elective surgery. No, there is no evidence that the size you choose will influence your ability to... more
Steve Laverson, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Can I Nurse After Breast Augmentation?

There should be no interference in the ability to nurse (assuming you are destined to be able to nurse, which not every woman is) by breast augmentation, assuming that the incision is placed in the inframammary fold under the breast instead of around the areola (in which technique the breast tissue may be divided). There should be no difference in nursing ability based on implant type or size. You could get pregnant at any time after getting implants, although you should not have... more
Robert M. Grenley, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.seattleplasticsurgery.com

+1

Nursing after breastaugmentation

I have had many patients nurse after a breast augmentation. there may be a slight difference between the various incisions.
Jay M. Pensler, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast feeding and breast augmentation

Mommy of 3, Thank-you for the photo. Although our goal as plastic surgeons is to not make a change in the ability of a patient to breast feed, we can't promise or guarantee that you would be able to afterwards. I would recommend your implants be placed under the muscle through an incision under the fold of the brerast instead of through the areola. I think the less that is done around the nipple the better the chance is that you may be able to breast feed in the future. In terms of... more
Michael C. Edwards, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

www.medwardsmd.com

+1

Nursing after Breast Enhancement with breast Implants

Most patients are able to nurse after breast augmentation, however I would need to know if you could prior to the procedure. Unfortunately, not all of us have the ability to nurse.
Laurie Casas, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Women can still breastfeed after breast augmentation

I routinely perform breast augmentation in many patients that have children after getting their implants and I have not ever seen a patient that was unable to nurse after pregnancy. I perform an inframammary incision (under the breast) and the implants I place are always subpectoral (under the muscle). I think if the incision were periareolar (around the nipple or areola actually) then I think there would likely be a problem with breast feeding. I think in general its advisable... more
James F. Boynton, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.BoyntonPlasticSurgery.com

+1

Nurse After Breast Augmentation

Thank you for the questions. Most patients are able to breast-feed after breast augmentation. It is okay to have the procedure done before you finished having children. There is no “waiting time” before you may become pregnant after the breast augmentation surgery. You cannot have the operation done when you are pregnant. The type of implant and incision location will best be determined during consultation. You may benefit from in person consultation... more
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

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