What Technique is Needed for Breast Reduction if a Mother Intends to Breast Feed Later?

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7 Doctor Answers | Asked by anon

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Breast Reduction technique and post operative breast feeding

Breast reduction techniques which keep the nipples attached to the breast gland and ducts will preserve the ability to breast feed in most cases. However, if the breast are very pendulous or massive then a surgeon may have to perform a breast reduction in which the nipples are separated from the breast gland and then reattached as skin grafts. In this case a patient would not be able to breast feed after the surgery. Make certain your surgeon understands that you... more

Breast reduction and lactation may be at cross purposes

Any breast reduction technique which preserves the integrity of the milk ducts with the nipple-areolar complex should theoretically enable a woman to breast feed at a later date. That being said, having any breast surgery may possibly interfere with lactation, so the most conservative response is to defer breast reduction until after you have completed your family. Another factor to consider, women who develop large breasts, early, (virginal hypertrophy of the breast) tend... more

Lavinia Chong, MD

22 reviews

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

www.chongmd.com

Breast feeding and breast reduction

Breast feeding may certainly be impacted by a breast reduction. Most studies on the subject suggest that the inferior pedicle technique may provide the most reliable ability to breast feed post-op. However, that does not mean you won't need to supplement.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast feeding after breast reduction.

If breast feeding is really, really important to you, do not have a reduction until you are through with childbearing. If you area really, really miserable with you large breasts, please take a look at "The Case Against Breast Feeding" in the Atlantic which discusses the brainwashing that has occurred around breastfeeding. After reading it, you may think that being comfortable with your chest and using formula if necessary is just fine. Dr. Lisa... more

Breast Reduction and Breast Feeding?

Thank you for the question. Theoretically, any type of breast operation has a potential for decreasing the chances that a patient will be able to successfully breast-feed. The more extensive the operation the greater the likelihood that milk ducts will be involved in that the patient will not be able to breast-feed. Unfortunately, it is hard to know what percentage of ladies are not able to breast-feed after the breast surgery because some patients are not... more

Technique for breast reduction to retain ability to breast feed

Not all women can breast feed regardless of having previous surgery. The usual techniques of breast reduction with a pedicled technique usually allows for the possibility breast feeding. A free nipple graft technique will sever breast ducts and this technique which is sometimes done in cases of extremely large breasts will prevent the ability to breast feed. I have had many patients successfully breast feed after breast reduction. Discuss your concerns with your plastic... more

Breast reduction and breast feeding

The breast reduction technique, either the inferior or superior pedicle, is determined based on the size of the breasts and the existing nipple heights rather than prospective breast feeding. There are no guarantees as to the ability to breast feed; many women cannot do so even without having undergone breast reduction surgery. I find that my patients choose not to breast feed and are very conservative in terms of pregnancy weight gain specifically to minimize the potential for revisional... more