Can I still breast feed after a breast reduction?

Yes you absolutely can. We preserve milk glands during breast reduction surgery so you can definitely breastfeed afterwards. There’s only one exception. Women with excessively large breasts may need a reduction technique called free nipple technique. It entails total nipple removal before it's moved to a new position on the resized breast. Free nipple technique will lead to damage of nerves and ducts. Nipple sensation is lost along with the ability to lactate.

The answer is: maybe.
For women who have not yet had children, the ability to breastfeed remains uncertain, as some may face challenges regardless of surgery. An estimated 70% of women are able to breast feed in general and the percentage is similar after breast reduction. If breastfeeding is a priority for you, it's important to discuss this with your plastic surgeon before the procedure. They can help determine the best approach to increase your chances of breastfeeding after surgery.
Breastfeeding after a breast reduction is possible for many women, but it depends on the surgical technique and the amount of tissue removed. Any breast surgery can cause breastfeeding issues. If significant tissue is removed or if a "free nipple graft" technique is used (where the nipple is completely detached), breastfeeding may not be possible.
Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHSHarvard, Hopkins, & Mayo Clinic Trained Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonNew York, New York

Hi lauren_frankland,
Yours is a very common question. It is important to point out that, prior to breast reduction (or in the absence of breast reduction), not all women can breast feed. For almost all breast reductions (those perform with something called the Free nipple graft would be the exception), the nipple is left attached to a substantial amount of breast tissue. As such, women who are destined to breast-feed should be able to breast-feed after a breast reduction.
Hope this helps.
Best,Christopher Pannucci MD MSBoard Certified Plastic SurgeonPlastic Surgery NorthwestSpokane, Washington

Hi Lauren,
If you haven't already had children and attempted to breastfeed, then it's nearly impossible to say. There's no anatomical reason why one shouldn't be able to breastfeed after this surgery. The difficulty with being able to answer this question with any sort of authority is that we don't know if you (or any woman) can breastfeed in general- without having had surgery. Some women will report an inability to breastfeed after a surgery, but it's impossible to know whether or not that person had the ability to breastfeed prior to surgery! No such formal study exists.
The choice to undergo surgery is not one to be taken lightly! Only you can ultimately decide if the benefits are worth the risks.
Best of luck to you!
-Dr. Nik

The short answer is that it depends on whether or not you had a free nipple graft or if your nipple was left on a "pedicle". If you have a free nipple graft, you will not be able to breast feed. If your nipple and areola is left on a "pedicle" then you will likely be able to breast feed. This of course also depends on if you have successfully breast fed previously. If you were unable to breast feed prior to breast reduction surgery, then it is not likely you will be able to after ward, even if your nipple is left on a pedicle. If you have never been pregnant then whether or not you will successfully breast feed (with or without a reduction) is unknown. If breast feeding is very important to you, you may want to wait until you have finished having children to have a breast reduction. On the other hand, if your large breasts are causing significant physical or psychological distress for you then at least speak with your plastic surgeon about preserving your nipple and areola on a pedicle (NOT a free nipple graft) to give you the best chance of successfully breast feeding after surgery.