Can I Nurse After Breast Augmentation?

Breast implants would still allow you to breast feed as long as the incision is not made at the areola. If you contemplating doing the surgery after you next pregnancy, you should wait at least three months following breast feeding. The size and type of implant is something you would need to discuss when you see a plastic surgeon in consultation.

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 implant under the muscle may also preserve the intergrity of the gland and milk ducts. Saline or Silicone will not find its way into the milk.

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 with pregnancy.  

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 people use the old-fashioned method of having sex.) Most plastic surgeons want you to wait 4-6 weeks before initiating sex.  Sex can be started sooner but has to be gentle and hands off your new breasts for six weeks.

No, it is not recommended you undergo elective cosmetic surgery during pregnancy.

I hope this helps. For complete answers to these and all of your questions, see a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area. Best of Luck.

 

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 breastfeed.  However, choosing very large implants definitely may compress glandular tissue and potentially affect milk production and lactation.  Very large implants have a higher incidence of associated sensory loss as well.

Difficult online to recommend specifics re: type of implant and incision location.  If breast feeding is important however, would avoid areolar approach.  Recommendations depend on your presentation, shown in the photo, but also your personal priorities and preferences.

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.

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 to wait at least three months after breast augmentation to get pregnant, but I have had patients that have had breast enhancement that have gotten pregnant (unplanned) right after surgery and they have all done just fine.  I hope this helps!
 

Sincerely,

James F. Boynton, M.D., F.A.C.S.

The majority of women can successfully nurse after breast augmentation.  I myself had one baby before breast implants and one baby after breast implants, so I can speak from experience. The only difference for me was that my breasts got bigger with the second pregnancy, because they started bigger.  I did not find that nursing was any different, and my breasts look pretty much the same after all was said and done. 

There are many factors (with mom and with baby) that go into a woman's ability to successfully breast feed.  A standard breast augmentation does not significantly alter the breast gland itself.  (I generally recommend subpectoral placement for women who plan to have children but that is not an absolute.)  Not all women are able to breast feed even without previous breast surgery!

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 type, whether it be silicone or saline.  If you have any other questions about breast augmentation be sure to see a board certified plastic surgery.

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.