Many of my patients ask about breastfeeding after breast augmentation, fearing that they will not be able to breastfeed or that they will harm their children nursing after breast implants. For the most part, you should be able to maintain full function of the breasts after some breast augmentation surgeries. Your ability to produce and excrete milk in order to breast feed should not change unless a breast lift is also performed or the breast tissue is cut through (such as in incisions placed around the areola). Patients who would have otherwise been able to breast feed should also be able to do so after certain surgeries without any harm nursing their newborns. If you are concerned about breastfeeding after breast augmentation, the information below should be helpful in answering some questions you may have.

Can I Breastfeed After Breast Implants?

Under most circumstances, you will be able to breastfeed after breast augmentation. A breast augmentation with implants placed behind the muscle procedure should not separate your milk ducts from your nipples, so there is still a continuous path for the breast milk to flow through. Incisions that occur directly around the areola (and not in the breast inframammary crease) may interfere with some of the milk producing breast tissue. However, the connection nipple should still be maintained between the nipple, the milk ducts, and the milk producing breast tissue. If you are having a breast augmentation through your inframammary crease/ breast fold incision, you should maintain nursing function of your breasts after surgery. Many patients who desire a breast augmentation with a breast lift have already had children, and that’s why their breasts are sagging. In patients who require a breast lift in addition to their augmentation, the breast tissue is reshaped and may require interference with milk producing breast tissue and duct. Similarly, patients who undergo nipple reconstruction such as the correction of inverted nipples may possibly lose the ability. Otherwise, a straightforward submuscular breast augmentation with implants placed behind the muscle through the breast crease should allow one to breast feed just as they would without having the surgery.

Is It Safe To Breastfeed After Breast Augmentation?

Recent medical studies have shown that there are no statistical differences in silicone levels between women with breast implants and women without implants. In other words, there is no concern about your breast implants leaking into your breast milk and harming your child. Silicone is a common element that exists in nature, which is why it is used in breast implants. At this time, there is no evidence to indicate that breast augmentation changes the amount of silicone present in your breast milk.

Will Breast Feeding Change The Appearance Of My Breast Augmentation?

Every time you get pregnant, your body changes to adjust for the new baby. During this process, your breasts will expand to fill with milk for nursing. Whether you choose to breastfeed or not, your breasts may change shape after your give birth to your child. Some women experience an increase in breast volume, while others develop sagging skin, breast asymmetry, etc. If your breasts lose their shape after nursing, you may opt for a breast lift to contour your breasts to their former shape. Ideally, it is best to get your breast augmentation in Michigan after you are finished having children so your breasts are not as susceptible to weight fluctuations and size changes. I also recommend that women reach a stable, healthy body weight before surgery, as that may also impact the size and shape of your breasts.