Can You Breastfeed After Breast Augmentation? Everything New Mothers Need to Know

For many women considering breast augmentation, one of the most pressing concerns is whether they’ll be able to successfully breastfeed their future children. The good news is that most women with breast implants can safely and successfully breastfeed, though there are important factors to consider when planning for both your aesthetic goals and your future nursing plans.

The Reality of Breastfeeding with Implants

Research shows encouraging outcomes for mothers with breast implants. A cohort study published in 2019 that followed over 3,500 women found that 79% of women reported the ability to breastfeed at least 1 child following augmentation surgery. While this is slightly lower than the national average, it demonstrates that the vast majority of women can still successfully nurse their babies after breast enhancement.

Studies show that the percentage of women who successfully breastfeed is roughly the same in women with breast implants and women without breast implants. However, some women may experience challenges with milk supply or production that require additional support and planning.

Key Factors That Impact Breastfeeding Success

Incision Location Matters

The type of incision used during your breast augmentation surgery significantly affects your ability to breastfeed. Incisions made in the armpit and beneath the breast are less likely to impact a woman’s ability to breastfeed. When incisions are made around the areola, nerves or milk ducts may be severed, which may reduce milk flow.

Incisions made under the fold of the breast or at the armpit—inframammary and axillary incisions, respectively—should not affect nursing, lactation, or milk production. These incisions are least invasive to the lactation and breastfeeding structures within the breast.

Implant Placement

Where your implants are positioned also plays a crucial role. Breast implants below the muscle usually affect milk production less than implants above the muscle. Breast implants placed too close to breast tissue can occasionally put pressure on glands and negatively affect milk production. To keep the implant away from direct tissue contact, it can be placed underneath the chest muscle.

Implant Type Considerations

Different implant materials may have varying effects on breastfeeding success. It has been reported that saline implants are associated with inadequate milk production. Additionally, some studies have shown that after enlargement with silicone gel, the silicone has leaked into the mother’s milk. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics, silicon implants don’t pose a safety issue for breastfeeding babies.

Potential Challenges and Solutions

Reduced Milk Supply

Some women with breast implants may not be able to produce a full milk supply, even if they’re able to breastfeed. Sometimes, it’s because the nerves or milk ducts were damaged during surgery. Other times, the pressure of breast implants mimic the feeling of engorgement (breasts that are full of milk), which may signal to the body that it should produce less milk.

If you experience reduced milk supply, you can supplement your baby’s nutrition with pasteurized breast milk from a human donor or with baby formula. Even if you’re only able to produce a small amount of milk, you’re still providing your baby with antibodies and nutrition at each feeding.

Maximizing Your Success

Healthcare professionals recommend specific strategies to optimize breastfeeding success after breast augmentation. For mothers with breast augmentation, teach hand expression and stress the importance of frequent, effective nursing and emptying, especially between the 3rd to 5th days. The frequency of milk expression during the first five days is more important than the duration of nursing or pumping in determining ultimate milk production capacity.

Planning for Success with Professional Guidance

If you’re considering breast augmentation and hope to breastfeed in the future, it’s essential to work with an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon who understands your goals. If you are thinking about getting breast implants, you haven’t had children yet and you hope to breastfeed one day, talk with your plastic surgeon and a lactation consultant about the possible benefits of placing the implants beneath the muscle.

For women in Connecticut seeking expert breast augmentation with future breastfeeding in mind, Breast Augmentation Westport procedures with Dr. CS Kim offer the expertise and personalized care needed to achieve your aesthetic goals while preserving your ability to nurse. Breast augmentation is one of Dr. Kim’s specialties. Over the course of his 30-year career, he has helped hundreds of women improve their appearance and boost their self-confidence.

Drawing from his extensive surgical experience and academic training, Dr. Chang Soo Kim MD provides his patients with comprehensive cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. He also dedicates himself to each patient, providing personalized, uncompromised care. The practice serves patients throughout Fairfield County, including Westport, Stamford, Greenwich, and surrounding areas.

Support and Resources

Women with breast implants who want to breastfeed shouldn’t assume that they can’t do it and never try; they should talk with their doctors during pregnancy about ways to do it, with a plan for supplementation, if necessary. Working with a lactation consultant who understands the unique challenges faced by mothers with implants can make a significant difference in your breastfeeding journey.

You may consider seeing a lactation consultant, too. They’re usually available through your hospital or doctor’s office. They can observe your feedings and give feedback on your baby’s latch and position.

The Bottom Line

While breast augmentation may present some challenges for breastfeeding, it doesn’t have to prevent you from successfully nursing your baby. With proper planning, surgical technique, and professional support, most women can achieve both their aesthetic goals and their breastfeeding objectives. The key is working with experienced professionals who understand both your cosmetic desires and your future family plans, ensuring that your breast augmentation is performed with techniques that preserve your ability to breastfeed while delivering the beautiful, natural-looking results you desire.