Can Breast Augmentation Affect Breastfeeding?
Interest in aesthetic surgery keeps growing, and breast augmentation is among the procedures most often chosen by women. Women who are planning to become mothers, or who already are, do have one important question in mind, however: does breast augmentation affect breastfeeding? The answer matters a great deal, in terms of both health and aesthetic concerns.
What Is Breast Augmentation Surgery?
Breast augmentation, known medically as augmentation mammoplasty, is an aesthetic surgical procedure in which silicone or saline (salt water) implants are placed either beneath the breast tissue or beneath the chest muscle. The operation is carried out to increase breast volume, improve breast shape or balance asymmetric breasts. Breast augmentation can boost a person’s self-confidence and have a positive effect on body image. Its effects on breastfeeding, however, are a matter of concern particularly for women who are planning to have children.
How Can Breast Augmentation Affect Breastfeeding?
The effect of breast augmentation on breastfeeding depends largely on how the surgery is performed, the technique used and where the implant is placed. As long as the nipple and the milk ducts are not damaged, most women can breastfeed without difficulty after surgery. In some cases, though, difficulties with breastfeeding may be experienced after the operation.
Surgical Technique and Incision Site
The incisions used most often in breast augmentation are the inframammary fold, the armpit and the area around the nipple. Because incisions made around the nipple are closer to the milk ducts and the nerves, procedures carried out in this area can have an adverse effect on breastfeeding function. Incisions made in the inframammary fold or the armpit, by contrast, generally do not damage the milk ducts and carry less risk to breastfeeding.
Where the Implant Is Placed
Implants can be placed beneath the breast tissue (subglandular) or beneath the chest muscle (subpectoral). Implants placed beneath the chest muscle put less pressure on the breast tissue and the milk ducts. For this reason, they may be more advantageous when it comes to preserving breastfeeding function.
What Does the Research Say?
Research shows that the great majority of women who have had breast augmentation are able to breastfeed. In some women, however, problems such as reduced milk production or pain while breastfeeding may occur. The risk of damage to the milk ducts and nerves is higher with incisions made around the nipple in particular, which can have an adverse effect on milk production and nipple sensitivity.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and similar organisations state that the ability to breastfeed is generally preserved after breast augmentation, but that every operation carries risks of its own. It is therefore important to talk to your surgeon in detail before surgery and to state your expectations clearly.
The Safety of Implants While Breastfeeding
Another important question is whether breast implants harm breast milk or the baby. The scientific studies carried out so far show that silicone and saline implants do not cause harmful substances to pass into breast milk. In other words, the presence of implants does not adversely affect breast milk or the baby’s health. In the event of any complication or infection, however, a doctor should always be consulted.
What to Bear in Mind for Breastfeeding After Surgery
There are a number of points to bear in mind in order to make breastfeeding easier after breast augmentation and to keep possible problems to a minimum. First of all, it matters a great deal that the surgeon performing the operation is experienced and a specialist in the field. Be sure to tell your surgeon about your breastfeeding plans and ask for techniques that will not damage the milk ducts. In the period after surgery, if you have complaints such as reduced nipple sensitivity, insufficient milk production or pain, always consult a specialist.