Is it possible to breastfeed after a breast implant surgery? Let’s find out

Motherhood is one of the most cherished journeys for a woman. As times change and medical science evolves to bring about a positive difference in our lives, a growing number of women choose to go under the knife and get physical features they desire. Mammoplasty Augmentation or Breast Augmentation Surgery Or Silicone Implants is one such procedure which women undergo to have a fuller bust. However, as you bear a baby, questions around breastfeeding after an implant surgery can give a woman sleepless nights.

The internet is filled with information that can often confuse you instead of giving a way out. The foremost consideration by any woman who chooses to undergo an implant surgery is to consult a Board-Certified Super Specialist Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon to fully understand whether or not they can undergo a surgery. Further to that, here are a few things to be aware of.

Common questions that plague women who undergo a breast implant surgery

1. Can a woman breastfeed with breast implants?
2. Will the surgery affect the milk supply?
3. Can the implants cause any harm to the child?
4. What can be done to successfully breastfeed after implant surgery?
5. Will breastfeeding ruin the implants?
6. Should one consider waiting for an implant surgery after breastfeeding?

Brush up on the basics

Mammoplasty is performed for women who wish to have a larger or a fuller bust. It involves surgical placement of an implant behind each breast to increase its volume and enhance its shape to create a proportionate figure that one desires.

What is breast reduction surgery?

Breast reduction or mammoplasty is performed to remove fat, glandular tissue, and skin to reduce the size of the breasts and make them lighter and firmer. A reduction surgery can also reduce the size of the areola – the darker skin around the nipple. The surgery is aimed to reduce the size of breasts and make them proportionate to the rest of the body.

What are breast implants?

Breast implants are soft man-made silicone structures that are inserted under the skin to alter or enlarge the breasts.

How does breastfeeding work?

Breasts are made up of fatty and glandular tissues, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels. Milk gets produced in a glandular structure called lobules which is then transported through a system of ducts or channels to the nipple. The nerves in the nipple-areola complex send signals to the brain to start milk production and flow, small glands lubricate the nipple and muscles contract to support breastfeeding. Most women have the same amount of milk-producing tissues. Smaller or larger breasts do not affect the amount of milk produced.

There are enough success stories about women who have undergone a breast reduction or augmentation surgery and have conveniently fed their baby, even twins.

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Things to keep in mind

1. Women must note that the ability to breastfeed is most likely affected by the degree to which the nerves and milk producing tissues are cut. This in turn depends on the amount of breast tissue removed, and how and where is the incision performed.
2. Patients must include this consultation as a part of the planning stage for any kind of Plastic Surgery followed by a detailed and empathetic communication with a Board-Certified surgeon along with a lactation consultant.