Can a Breast Augmentation Stop Me from Being Able to Breastfeed?

Breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic procedure in the United States, with more than 300,000 people having the surgery every year. Still, many women considering the surgery have questions about it, specifically how the surgery could affect their ability to breastfeed in the future.

As a leading plastic surgeon in Southern California, Rishi Jindal, MD, wants every patient at Rejuvenate Plastic Surgery to feel confident about their decision to have breast augmentation. In this post, learn more about breast augmentation and its potential impact on breastfeeding, so you can feel confident about your own choice.

First, the answer

The good news: Breast augmentation surgery doesn’t automatically interfere with your ability to nurse your baby. In fact, most women who have breast augmentation surgery don’t have any problems breastfeeding in the future.

But like every surgery, there are a few caveats that are worth considering. 

Implant placement

Breast implants are typically placed either under the breast tissue or under the chest muscle (submuscular). If you plan to nurse, submuscular placement is typically preferred. That’s because this placement offers the least interference with the glands and ducts that produce and distribute breastmilk. 

Incision placement

Implant surgery uses incisions that can be placed under your arm, under your breast, around your belly button, or around the areola (the colored area around the nipple). In general, incisions around the areola are more likely to cause problems with breastfeeding if they damage nerves or ducts involved in nursing.

Making the decision

Breastfeeding isn’t the only consideration when it comes to deciding whether or not to have augmentation during your child-bearing years. Pregnancy can change your breasts in other ways, too.

Specifically, both pregnancy and nursing can change the size and shape of your breasts, sometimes dramatically. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, your breasts expand in response to changes in hormones. For all these reasons, many women decide to wait until they’re done having children before they have breast augmentation surgery.

Bottom line: Augmentation surgery typically doesn't interfere with breastfeeding plans, but there are always risks to consider. If you’re interested in breast augmentation, be sure to let Dr. Jindal know that you hope to breastfeed in the future so he can map out your surgery appropriately and help you establish realistic expectations.

Beyond implants

The decision to breastfeed is a personal one, but it’s important for women to understand that regardless of implant status, nursing isn’t always an easy process. Many women have difficulty breastfeeding even without implants, particularly if they have few milk glands. 

Pre-surgery breast assessment can provide additional information that can help you make an informed decision based on your specific goals and anatomy. 

If you’re considering breast augmentation, having a consultation is the first step. To find out more, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Jindal and the team at Rejuvenate Plastic Surgery in San Diego, California, today.