Patients worry about what happens to their breasts after they get pregnant and breastfeed, especially after getting breast augmentation surgery. Breastfeeding definitely causes some concerns for women who get augmentations, but specialists say the breastfeeding itself will not affect the implants.
Options for patients who want to breastfeed after breast surgery
Since breast implants leave the breast tissue intact because the implants in most cases go under the pectoralis chest wall muscle and do not actually touch the breast tissue. Because of that fact, nursing with breast implants is definitely possible. Gynecology specialists still recommend that you discuss the issue that you want to breastfeed with your plastic surgeon before proceeding with plastic surgery of the breasts. Breastfeeding is an intimate act and an important part of maternal bonding and immunity transfer and if it’s important to you, make sure your plastic surgeon understands how big of a priority breastfeeding is for you.
Best surgical approaches
The best surgical approach that is the least invasive to the breast tissue can be selected to give you the best possible chance to breastfeed after the breast augmentation surgery. The best surgical approach usually involve going under the breast in the breast fold or in through the underarm or axillary incision.
An areola incision can also be used for breast augmentation. Once the surgical incision is made, there are two choices from there. The surgeon can do directly down through the breast tissue to place the implants under the muscle or he can go directly under the skin and then the implants are inserted. The approach that goes through the breast tissue will damage the tissue and the milk ducts. This side effect is usually avoidable if your doctor follows the length of your skin down and under the tissue. Either approach via the areola may cause sensation changes in the nipple.
Some women may have difficulty nursing even without breast implants. If this is the case, having breast implants or not having breast implants will not change any difficulties you may have.
What happens to the breast tissue from the implant
Even though your breast tissue is not damaged by the placement of the implant with most surgical implant insertion approaches; the breast tissue is pushed forward to give you more projection and the breast tissue is stretched over the implant. This pressure can lead to some difficulties with milk production as the milk ducts get flattened and compressed. When this happens, you will not be able to nurse effectively.
To minimize the stretching out of the breast tissue before and after your milk does come in, you should wear supportive bras both while pregnant as well as when you are nursing.
To discuss other breastfeeding or breast implant concerns, please call Dr. Kole of the Kole Plastic Surgery Center at 1122 Street Rd STE 100, Southampton, PA 18966 at 215-315-7655 .
