Are you among the many Australian women who have undergone breast implant surgery? This popular cosmetic procedure is an excellent solution for patients who wish to enhance or alter the shape, size or appearance of their breasts.
Whether due to naturally small breasts or a bust that has lost volume over time, this procedure can help to accentuate your feminine figure. When performed by a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon, breast augmentation can help to boost self-esteem and even improve the overall quality of life for patients.
The breast augmentation procedure is typically performed on women between the ages of 19 – 50, although it can be successfully performed on women in good general health of almost any age. For younger patients who may be considering having children, however, they might have concerns about breastfeeding with breast implants. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to reduce your risk of impairing the function of the milk ducts or the nerves around the nipples and areola.
Patients who have breast implants and are thinking about getting pregnant may also be concerned about safely breastfeeding. In most cases, there should be no problem, either, but some women may want to consider the placement or type of implant they have to ensure there will be no issues.
What You Need to Know
While it’s unlikely with an experienced surgeon, there is a possibility that nerves, milk glands and milk ducts will experience some damage during breast implant surgery. In response, your milk production may be impacted and cause some complications.
Thankfully, there are ways that you can avoid this. Talk to your surgeon about your incision options if possible!
Women who receive breast implants via periareolar may experience a decrease in nipple sensation and nerves, which could affect breastfeeding.
The material of your breast implant may also be something to consider if you are planning to breastfeed. The risk is minimal, but some patients might experience rupturing of their breast implant, which could cause the filling to leak into the potential milk production.
Saline implants are harmless to both mother and baby, but silicone is based in plastic and could expose both to chemicals.
Thankfully, the risk of this is greatly reduced with newer implants, so you could potentially still safely breastfeed with silicone! Talk to your surgeon and your healthcare provider to make the best decision for you.
The other aspect to consider is the placement of your implant! Milk production may be impacted if your implants are placed about the pectoral muscles (beneath just the glandular tissue). If you are considering breast implant surgery and want to breastfeed later in life, consider subpectoral placement.
What to Expect
In most cases, you should have no trouble breastfeeding with breast implants. For starters, consider the reason why you underwent breast augmentation. If it was to simply give your already somewhat full or symmetrical breasts a boost, your milk ducts should be fine. Patients who had naturally tubular, asymmetrical or flat breasts may not have enough glandular tissue to promote adequate milk production.
If you are having trouble breastfeeding with implants, it could be due to any of the options mentioned above, such as the placement of your implants or the incisions’ site. Women who do not have enough glandular tissue may consider talking to a breastfeeding expert to help find tips on stimulating the area. Additionally, you can talk to your surgeon or doctor about whether it would be safe to use a breast pump!
Women who are considering breast implants should opt for an alternative method of incision, such as inframammary. This is the most common method, as it goes along the contour of the breast to help camouflage any visible scarring against the natural folds of the skin.
Other options include transumbilical, which is less common as it goes through the belly button and typically can only be reserved for saline implants. Some patients may also consider the transaxillary, which is made in the inner fold of the armpit. This method helps to provide the least visible scarring and risk of nerve dysfunction.
Preparing For Breast Surgery and Breastfeeding
There are plenty of women in Australia who have little to no issues breastfeeding their children after breast implant surgery. Talking to a qualified surgeon who has experience with this type of surgery can help increase your chances of a successful procedure.
Schedule a free consultation in Sydney today with Refine Cosmetic Clinic! Call us today at (02) 8880 9053.
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