Breastfeeding With Breast Implants: Is It Possible?

As the rise and popularity of breast augmentation grow and newer aesthetically-pleasing breast implants continue to improve, more and more women are thinking of having their own breasts enhanced. No matter what age you are, plastic surgeons claim that you can have your breast augmentation and have satisfying results all the same. But for women in their child-bearing years who are thinking about getting breast augmentation, a potential problem arises – is it true that breastfeeding with breast implants is impossible? Let us all find out.

Breastfeeding with breast implants: Are breast implants safe?

Before digging deeper about breast implants affecting breastfeeding, one would wonder if breast implants are safe in the first place. The honest answer? Straight to the point, yes! As a matter of fact, breast implants are one of the most studied and researched medical devices in the world and are even studied and observed post-marketing. This means that continuous investigation and analysis about the efficiency, life span, and safety of the breast implants are made even while using it.

Breastfeeding with breast implants: Why would breast implants interfere with breastfeeding?

Many researchers claim that breast augmentation surgery follows steps that may affect the mammary ducts that initiate a mother’s milk production. As we know it, breast augmentation surgery has different incision options to choose from, and these options answer one of the unwanted complications of this surgery, the scar formation. You can select to have your implants inserted via a cut on your armpit, under your breasts, around the nipple, or from around your navel.

Patients and surgeons who perform periareolar (around the nipple) incision for their breast augmentation observe that their nipples somewhat lose their sensation post-surgery. This side effect indicates a complication once the patient starts breastfeeding. Surgeons who also perform the transaxillary (on the armpit) approach may hit glandular tissues or ducts during the process that may hinder patients from breastfeeding as a result.

Breastfeeding with breast implants: The verdict

After all these assumptions and realisations, one would ask, is breastfeeding with breast implants really impossible? The answer is, definitely not! Here are some points we would want to elaborate to everyone who is thinking about breast augmentation to improve their body and boost their self-esteem:

1. There are many options on how to perform breast augmentation. If studies show that the transaxillary and periareolar approaches to breast augmentation may cause damage to the milk ducts responsible for milk production, there are other incision placements to choose from. In fact, the inframammary route (the incision is located under the breast or along the breast crease) is the most common incision used for breast enhancement. This route does not touch on the breast components that affect milk production.
2. Some surgeons place the breast implants under the muscle. Submuscular placement during breast augmentation may need a longer recovery time, but this route places the implant away from the breast, so all of the milk ducts that were there are still complete and unbroken.
3. Even women who do not have breast implants suffer from poor milk production. That is the sad truth. It doesn’t matter if you are flat-chested or you are well-endowed in the breast department. If your glandular tissues are insufficient to produce enough breastmilk, chances of having difficulty breastfeeding are high, whether you have breast implants or not.

If you are contemplating to have breast augmentation before planning on having children, your surgeon may recommend postponing your cosmetic surgery plans until you have already started building your family, that way, breastfeeding with breast implants will not be an issue and breast augmentation may not be the one to blame if you are experiencing difficulty breastfeeding your child.