If you’re considering breast augmentation and plan to have children in the future, it’s natural to wonder whether your breast implants will impact your ability to breastfeed. The good news is that in most cases, women with breast implants are able to successfully breastfeed in the future.
It’s important to discuss your future family plans with our plastic surgeons during your initial consultation since this may impact their recommendations for how the procedure is performed. You should also keep in mind that while you will most likely be able to breastfeed after your procedure, the changes to your breasts during pregnancy and breastfeeding can negatively impact your outcome. This may result in the need for a revision procedure to restore the beautiful results you’ve achieved.
Is It Safe to Breastfeed with Implants?
Modern breast implants are very safe and will not leak harmful substances into your breast milk. Numerous studies have determined that breastfeeding with implants is safe, and the American Academy of Pediatrics released a statement declaring there was no evidence that breast implants create a danger to the baby when breastfeeding.
What Factors Impact Breastfeeding after Breast Augmentation?
There are several different factors which may impact your ability to breastfeed after undergoing breast augmentation. These include:
- Incision location
- Breast implant placement
- Breast shape
- Your natural ability to breastfeed
The location of your incision is the most important factor impacting your ability to breastfeed after breast augmentation. While opting for the periareolar incision (around the nipple) will result in a more discreet scar, it also means your incision is being made very close to the milk ducts. This can potentially increase the chance that your milk ducts will be impacted during your procedure. To avoid this issue, our plastic surgeons will typically recommend using the inframammary incision (underneath the breast crease) if you are planning on breastfeeding in the future.
Implant placement is another factor that can potentially impact your ability to breastfeed. Choosing submuscular placement (under the chest muscle) is generally safer for breastfeeding. When subglandular placement (over the chest muscle) is used, your breast implants will be directly underneath the milk ducts, which increases the chance that they might interfere with breastfeeding.
The size and shape of your breasts prior to getting implants can also play a role in your ability to breastfeed after your procedure. If you had very asymmetrical, tubular or flat breasts, it may be a sign that your breast tissue is underdeveloped. It is more common for women with underdeveloped breast tissue to experience problems breastfeeding, regardless of whether they have breast implants.
One final factor to consider is your body’s natural ability to breastfeed. Some women simply don’t produce enough breast milk to breastfeed. This often has nothing to do with breast implants and is an issue experienced by many women who have never had breast augmentation.
What Can I Do to Improve the Likelihood that I’ll Be Able to Breastfeed Successfully after Breast Augmentation?
There are two important steps you can take to give yourself the greatest likelihood of success when breastfeeding after breast augmentation:
- Work with a board-certified plastic surgeon
- Discuss your future family plans with your surgeon during your consultation
Board-certified plastic surgeons have undergone extensive training and passed rigorous exams demonstrating their mastery of their craft. This knowledge and experience will increase the likelihood that your procedure won’t impact your ability to breastfeed. At Sanctuary Plastic Surgery, all of our surgeons are board certified, and our patients experience a high success rate when trying to breastfeed with implants.
You should also discuss your future family plans with our plastic surgeons during your consultation. This will ensure our treatment plan is designed in a way that will give help you breastfeed down the road.
Should I Consider Waiting to Get Breast Augmentation if I Plan on Breastfeeding in the Future?
The right time to undergo breast augmentation is a highly personal decision. While the vast majority of women have no problem breastfeeding with implants, there is always the potential that the procedure may impact this ability. If you’re not willing to take this risk at all, then you may want to wait until after having children to get breast implants.
Since pregnancy and breastfeeding often negatively impact breast augmentation results, you should also consider the timing of your family plans when deciding whether to get implants now. If you’re planning on having children in the next couple of years, it may be a good idea to wait so that you won’t have to worry about a potential revision procedure. However, if your family plans are in the distant future, then it’s perfectly fine to have breast augmentation now. You’ll be able to enjoy your beautiful new breast appearance for years before having children, and there’s no reason why you should have to wait to look and feel your best.
Contact our Boca Raton Breast Surgeons
Please contact Sanctuary Plastic Surgery using the form on this page or call 561-367-9101 today to schedule your breast augmentation consultation. We serve patients in Boca Raton and the surrounding areas of Florida.
