Can You Breastfeed After Undergoing Breast Augmentation?

Posted October 17, 2024 in Breast Augmentation

This blog discusses the possible breastfeeding challenges posed by undergoing breast augmentation, as well as which incision types may be more likely to incur risk than others.

Differences in Breast Augmentation Incisions

Breast augmentation is a versatile procedure in that women elect to have the surgery at varying times in their lives, so patients will range in ages and lifestyles. Understandably, patients want to know how plastic surgery, including breast augmentation, will affect their bodies in the long term.

While nothing is guaranteed, there is a very low risk that breast augmentation will affect your ability to breastfeed, especially if your surgeon utilizes a specific incision type.

How Does Breast Augmentation Affect Breastfeeding?

The general consensus is that breast enhancement procedures (breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction) do not, by nature, put you at risk of not being able to breastfeed. However, in addition to implant placement and type, incision placement is usually the determining factor that can give you a good idea of whether you are at higher risk or not.

Three of the major incision types for breast augmentation are considered least likely to affect milk production, as they do not interfere with the milk ducts or nerve endings in the nipples.

• Inframammary incisions run horizontally along the breast crease, which is where the bottom of the breast meets the chest.
• Transaxillary incisions are made in the armpit, so there are no incisions on the breasts at all.
• Transumbilical incisions (TUBA) are made in the belly button, where your surgeon makes an internal path to the chest.

Since none of these interfere with the milk ducts or the areas involved in milk production, chances are very low that you’ll have difficulty breastfeeding with these incisions.

Do Periareolar Incisions Affect Breastfeeding?

They can. A periareolar incision runs along the outer edge of the areola, which is the section of darker skin surrounding the nipple. This incision type is used primarily in breast augmentations when the patient is using saline implants, with the benefit being scars are usually imperceptible against the darker skin of the areola.

Periareolar incisions are also commonly used in breast lift or breast reduction procedures, albeit less often, as it does not allow for as much revision as other incision types. It should be noted that all incisions used for breast lift and breast reduction encircle the areola, as a common goal with these procedures is to reposition the nipples higher on the breast or to reshape the areola for a more pleasing appearance.

When incisions are made around the areola or in any surgery that involves detaching and reattaching the nipples, there is a higher risk of permanent damage to the milk ducts and nerves. In some cases, ducts that are severed during surgery can grow back, but there are no guarantees.

Should I Wait to Undergo Breast Augmentation Until After Kids?

It’s really a personal decision, but most plastic surgeons will say that risk is pretty low when it comes to breast augmentation, especially if you choose an incision type that is considered safe for breastfeeding.

The truth is that there are no guarantees, and all surgery—elective or not—carries risks and benefits that you, as the patient, along with your surgeon, must weigh when making your decision.

One of the best ways to make an informed decision about this is to have a conversation with a reputable, board-certified plastic surgeon. Dr. Eric Cha is an experienced plastic surgeon with decades of performing beautiful and successful breast augmentations. In addition to his breadth of knowledge about the procedure, Dr. Cha also has a compassionate and kind demeanor and will never push his patients into a procedure they are not sure about.

Dr. Cha will listen to your concerns about breastfeeding after breast augmentation, discuss all possible risks and results, and help you make the best decision for yourself.

Ready to Learn More About Breast Augmentation in New York City?

Call Dr. Cha’s stunning office, Fifth Ave Plastic Surgery, at (212) 717-2222 or fill out our online contact form to get started.