Many women who have undergone breast augmentation or who are considering breast implants often ask, ”Can you breastfeed with implants?”
Yes, most women with breast implants can breastfeed. However, some may produce less milk than they need, depending on where the implant was placed, where the surgical incision was made, and how the surgery affected the nerves and milk ducts.
Many of our patients ask questions about breastfeeding after breast augmentation when they are planning for a baby. The good news is that breast implants do not usually stop your body from making milk, and many women are able to breastfeed after implants. That being said, it can help to understand what conditions can affect your body’s ability to produce a full milk supply.
What Affects Breastfeeding Success After Implants?
There are several things that can affect how well your body produces and delivers milk, including the placement of the implants, the incision placement, your anatomy, and the extent of the surgery.
Not everyone with implants runs into the same breastfeeding challenges, and several conditions can influence their experience with breastfeeding, including:
The Implant Placement
Implants do not normally cause issues with breastfeeding because of the way your breasts are designed to work. The glandular tissue inside your breast is what produces and stores milk. It then travels through milk ducts to reach your nipple. Most implants are placed either behind this glandular tissue or under the chest muscle, which means the implant does not normally disturb the parts of the breast that make or deliver milk.
Under The Chest Muscle
When an implant is placed under the chest muscle (submuscular placement), it sits even farther away from the milk-producing tissue and ducts and normally has the least influence on breastfeeding.
Above The Chest Muscle
When the implants are placed above the muscle but under the breast tissue (subglandular placement), they may put slightly more pressure on the surrounding breast tissue, but this does not usually cause significant breastfeeding issues.
Many people worry that an implant will press on the milk ducts or take up too much space, but research to date has reported that this is rarely a problem. A large observational study published in 2019 found that about 79 percent of women with breast implants were able to breastfeed at least one child in the five years following surgery, and only around 20 percent experienced low milk supply issues.
The Location Of The Incision
Around the Areola
The location of the incision used to place the implant can also affect future breastfeeding after augmentation. When incisions are created around the areola (the darker skin surrounding the nipple), there is a slightly higher risk it will affect nearby nerves and milk ducts. Any nerve damage that occurs in this area can interfere with the natural let-down reflex, which triggers milk to flow. If the milk ducts are affected, it can reduce the amount of milk that reaches the nipple.
Under the Breast
Incisions made under the breast fold or in the armpit are less likely to disturb the nerves or ducts that are used for milk production and delivery.
Your Individual Anatomy
The ability to produce an ample supply of milk may be a pre-existing condition for some women. Women who have very small breasts already have limited glandular tissue before surgery, so adding implants can make their breasts look fuller and shapelier, but there is no way to create more milk-producing tissue.
Additionally, if a medical condition called breast hypoplasia is present (where the breasts did not develop fully during puberty), then implants may correct underdeveloped or asymmetrical breasts, but their milk supply may still be naturally low regardless of the surgery.
Additional Corrections
Combining breast implants with other types of corrective surgery, like having a breast lift at the same time as your augmentation, may have more impact on milk supply than just having the augmentation alone.
A breast lift involves more significant surgery to reshape the breast tissue and carries a higher chance of affecting the milk ducts and nerves involved in lactation. These risks may not be a reason to avoid combining procedures, but talking with your surgeon about timing and technique will help you come up with a plan that makes sense to you and your goals.
Does It Matter Whether You Have Silicone or Saline Implants?
No, current research indicates that it does not seem to matter. The information provided from the available research shows that the implant filling does not seem to make a significant difference in how successful breastfeeding is for new mothers.
The 2019 study mentioned earlier found no meaningful difference in breastfeeding rates or milk supply issues between women with silicone implants and those with saline implants. Both groups were able to breastfeed at similar rates, and the challenges they experienced stemmed more from surgical technique and individual anatomy than from the implant material itself.
Is It Safe for the Baby to Breastfeed With Implants?
Yes. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the American Academy of Pediatrics have all made statements that there is no evidence to suggest it is unsafe to breastfeed with implants.
Breast milk from a woman with implants contains the same nutrients, antibodies, and hydration that all breast milk provides. There is limited data to date about whether silicone or saline appears to change the safety or quality of the milk.
What You Can Do if You Are Having Trouble Breastfeeding
A low milk supply does not mean breastfeeding will be impossible for you. Even a small amount of breast milk provides real benefits to your baby, including antibodies that boost the immune system and meaningful bonding time between the mother and baby. Breastfeeding does not have to be all or nothing.
If you find that your supply is lower than expected, a certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) can often help develop a pumping routine to stimulate production, adjust feeding positions, watch for early signs of low supply or latch problems, and guide you in how to safely supplement your milk supply. Having this kind of support lined up before the baby arrives can reduce stress and help the early weeks of new motherhood go a bit more smoothly.
Sometimes, scar tissue can form around the implant after surgery (capsular contracture), which can affect the production of breast milk. If the scar tissue becomes too thick or tight, it may press on nearby ducts or nerves. If you notice changes in the feel of your breast after surgery and are planning to breastfeed, speak to your cosmetic surgeon about this so they can determine if any treatment is needed.
Should You Wait Until After Breastfeeding to Get Implants?
If you have not yet had a breast augmentation and are planning to have children and breastfeed, it is a good idea to discuss the timing with your surgeon.
Waiting until after you are finished breastfeeding has some advantages because your breast shape and position are likely to change during and after pregnancy. Also, there will be no chance that surgical changes may impact your milk production or delivery.
Undergoing a breast augmentation afterward can provide correction for changes like lost volume or changes in shape, and the details can be more personalized to fit your exact needs and give you the results you want.
Who Can I Talk To About Implants And Breastfeeding?
The experts at Newvue Medical offer breast augmentation and can answer your questions about implants or other plastic surgeries that enhance the appearance of your breasts.
Dr. G. Min is a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience in plastic & reconstructive surgery. He will talk with you about your goals and the look you desire to achieve before creating a personalized plan that will deliver the precise and natural-looking results you want.
Make sure to talk with him about your desire to breastfeed in the future if you would like to tailor your surgery with that in mind. Set up your consultation today!
FAQs
Can You Breastfeed if You Have Had a Breast Lift and Implants?
Maybe. It may be possible, but the chances of changes in your milk supply occurring are slightly higher. A breast lift reshapes and repositions the breast tissue and nipple, which sometimes impacts the milk ducts or nerves. It is different for every woman and will depend greatly upon your individual anatomy and the technique used by the surgeon.
Will My Breasts Look Different After Breastfeeding if I Have Implants?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding can change the size, shape, and position of your breasts, even if you have implants. You may experience sagging, volume loss, or changes in your skin’s elasticity after you finish nursing. Sometimes, women undergo a revision surgery to restore fullness or improve shape. These changes can be caused by pregnancy and hormonal shifts, and not entirely by breastfeeding itself.
Can You Breastfeed from Only One Breast if There Is a Problem with The Other?
Yes. Many women can successfully get enough milk from one breast to support their baby. They may need to feed the baby more frequently or pump between feedings. Working with a certified lactation consultant can help guide your lactation after augmentation through a pumping routine and a feeding plan that keeps your baby well nourished and helps promote milk production in the working breast.
