One concern many young women have about breast augmentation is whether it will affect their ability to safely breastfeed their child.
First, let’s dispel any lingering misconceptions: both silicone breast implants and saline breast implants are safe. Neither has been shown to cause systemic illness or reproductive problems in women, nor have they been associated with illness in breastfeeding infants.
Sometimes, however, they can affect a woman’s ability to breastfeed. Not all women are able to breastfeed, and breast augmentation may increase your risk of being unable to breastfeed. Changes in nipple sensitivity may affect your let down response, and breast implants may increase your risk of being unable to produce enough milk. In the past, it was thought thatperiareolar incisions (those around the nipple-areola complex) increased the risk of breastfeeding problems, but now it seems that all breast augmentation surgeries have a comparable risk.
Most women with breast implants are able to successfully breastfeed if they want to. To maximize your odds of success, you need to be patient, dedicated, and not afraid to ask for help if you need it. Working with a lactation consultant has been shown to significantly improve breastfeeding success.
Breastfeeding also should not affect your breast augmentation results.
If you have additional concerns about breast augmentation and breastfeeding, please contact Gayoso Plastic Surgery in the Tampa area to talk to Dr. Antonio J. Gayoso.
