Can I Breastfeed with Breast Implants?

Conveniently located to serve the areas of Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Posted on July 18, 2019 under Breast Implants

About 300,000 American women undergo breast augmentation each year. If you are one of them, it’s common to wonder about the possibility of breastfeeding after getting breast implants. There are studies that suggest that you may face more challenges while breastfeeding, but that is very rare and most women are able to breastfeed just fine after breast augmentation. Here’s some more information about what to expect.

How Can Implants Affect Breastfeeding?

While implants themselves don’t affect breastfeeding, some factors about the surgery itself can affect it. Here are a few things to consider:

Loss of Feeling in the Nipples

Because of the nature of the procedure, women sometimes lose some sensation in the nipples after breast augmentation. This can make breastfeeding more difficult, depending on the amount of sensation lost.

Implant Placement

If your breast implants are placed under the pectoral muscle, it sometimes proves better for breastfeeding. Although implants don’t necessarily interfere with milk production, they sometimes can if they are placed above the chest muscles.

Natural Breast Size

If you opt for implants that are considerably larger than your natural breast size, then it can sometimes interfere with milk production because of insufficient breast tissue. Your plastic surgeon can give you the best idea of what to expect with your chosen implants.

If your implants contain silicone, you should note that there is no risk to your baby while breastfeeding. Breast implants have been studied at-length for many years, and your plastic surgeon can answer any questions or concerns you might have about their safety.

Schedule a Consultation

Breast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures and has a long history of safety and effectiveness. To begin scheduling your consultation and discuss your plans for breastfeeding after implants, contact our office by calling or filling out our online form.

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Our Plastic Surgery Associates team includes Dr. Franklin Richards, Dr. A. Dean Jabs, and Dr. Keshav Magge. Each of our plastic surgeons is board-certified, and together they have over 60 years of combined experience. Drs. Richards, Jabs, and Magge are all highly qualified in procedures for the face, breast, and body, and pride themselves in providing excellent results through our state-of-the-art, Quad A certified operating centers