Answers
"Does the breast augmentation procedure interfere with breastfeeding?"
— Answered by Scott Zevon, MD
New York, NY
Limited scientific research has been conducted on the potential impact of breast implants on breastfeeding. However, based on the current research, as well as the fact that many women with breast implants have successfully breastfed, there is no evidence that breast augmentation necessarily will affect the ability to nurse. Breast augmentation surgery may be performed with different surgical approaches to the breast and different incisions. If the approach used is via the armpit (the axillary approach) or the crease under the breast (the infra-mammary fold approach), the likelihood of alteration to the milk ducts is extraordinarily low.
As you are considering having breast augmentation and choosing a plastic surgeon, you should feel comfortable asking your plastic surgeon this and any other questions you may have about the surgery, and also discussing your goals and expectations. One of the most important parts of your consultation is the discussion that you and your plastic surgeon will have about the risks associated with breast augmentation. You should be sure that you fully understand all of the risks as well as the benefits of the surgery.
