Can I Breastfeed After a Breast Augmentation?

Whether you’re about to undergo breast augmentation surgery or you’ve already had it, you’ve probably found yourself grappling with the following question:

“Will I be able to breastfeed after a breast augmentation?”

There’s always been some confusion around the answer to this important question. Some people will tell you that it won’t impact your ability to breastfeed, while others will recommend you wait until you’re done having children before undergoing breast augmentation.

So what’s the right answer here?

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Yes, You Can Breastfeed After Breast Augmentation

There’s overwhelming evidence to support that most women don’t have any trouble with breastfeeding after breast augmentation surgery.

Here’s why: the most common breast augmentation incisions are typically made under the crease of the breast. The implant is then placed underneath the muscle. Throughout all of these steps, there’s no interaction with the milk ducts near the nipples, which means there shouldn’t be any impact on your ability to breastfeed at a later date.

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A Small Risk: Be Vigilant About Your Incisions

So if it’s fine to breastfeed after breast augmentation, where did the persistent rumors about post-surgical breastfeeding issues come from?

The truth is that depending on where the surgical incisions are made, there’s a small risk you may lose sensation in your nipples. This risk is only present when incisions are made around the areola, which is usually done to hide surgical scarring. If any milk ducts are impacted by these incisions, it could affect the mother’s milk supply, thus making it more difficult to breastfeed.

If you’re considering breast augmentation surgery but know you want to be a mother, we recommend sharing your concerns with your plastic surgeon. That way, you can ensure your plastic surgeon won’t make any incisions that may potentially affect your ability to breastfeed.