While pregnancy is an exciting and joyful time in a woman’s life, it is also an important time to make decisions that will impact both your life and your baby’s life. Expecting mothers have many decisions to make, including whether or not they wish to breastfeed. Those who do wish to breastfeed must consider whether previous breast surgery will impact their ability to nurse. The short answer? It might. Read on for a full explanation.
Factors to Consider
Following breast augmentation, most women are able to breastfeed. This is because the incisions are usually created at the bottom of the breasts or in the crease of the armpits, and the implants are placed beneath the breast tissue. This should not affect the milk ducts, allowing for full milk flow.
However, if you have undergone a breast lift or breast reduction, your chances of breastfeeding may be reduced. This is because these surgeries typically involve removing breast tissue, which could include milk ducts. This may result in little to no milk production for some women, while others may breastfeed without issues. It really just differs from woman to woman.
It is also important to know that, just because a woman has been given a breast cancer diagnosis, it doesn’t necessarily mean that breastfeeding in the future is eliminated. There are many types of surgeries for breast cancer – many of which are less invasive. But of course, if a complete mastectomy is being performed, you cannot breastfeed since the entire breast is being removed.
Get Informed
Overall, the answer to whether you can breastfeed after any type of breast surgery should be answered by a board-certified plastic surgeon. An examination and a discussion regarding your medical history can help to answer your questions. If you are considering breast surgery, or have questions regarding breastfeeding after surgery, contact our practice today to schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons.