Breast Augmentation and Future Breastfeeding

An often asked question by those seeking breast augmentation has to do with the ability to nurse a child after receiving implants. Breast feeding is possible after having this type of surgery, in that the procedure is not harmful to your future children, but there are some risks affiliated with implant surgery that could interfere with lactation, and you should know these risks even if you feel that you are finished having children or if you feel that you do not want to nurse any children that you do have.

Most all surgeons will bring up the conversation with prospective clients, but just in case, have the idea in your list of consultation questions. A prospective client who expresses the concern about nursing or who even mentions children in general should obtain as much information as possible in order to make an informed decision. There are several options of incisions, some of which result in less of a risk pertaining to future nursing, but the peri-areolar incision in particular is the one that carries with it the more risk to milk production.

It is a difficult projection to make for a patient who has not had children whether or not successful nursing will be important to her, and there are several other complications that interfere with nursing that are totally unrelated to having had a breast augmentation that can never be predicted, so even if you make a decision based on a risk analysis, other unrelated issues could cause insufficient lactation or other problems. 

Even if you feel that you are finished having children or if you feel that successful nursing is not important to you, you should heed all of the available information. You never know if and when your family is complete, and you cannot predict what emotions will accompany birth and your motherly desires to nurture your child, so try to fathom the idea regardless if it is in your life plan. It is often suggested to wait until your family is complete to make a decision to have a breast augmentation, and while that is good advice, remember that celibacy is the only way to ensure that pregnancy is not in your future.

Do an honest risk-benefit analysis with yourself. If you feel that the benefits to your body and self-esteem outweigh a percentile possibility that you will not be able to successfully breastfeed, and if you simultaneously predict that you will not feel a hormonal need to nurture your child in this way, then perhaps the issue at hand is null and void. It is perfectly normal, safe, and all around “okay” to choose not to nurse a baby as a form of nutrition, and the negativity that is projected from others about your desire or lack of desire should not be a consideration in your decision. 

To have breast augmentation or not to have it as well as to nurse or not to nurse are both personal decisions that you have the right to make, but it can only be helpful to know all the risks and information.