Breastfeeding After Breast Augmentation
Are you planning to breastfeed one day, but would like to have breast augmentation done now? Discuss the possible complications with your doctor, as well as the best surgical methods to preserve the ability of your breasts to produce adequate milk for your baby.
Perhaps you've already had breast augmentation done and are now considering the possibility of breastfeeding your newborn baby. Or you may be considering having surgery done,
but would like to keep breastfeeding open as an option in case you have children later in life. How does this type of surgery affect your options for breastfeeding your baby in the future?
The incision used during breast augmentation surgery is the major factor which affects whether or not you'll be able to successfully breastfeed your infant. There are four different types of incisions: below the breast, underneath the arm, through the belly button, or through the areola. You won't know until you begin to breastfeed if your surgery has affected your ability to supply an adequate amount of milk to your baby.
When the surgical incision is made below the breast at the point where it meets the chest, the glandular tissue that is used to produce milk is relatively undisturbed. The nerves of the nipples are also unaffected, so your breasts will most likely still be able to produce enough milk to keep up with your infant's demands. One problem that may arise is the pressure of the implant on the ducts and glands that produce milk. If too much pressure is exerted, your milk supply may be adversely affected.
Surgical incisions made through the underarm produce little visible scarring as well as little effect on milk supply. The nerves, ducts and gland which are crucial to milk supply are relatively undisturbed by this procedure, and the implant is inserted behind the muscle which lessens the pressure exerted on those same elements. Now, if the patient opts to have the implant in front of the muscle, some pressure will result, possibly reducing milk supply.
An implant that is inserted from the belly button may cause difficulty with the placement of the implant. However, the glands, nerves and ducts needed for milk supply are not usually disturbed. The only issue that may arise with breastfeeding is the pressure that typically comes from the placement of the implant in front of the pectoral muscle. This is the only position that can be utilized with this technique.
The final technique used in breast augmentation involves inserting the implant through the front of the breast by making an incision around the areola. As you can imagine, this incision will cause significant damage to the glands, ducts and nerves that are needed to produce an adequate amount of milk for you infant. In fact many of the ducts and glands will most likely be severed completely, resulting in the inability of them to produce any milk at all. As a further complication, the implant is placed on top of the pectoral muscles, which puts pressure on any glands that have not been severed by the surgery and reduces the possibility of ample milk supply even more. If you would like to breastfeed in the future, this is definitely not the option to choose.
Under any circumstances, you'll definitely want to discuss this procedure with your doctor before going ahead. Be sure to express your desire to breastfeed should you wish to have an infant one day!
