Does Breast Implant Surgery Affect the Lactation Ability of A Woman?

Does Breast Implant Surgery Affect the Lactation Ability of A Woman?

Date 01 Feb 2024  

Table of Contents

Breast Implants and Lactation

Women all over the world work incredibly hard to look perfect. They are not wasting any effort in this regard. Breast implants are the pinnacle of one such procedure that provides women with an attractive and sophisticated appearance. This is a very common cosmetic procedure. Every year, hundreds of women decide to get implants. While the visual benefits of this procedure are appealing, it's crucial to consider how it will impact a woman's ability to breastfeed in the future.

Many women are concerned that having breast implants may limit their ability to breastfeed. ‘Breast implants, when properly placed, should not impair the function of the mammary glands or milk production’ shares a cosmetic surgeon in Hyderabad practising at Eternelle Aesthetics. The most common breast augmentation incisions, such as inframammary or periareolar incisions, do not interfere with the milk ducts or nerves that control breastfeeding. It is critical to discuss the wish to breastfeed with the surgeon at the appointment time to ensure that the implant placement procedure is suitable.

Lactation would not be affected by breast transformation surgeries, whether it’s implants, fat grafting or breast reduction. The only thing that could be there is a little pain, and in case a woman has a scar, feeding and latching onto the scar can be a little problem for the kid. So the doctors advise the patients to better avoid surgeries during the lactation phase, but as such, getting a procedure done would never affect the woman’s ability to lactate a baby in the future.

For more details on breast implant surgery in Hyderabad, watch this video by our plastic surgeon: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxnNhxqh6KU/.

Breast Implant Procedure

Step 1: Anaesthesia

Medications are given to keep patients comfortable during the surgical procedure. There are two options: intravenous sedation or general anaesthesia. The breast implant surgeon in Hyderabad at Eternelle Aesthetics suggests the best option for patients.

Step 2: Incision

To avoid obvious scars, incisions are performed in discreet spots. Women and their plastic surgeons will discuss which incision alternatives are best for their desired goal. Incisions can be made along the areolar edge (periareolar incision), under the breast (inframammary fold), or in the armpit (axillary incision). The belly-button method is associated with a higher complication rate.

Incisions differ depending on the type of breast implant, targeted enlargement, patient's anatomy, and patient-surgeon preferences.

Step 3: Insert and Place the Breast Implant

Following the surgery, a breast implant is placed into a pocket in either:

  • Under the pectoral muscle (submuscular location),
  • Directly beneath the breast tissue, above the pectoral muscle (a sub-mammary or sub-glandular location).

The method for placing and setting breast implants is determined by the type of implant, the degree of enlargement wanted, the patient's body type, and the surgeon's recommendations.
The position of breast implants and the incisions used to insert them may make it difficult for a woman to breastfeed well.

Implants can be placed between the glandular breast tissue and the muscle in the chest wall or beneath the muscle layer. When implants are placed precisely against breast tissue, the pressure exerted by them is more likely to clog the milk ducts, making it more difficult for a woman to make enough breast milk or for the milk to flow freely while breastfeeding. Implants inserted beneath the chest wall muscle layer are less likely to interrupt milk production or flow. If a woman is considering breast implants, has not yet had children, and wishes to breastfeed one day, consult with a plastic surgeon and a lactation specialist about the potential benefits of placing the implants beneath the muscle.

Implants can be placed during a breast augmentation procedure in Hyderabad through incisions in the armpit, crease beneath the breast, or around the areola (the darker area surrounding the nipple). Incisions in the armpit and beneath the breast have less of an impact on a woman's ability to lactate. When incisions are made around the areola, nerves or milk ducts may be damaged, resulting in reduced milk flow. Some women who have had implants inserted through incisions around the areola can still breastfeed.

Step 4: Close the Incisions.

Incisions are closed with multilayered sutures in the breast tissue and sealed with sutures, skin adhesive, or surgical tape. Over time, the incision lines will fade away. The quality of a scar is determined by a variety of factors, including heredity, nicotine exposure, and infection.

Breastfeeding with Breast Implants

Breastfeeding offers several benefits for both mothers and babies. It boosts the mother-newborn relationship, strengthens the baby's immune system, and helps the mother recover from postpartum. Mothers with implants can enjoy the same emotional and physical benefits as those without.

When determining whether to get breast implants before or after having children, many women choose to wait until they have finished expanding their family, even though there is no influence on their ability to lactate. It's no secret that pregnancy and childbirth can have a significant influence on a woman's body; thus, many mothers opt for cosmetic treatments to restore their pre-baby bodies, whether it's breast implants alone for drooping breasts after breastfeeding or as part of a "Mommy Makeover." The mommy makeover, which consists of three separate surgeries (breast rejuvenation, a tummy tuck, and buttock rejuvenation), is a full-body rejuvenation for women who have had several children or have lost a significant amount of weight to help restore body proportion.

Conclusion

While there is a lot of information about breast implants available online, there are conflicting claims about breast implants in general and how they affect a mother's ability to lactate. It is frequently believed that breast implants pose no risk to milk supply.

Women who receive any type of breast surgery, including breast implants, are up to three times more likely to have an insufficient milk supply. In certain situations, this is due to the silicone or saline implant being placed directly on top of the breast tissue, compressing the milk ducts and glandular tissue. When these areas are affected, the production of milk can be significantly reduced.

Fortunately, surgical procedures may reduce these risks. Therefore, it is very important to visit an experienced and trained expert plastic surgeon in Hyderabad to achieve safe outcomes.