Breast Augmentation with breast implants in NYC is the most popular procedure performed by Board Certified Plastic Surgeons. There were over 325,000 breast augmentations performed in the United States last year, making it the number one procedure.
The number of breast augmentation procedures has been increasing about 4% each year. The advancing implant technology, combined with improved surgical techniques that offer a more rapid recovery, are some of the reasons why this procedure continues to become more popular year after year.
Breast Augmentation surgery is a procedure to increase the size of the breasts by inserting breast implants. These implants can be made out of either silicone gel or saline. The implants make the breast larger, rounder, and fuller. Breast Augmentation surgery is often combine with other plastic surgery procedures such as tummy tucks, liposuction, and Brazilian butt lifts.
If you’ve undergone breast augmentation and are currently pregnant or planning to start a family, you might have questions about the safety of breastfeeding with breast implants. Firstly, it is entirely safe for your baby to breastfeed even if you have breast implants.
However, for a comprehensive understanding of how breast augmentation could potentially impact your breastfeeding experience, Dr. Matthew Schulman, a distinguished and board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City, is here to provide you with valuable insights.
Can You Breastfeed with Breast Implants
Whether you have saline or silicone breast implants, breastfeeding is considered safe. Since the implant is positioned behind the mammary glands, it seldom interferes with the ducts and glands. The silicone implants employed in contemporary implants is unlikely to migrate into breast milk, and in the event of a saline breast implants rupture, you’ll promptly detect it.
Many women fear that if they get breast implants, it will interfere with their ability to breast feed a child. This is not true. When breast augmentation surgery is properly performed, there is virtually no disruption of the normal anatomy of the breasts. This means that the breast feeding mechanisms are completely unaffected. The implants are either placed under the breast tissue or under the chest muscle. This means that the breast producing gland is untouched, and the milk ducts that bring milk to the nipple, are not cut.
This means that if you were able to breast feed, then you still will be able to breast feed. What is important to acknowledge is that not every woman is normally able to breast feed. Some are unable to produce enough milk to sustain a baby. Studies have shown that as many as 5% of all women (without implants) are physically unable to breast feed.
So, it is follows that at least 5% of women who undergo breast implant surgery, will be unable to breast feed. However, this has nothing to do with the breast augmentation surgery. The presence of a breast implant will also not harm a breast feeding baby.
Breast Surgery procedures like breast lifts and breast reduction do carry a risk of interfering with your ability to breast feed, since these procedures involve directly cutting the breast tissue and even removing some tissue.
Can Breast Augmentation Impact Breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding is generally considered safe after breast implants, and the procedure itself should not significantly affect your ability to breastfeed. However, the key factor to consider is the placement of the implant, which may influence milk supply.
There are two primary methods for implant placement:
- Submuscular: In this method, the implant is positioned beneath both the mammary glands and the pectoral muscle.
- Subglandular: Here, the implant is situated beneath the breast tissue but above the muscle.
In both cases, the implant is positioned behind the milk ducts, typically not affecting milk supply or the ability to nurse successfully.
The most critical factor affecting breastfeeding outcomes is the location of the breast implant incision made during the breast augmentation procedure. Most breast augmentation surgeries involve an incision along the inframammary fold, which is the natural crease where the breast and chest meet. The incision is below the breast, and the implant is placed from this point, generally avoiding the areas of the breast related to nursing.
However, if the incision is made through the areola, there is a possibility that nerves and ducts may be separated, which can occasionally interfere with the letdown reflex responsible for signaling your body to release breast milk. Women who experience a loss of sensation in the nipple area are at a higher risk for this complication.
While the majority of women with breast implants can successfully breastfeed after their surgery, if you encounter challenges with milk supply or the letdown reflex, consulting a lactation specialist can often provide valuable assistance in addressing these issues.
Does Breastfeeding Impact the Appearance of Breast Implants?
Apart from concerns about how breast augmentation might affect breastfeeding, many women also wonder about the impact of breastfeeding on the appearance of their different types breast implants. Pregnancy and nursing can bring about alterations in breast tissue, such as changes in size, shape, and potential sagging.
Fortunately, a study at Yale University School of Medicine, revealed no discernible differences in measurements or sagging between women with implants who breastfed after pregnancy and those who did not.
It’s important to recognize that each woman’s body reacts uniquely to pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you do notice changes in your breast appearance and feel that your implants no longer complement your post-pregnancy physique, or if you have concerns about sagging or excess volume, Dr. Matthew Schulman is available to assist you with implant revision or removal procedures, ensuring an outcome that aligns with your comfort and preferences.
Questions and Answers
Is it harder to breastfeed with implants?
Is it harder to breastfeed with implants?Breast implants positioned beneath the muscle typically have a milder impact on breast milk production compared to implants placed above the muscle.
Will breastfeeding change my implants?
No, even though the size and shape of your breasts may undergo changes during pregnancy and breastfeeding, your breast implant size will remain unaffected.
Breast implants are shielded by breast tissue and muscle, ensuring that your baby cannot cause any harm to them while nursing.
What happens to breast implants when pregnant?
While implants themselves do not change during pregnancy, hormonal fluctuations, breast milk production (lactation), and weight gain can lead to skin stretching, which may subsequently result in sagging when the breasts return to their pre-pregnancy size.
Do breast implants affect the quality of breast milk?
Procedures like breast augmentation, breast lift, and breast reduction can potentially influence the nerves and ducts within the breast, which in turn may have an impact on lactation.
Generally, breast implants positioned beneath the muscle tend to have a milder effect on breast milk production compared to implants placed above the muscle.
What happens to breast tissue when you get implants?
Your body can develop firm tissue, known as a capsule, around the implant. Over many years, this may result in the breast feeling firm, uncomfortable, and undergoing a change in shape for some women.
Learn About Breastfeeding with Breast Implants
To learn more about cosmetic breast implants , be sure to set up an appointment with a Dr. Schulman a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, experienced in breast implant surgery.
References
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-03/m-nps030719.php
