Can I still breastfeed if I have had breast surgery?
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How much milk you can produce depends on how your surgery was done, where your incisions are, and the reasons for your surgery. Women who have had incisions in the fold under the breasts are less likely to have problems making milk than women who have had incisions around or across the areola, which can cut into milk ducts and nerves. Women who have had breast implants usually breastfeed successfully. If you ever had surgery on your breasts for any reason, talk with a lactation consultant. If you are planning breast surgery, talk with your surgeon about ways he or she can preserve as much of the breast tissue and milk ducts as possible.
This answer is based on source information from the National Women's Health Information Center.
How much milk you can produce depends on how your surgery was done, where your incisions are, and the reasons for your surgery. Women who have had incisions in the fold under the breasts are less likely to have problems making milk than women who... More -
Dr. Margaret Payne answered:Breast surgery may affect your ability to breast feed. Depending on the type of surgery and the technique that was used, breast feeding may be difficult or in some cases virtually impossible. Breast reduction surgery almost always involves cutting the milk ducts which results in poor to no breast milk production. Breast augmentation surgeries can be done with or without cutting the milk ducts. If you are planning surgery, talk with your breast surgeon before the augmentation and request that the procedure be done with as little interruption of the milk ducts as possible. If you have already had augmentation, your surgeon may be able to tell you how it was done. Often, it is not possible to find out. The best thing to do, if you want to breast feed, is to work with a lactation specialist and exclusively breast feed for the first several days. If after 4-5 days you do not have a good milk supply and your baby is losing excessive weight, you will probably have to supplement the baby in addition to breastfeeding. This is a good time to try pumping after nursing for further stimulation of milk production. If after 10-14 days of vigorous nursing and pumping, you do not have an adequate milk supply, your milk ducts were probably cut during surgery. In this case, the best that you will be able to do is partially breast feed your baby and use formula supplementation.Breast surgery may affect your ability to breast feed. Depending on the type of surgery and the technique that was used, breast feeding may be difficult or in some cases virtually impossible. Breast reduction surgery almost always... More -
Dr. Stuart Linder answered:Loss of breastfeeding is approximately 5% of elective cosmetic breast augmentations by board-certified plastic surgeons throughout the United States. The numbers increase to 12-15% for breast reductions and larger breast lifts (mastopexies). Mastectomy patients can not breast feed if the entire glandular tissue with ducts are removed.Loss of breastfeeding is approximately 5% of elective cosmetic breast augmentations by board-certified plastic surgeons throughout the United States. The numbers increase to 12-15% for breast reductions and larger breast lifts (mastopexies).... More
