Breastfeeding After a Boob Job

Breast implants can potentially affect breastfeeding, but this depends on the type of implant, the surgical technique, and your individual anatomy.

Some factors which may impact breastfeeding are:

• Nipple sensation – Breast Augmentation can sometimes affect nipple and breast sensation which may make it harder to breastfeed. 
• Milk production – Breast implants may not interfere with milk production itself, however depending on their placement and the surgical techniques used, they may impact how the milk travels from the milk ducts to the nipple. 
• Implant placement – Whether the breast implants are placed under the muscle (submuscular placement), or above the muscle (subglandular placement) may impact your ability to breastfeed. Typically, placing the implants behind the muscle affects breastfeeding less, as there is less interference with the milk ducts.

If you are considering any surgery which involves breast implants, it is important that you speak with your surgeon about whether you would like to be able to breastfeed in the future. 

Many women who have had a Boob Job (Breast Augmentation) are able to breastfeed following their surgery. If this is something you are concerned about, and you would like to be able to breastfeed following your surgery, it is vital you discuss this with your surgeon during your consultation.

If you wish to be able to nurse your baby following breast implant surgery, your surgeon will be able to prioritise preserving the milk ducts and glandular tissue to allow for this. However, the success of this cannot always be guaranteed and it is important to understand that there may be the risk of not being able to breastfeed, however careful and skilled your surgeon is.  

Generally, breastfeeding with breast implants is safe for both the mother and the baby. If you are concerned about the safety of breastfeeding with implants, or would like to be able to breastfeed, and already have breast implants, it is important to speak to your healthcare provider, or a breastfeeding specialist who will be able to provide personalised advice and support to guide you on your breastfeeding journey. 

Many surgeons encourage patients to have finished their family and their breastfeeding journey before they consider any breast procedures, whether they include implants or not. This is usually because breastfeeding can impact the final surgical result and may cause breasts to sag or droop – often counteracting the original intentions of the surgery.

However, many patients undergo breast surgeries when they are younger, before they start a family. In this instance, it is important to speak to your surgeon about whether you may wish to breastfeed in the future, how breast enlargement and pregnancy may affect each other, and understand how breastfeeding may affect your surgical result. This may include whether you may wish to have a follow up surgery, or replace or remove your breast implants following having any children.