Will a Breast Augmentation Affect Breastfeeding?

Each year, Dr. Chong sees hundreds of women interested in breast augmentation. Some of these women have never had the breast size they wanted, pregnancy or weight fluctuations have left them with deflated breasts, or they have struggled with asymmetrical breasts their entire adult lives. Breast augmentation is an excellent way for women to finally achieve their desired look.

While most breast augmentation patients are done having children, there are women who want to have breast augmentation before they have finished growing their families and want to ensure their ability to breastfeed will not be affected by the procedure.

Pregnancy After Breast Augmentation

Before we dive into the specifics of breast augmentation and what aspects could interfere with your ability to breastfeed in the future, it is essential to point out that pregnancy after breast augmentation is safe. Nothing about the procedure or the implants should harm you or your baby during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

However, it is important to understand that pregnancy after breast augmentation will affect your results. The changes that naturally occur in a woman’s body during pregnancy will inevitably lead to enlarged breasts, which could cause the skin to stretch and eventually sag after the baby’s birth, or once breastfeeding has concluded. For these reasons, Dr. Chong recommends that her patients wait to have breast augmentation until they are finished having children and have a solid birth control plan in place.

Will a Breast Augmentation Affect Breastfeeding?

Even though Dr. Chong recommends waiting to have your breast augmentation until you are done having kids, she also understands that some women would benefit emotionally if they have breast augmentation before beginning their family. As a woman, wife, and mother, Dr. Chong knows well the emotional effects of body image on a woman. If your overall mental health benefits from breast augmentation, she will support you and work with you to develop a treatment plan that protects your future family planning goals.

First and foremost, be completely honest with your doctor about your desire to have a baby and breastfeed. These two important bits of information will allow her to give you surgical options that will enable you to breastfeed in the future:

Where she will place your breast implants affects your ability to breastfeed.

Newport Beach women who want to breastfeed in the future should have their breast implants placed under their breast muscles. This location will protect your milk ducts and nerves and allow you to breastfeed future children. 

The location of your incision will affect your ability to breastfeed.

By placing your implant through your breast crease (where the breast meets the ribcage), Dr. Chong can avoid cutting through your milk ducts and nerves. Therefore, you will be able to breastfeed in the future.

Talk to Dr. Chong About Both Your Cosmetic and Family Goals

No matter your reason for choosing breast augmentation before you have children, Dr. Lavinia K. Chong will work with you to develop a treatment plan that will allow you to breastfeed in the future.

If you are ready to learn more, call Dr. Chong in Newport Beach today at (949) 644-1400, and a member of her friendly team will help you.