Breast implant breastfeeding
The recommendation is to get breast implant surgery after the patient is done having children as the results can be altered if an ulterior pregnancy occurs. However, there are patients who are suffering emotional discomforts on a daily basis due to the underdevelopment of their breasts and hence choose to undergo a breast augmentation procedure rather early in life, sometimes even before having a family. This is the reason why a very popular question that we often need to answer during the pre-operative consultation is related to breast implants and breastfeeding. Many patients are worried that breastfeeding might not be possible after undergoing a breast augmentation.
While it is true that breast surgery (namely breast lift and breast reduction) can have long-term consequences related to breastfeeding, the same is not necessarily valid for breast implants. The procedure can be performed following different surgical methods, but if the inframammary placement of the incision is preferred and in the dual plane or submuscular location, there are little interferences with breastfeeding, even if a pregnancy would occur at a later date. If the periareolar incision is made to introduce the implants and the pregnancy occurs shortly after the surgery, breastfeeding might be a little difficult, but this is not the norm.
Generally speaking, women with implants can breastfeed without having any issues. A breast implant is not a contraindication for breastfeeding, and it is important to know that the mammary gland stays intact after the implants have been inserted, especially if the inframammary incision has been preferred to the periareolar incision.
If the implant is in the submuscular position, having the implants won’t affect milk production. The only inconvenience in breastfeeding with implants is that the implant can limit the milk flow when it is in the subglandular position, but this depends on the size and volume of the implants and the changes that occurred in the breasts during pregnancy.
Another important aspect that we need to discuss is related to the presence of silicone in the breast milk and whether this is dangerous for the baby.
Numerous studies have shown that the silicone used in implants can be found inside the body and is also used for numerous other medical devices that are meant to stay inside the body even for a lifetime. This type of silicone is not dangerous, and it poses no risks for the newborn. Moreover, new implants are very safe, resistant and durable, and even if they rupture, the silicone will stay close to the surface of the capsule of the implant and not migrate inside the breasts, in the milk ducts, or the bloodstream.
Breast implant breastfeeding is no different than breastfeeding without having implants. The only difference that patients will notice is that the breasts will be bigger and harder during breastfeeding.