239-566-2611
1250 Pine Ridge Road, Suite 101C,
Naples, Florida 34108

What You Need to Know About Breastfeeding with Implants

What You Need to Know About Breastfeeding with Implants

In America, over 300,000 women a year get some form of breast augmentation. Many women however, have questions about breastfeeding following breast augmentation. Expectant mothers or women contemplating pregnancy often ask: “Will I be able to breastfeed with my implants?” If you are a mother and already have breast implants or are considering breast enhancement prior to childbirth you should consider the following.

Breastfeeding with Implants

Many women with implants are able to breastfeed their babies without difficulty, while others may experience problems. The ability to breastfeed with augmented breasts depends on a few factors:

  • Incisions – If your incisions are across the nipples or areolas, it is possible that your nerves and milk ducts were severed, making breastfeeding difficult or impossible. However, most modern plastic surgeons will make incisions under the breast or in the arm pit area to hide scars and preserve your nerves and milk ducts.
  • Implant Location – The location of your implants can play a role in milk production. Your implants can be inserted either under the chest muscles, or between the breast tissue and above the chest muscle. Opting for implants beneath the chest muscles is less likely to damage the nerves and glands involved in milk production.
  • Nipple Sensation – If you retain sensation or feeling in your nipples, it means your nerves have not been compromised, and you are probably able to breast feed. If you have limited or no sensation in your nipples and your breast augmentation was recent, it is possible that full feeling has not returned yet but your ability to produce milk is unaffected.. If this lack of sensation remains for an extended period of time, consult with your cosmetic surgeon.
  • Reason for Implants – If you elected for breast implants for aesthetic reasons, it is unlikely you will experience difficulty while breastfeeding. However, if you received implants to remediate undeveloped breast tissue, it is possible that your milk producing glands are also underdeveloped which can inhibit milk production.

Lactation

It may not always be apparent when you are not lactating properly. If your infant is losing body weight, is especially cranky, or has short feedings (less than five minutes), you should consult with your physician or a lactation specialist as soon as possible. These may signs may indicate that you are not producing enough milk to satisfy your child. It may be wise to switch to bottle feeding until you receive expert advice.

Healing and Restoring

Even after breast augmentation surgery, it is likely that your glands and milk ducts will remain functional. In fact, there are processes called recanalization (for the ducts), and reinnervation (for the nerves) in which they can heal, reconnect and restore function.

See a Board-Certified Surgeon

Studies have shown that 90% of women have the ability to breastfeed following breast implant surgery. If your surgery is performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon, your breast augmentation should not affect your ability to produce milk.

Considering Breast Augmentation?

Dr. Gardner of Gardner Plastic Surgery has extensive knowledge and expertise performing breast augmentation. If you have questions, concerns, or wish to consult with him about your ability to produce milk following a breast augmentation surgery, don’t hesitate to call us at (239) 566-2611, visiting our office location at 1250 Pine Ridge Road, Suite 101C, Naples, Florida 34108 or using our online contact form.

Naples Plastic Surgey is Proud to Serve Patients from Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and All Over the Country!

Want to Know
More About Our Surgeons?

Gardner Plastic Surgery Naples, FL
Contact Naples Plastic Surgery
renowned Naples, Florida plastic surgeons.
239-566-2611
Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Logo

At Naples Plastic Surgery, our cosmetic services are designed to contour and enhance your body to help you achieve the body image that you desire. Known for offering among the best facial plastic surgery in Naples, our board-certified surgeons are known as much for their artistry as they are for their surgical skills. We understand that your image is the key to feeling great, so we will provide you with the most reliable advice and services to help make you look and feel your best.

The surgical team at Naples Plastic Surgery has the training and experience necessary to help you pursue your own individual cosmetic goals down to the very last detail, all in a warm, comfortable, and private environment.

Dr. Paul Gardner, MD, FACS is a board-certified plastic surgeon serving Southwest Florida. As one of the leading plastic surgeons in Naples, FL, Dr. Gardner has more than 25 years of experience performing facial procedures including composite facelift, mini facelift, brow lift and skin cancer removal procedures. He also possesses expertise in breast augmentations, tummy tucks, and labiaplasty.

Dr. Leopoldo M. Baccaro, MD received extensive training at the prestigious Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center, where he worked with some of the most well-renowned practitioners in the art of cosmetic surgery. With honors and awards throughout medical school and his residency, Dr. Baccaro earned a stellar reputation for high quality surgical care with both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery procedures.

Dr. Mark Walsh, MD, FACS is a board-certified plastic surgeon serving Southwest Florida. Dr. Walsh participated in the prestigious plastic surgery training program at Duke University. He has also served as an invited reviewer and has provided expert commentaries for multiple surgical journals, including the highly regarded Aesthetic Surgery Journal.

Dr. Andrew M. Bonett, MD specializes in both reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery, with specific interests in reconstruction after breast and skin cancers, including Mohs reconstruction. His experience also includes reconstruction following traumatic injuries, body contouring, and general cosmetic plastic surgery procedures.

The plastic surgery process at Naples Plastic Surgery begins with a one-on-one, confidential consultation in which your surgeon conducts an examination to determine which procedures are likely to produce the most robust aesthetic improvements. This includes a comprehensive discussion with you to identify the benefits, risks and costs associated with each procedure. It may be possible to combine a number of surgical procedures into a single surgery if you desire and if your medical condition permits it.

As with any medical procedure, there is no guarantee that a desired outcome will be achieved. There are a number of health risks associated with even minor medical procedures. If you have any health issues or concerns, please feel free to discuss them any time with your surgeon at our Naples’ plastic surgery center.
Naples Plastic Surgery Logo

Naples Plastic Surgery- Copyright © 2013 - 2023

Plastic Surgeons | Paul M. Gardner, MD, FACS | Leopoldo M. Baccaro, MD | Mark Walsh, MD, F.A.C.S. | Andrew Bonett, MD

1250 Pine Ridge Road, Suite 101C, Naples, Florida 34108
(239) 566-2611 fax: (239) 431-8069
Website Design by: Moxxi Marketing