The purpose of this study is simple. If you have a breast augmentation surgery with implants, will you be able to breastfeed?
December 2016 study out Argentina in the Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Journal, “Cohort Study to Assess the Impact of Breast Implants on Breastfeeding.” They looked at 3950 women, and matched 200 patients for demographics- 100 with implants, 100 without. Breastfeeding was then compared at 24 hours, 48 hours, and 30 days.
Results:
- More women without implants were breastfeeding at 30 days (nonsignificant) 99% vs 93%
- 93% of women with breast implants established breastfeeding
- The implants decreased breastfeeding slightly, though women were still able to provide nutritional, psychological, affective, and immune support.
They cite many prior studies with interesting facts and ideas
- Do women with implants have harder times breastfeeding because they have little breast tissue? (as they say, “inadequate development of the mammary gland”)
- Not all women’s breasts respond to pregnancy in the same way.
- Is there a relation between 24 hour milk production and the storage capacity of the breast?
- Is there different nerve stimulus in women who have had breast augmentation when the baby is sucking?
- If so, is there a difference between site of incision, size of implant, placement in front of muscle or behind?
- Studies have shown increased sensation change based on size of implant (larger size= more change)
- There is a study which showed large implants in a tiny body cause more compression of the breast tissue, which causes atrophy of the cell wall of the alveoli and diminished milk production
- Incision at the areola cuts through breast tissue. how many glands are now “dead end streets”?
- Do women who have implants have more psychological stress to breast feeding because they care about the aesthetics of their breast?
What do I think?
Many studies have come out showing any surgery to the breast- biopsy, lift, augment- can change your ability to breastfeed. Anecdotally, my patients have told me they were able to breastfeed. There is thought the amount of milk production decreases because of prior surgery, so women with prior breast surgery will need to supplement more. I have heard real life conflicting reports on this. Just using common sense, the areola incision should be avoided if you want to breastfeed because it will cut through some ducts, so that breast tissue would no longer be connected to the nipple. If you are going to have children soon, wait to do breast augmentation until after you have your baby. Your breasts get bigger during pregnancy (one study cites 96g larger on average), and even bigger if you breastfeed. An implant is a great way to “fill” any loosening which occurs because of this.
But I liked this study shows breast implant surgery does not block your ability. It is a common misconception, and again from what many of my patients report to me, not true.