Posted on January 21, 2011
This will be the first in a line of blogs about this topic.
Let me start first with an email I received from a patient, ”I just want let you know that I have had no problem breastfeeding. I am grateful that nothing was damaged during my breast lift surgery. Nice job to you!! We had a beautiful girl. I was worried about breastfeeding but it is going great. I have a ton of milk supply on both breasts. I just wanted to let you know. “
All breast surgery affects the breast. Seems like a simple concept, but we forget it sometimes. A 20 year old woman who wants a breast reduction may be more focused on getting her breasts smaller and somewhere above her waist, not the bonding and nutrition she may give with breastfeeding 10 years down the road when she decides to have kids.
So I discuss it.
Any woman who has not had children and wants to do any surgery of the breast needs to consider the effect surgery will have on the breast and your ability to breastfeed. Thankfully, for most women, they are able to make milk. The studies show there may be a decreased amount of milk, but I have had many patients who have had breast augmentation or breast reductions and lifts who have successfully gone on to breastfeed.
If you are a decade away from thinking about kids or you have a lot of issues with your breasts (backpain, droop, asymmetry, etc), then know there are techniques which help maximize your future ability to breastfeed. If you are on the verge of having kids, wait to do the surgery. It will totally preserve your ability to breastfeed among other advantages:
Anectode: I had a friend who was 38, newly married, who wanted a breast augmentation. I am a straight shooter, so I told her, “You are older. You can’t wait to have kids. Have your kids. You’ll need to have them in the next year or two. Your breasts will get bigger with pregnancy. Your breasts will get bigger while breastfeeding. When you know you are done, then do the surgery. Pregnancy and breastfeeding changes the breasts a lot- shape, volume, symmetry.” She did not listen, and went to someone else for surgery. She has now had two surgeries within 3 years. Had she waited until done with kids, she might have had just one surgery, and the results could have been better.
I am a huge fan of breastfeeding. I am not saying to do surgery or not do surgery. I am not dictating the timing of your surgery. This is all about educating you to make the right choices for you.
