Are you planning to breastfeed and have (or plan to get) breast implants? If so, you’re probably wondering whether breast surgery will affect your breast milk supply, and can you breastfeed with implants?

There are many babies born to women with breast implants. There are many factors that could influence your success, such as breastfeeding hormones and breastfeeding support.

I would like to support your breastfeeding journey as far as possible so you can succeed and reach your goals.

As a lactation consultant, I will share with you the most common questions I’m asked about breastfeeding with implants and how breast implants might affect breastfeeding.

Can you breastfeed with implants?

Although breast surgery carries some risk of damage (for example, to the nerves), the answer to can you breastfeed with implants is yes!

Research shows mothers have a reduced chance of breastfeeding exclusively when they have implants but many women with breast implants are able to breastfeed successfully.

Below are seven frequently asked questions about cosmetic breast implants:

#1: What are the different types of breast augmentation surgery?

The main differences between breast augmentation surgery techniques are:

Where the doctor places the implant. The implant is either placed above the pectoral muscle or below it
Where the doctor makes the incision. The incision can be close to or away from the areola.

Sometimes a woman has asymmetrical breasts, where one breast is different in size from the other. This might mean she has only one breast implant, on one side.

If the augmentation includes a breast lift, there could be added complications due to the surgical removal of the nipple.

The type of breast augmentation surgery can have an impact on breastfeeding, so let’s explore how.

#2: How might different breast augmentation surgery techniques affect breastfeeding?

If the incision is close to the areola there’s a greater risk of damaging nerves that are important for the let-down reflex (milk ejection reflex).

The let-down reflex is important in allowing the milk stored in the breast to be made available to the baby.

If your let-down reflex is affected (or doesn’t occur), then less milk is removed from your breasts and this can affect your supply.

Can you breastfeed with implants in front of the muscle?

If the breast implant is above the pectoral muscle, there’s a greater risk of it affecting your milk-making ability and milk production and you might not be able to make enough.

This is because if the implant is above the pectoral muscles, it can put pressure on the milk-making (glandular) tissue in the breast, making it harder to produce breast milk.

This could also somewhat inhibit the growth of glandular tissue in the breast (e.g. during pregnancy) and affect your production.

If the implant is above the pectoral muscle it could also put pressure on the milk ducts, reducing the flow of milk through them.

Breast milk not flowing well? The reduced flow will result in less breast milk being removed from the breast, which means less milk being made.

Can you breastfeed with implants under the muscle?

Breast implants placed under the pectoral muscle have a lesser chance of affecting breast tissue and breast milk production.

Because the implants are placed under the muscle, there’s less pressure on the milk-making breast tissue and you are more likely to be able to achieve a full milk supply.

Having implants under the muscle is the preferred option for women with breast implants who want to breastfeed.

#3: How can plastic surgeons increase my chances of breastfeeding successfully?

If you’re considering breast augmentation surgery, there are two things you can request, to increase your chances of breastfeeding successfully.

You can ask the doctor to:

Place the breast implant below your pectoral muscle
Make the incision somewhere other than near your areola. Your doctor could alternatively make the incision in your armpit or belly button, or underneath your breast.

A breast surgeon undertakes reconstructive surgery regularly and should be skilled at the job.

Find one who has an understanding of human lactation, who will discuss implant placement, and whose surgical techniques consider all the possible outcomes of implant surgery.

Things they need to consider are: nipple surgery and how that can affect the nerves; protecting milk glands (mammary glands); blood supply; and possible scar tissue.

Do you lose feeling in your nipples after breast implants?

Although it isn’t common, research shows some women lose sensation in their nipples after breast augmentation surgery.

It can take up to two years for nipple sensation to return.

There might also be varying degrees of nipple sensitivity.

This could have an impact on your ability to let down milk when baby nurses, which could lead to low milk production and the need for extra work to increase milk production or the use of infant formula.

On the whole, most mums with augmented breasts have no problems with their milk flow, creating enough breast milk or with the baby’s weight gain.

#4: Can breast implants affect breastfeeding and milk supply?

Breast augmentation surgery can affect breastfeeding and breast milk supply.

Even if the incision is made near the areola and the implant is above your pectoral muscle, you might still be able to breastfeed successfully.

There are many factors related to breast augmentation surgery other than the surgical techniques that can affect your supply.

Milk production

The number of years since the breast surgery can affect milk production. In breast reduction surgery some milk ducts and glandular tissue might be removed or damaged, but this doesn’t typically occur with breast augmentation surgery.

If the incision is around the areola, however, nerves can be damaged. Fortunately, your nerves will regenerate (but very slowly). Years later, damaged nerves might be able to function again – at least somewhat.

Breast hypoplasia is a particular type of breast shape that can be associated with the reduced ability to produce milk.

This is usually because there’s not enough milk-making tissue (insufficient glandular tissue).

Women with breast hypoplasia tend to have long, narrow, asymmetrical, and widely spaced breasts with large areolas.

If you had breast implants due to breast hypoplasia, and you also experience a low breast milk supply, it could be due to this condition rather than anything to do with the surgery.

You can read more about this in BellyBelly’s article Hypoplasia And Breastfeeding – Insufficient Glandular Breast Tissue.

#5: Do breast implants make it more likely to feel engorged when my milk comes in?

It’s possible you might have a tendency to feel more engorged when your milk comes in if you have breast implants.

This is especially true if your implant is above your pectoral muscle, which can contribute to your breast not being drained as effectively.

If your breasts become engorged, there are things that can be done to help you. Speak with an Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor or see a lactation consultant.

#7: Will breastfeeding ruin my implants?

Breastfeeding your baby won’t ruin your implants, although how you look after your breasts can.

It’s important to support your breasts in a way that prevents them from sagging for too long, as this can really affect the look of your breasts.

A great support bra can really give your girls the lift they need to stay where you want them to so they don’t head south.

It’s important, though, to avoid wearing underwire bras when breastfeeding.

There’s more information in Breastfeeding And Underwire Bras – Avoid Or Okay?

Massage is important when looking after your implants. This is a really handy tip, as massaging your breasts can also be really helpful when breastfeeding.

Getting to know your breasts well – with or without implants – and especially while breastfeeding will allow you to monitor them for anything unusual, such as lumps or early changes.

Rather than having a negative impact, breastfeeding can be helpful in looking after your implants.

#8: Will having breast implants cause harm to my breastfeeding baby?

There are two types of breast implant materials available: silicone and saline.

Naturally, many mothers will be concerned if their breast implants are likely to cause their baby harm when breastfeeding.

Rest assured. As this study shows, there are no concerns about either saline implants or silicone breast implants affecting your unborn or breastfed baby.

The Centres for Disease Control also show in this article that there have been no reported problems in babies of mothers with silicone implants.

How can I maximize my breast milk supply after breast augmentation surgery?

Because your breastmilk supply is largely established in the early weeks, getting breastfeeding off to the best possible start can help maximize your supply.

Here are some ways to do that:

Consider natural pain relief options for labor
Have skin-to-skin contact with your baby straight after birth, followed by rooming in with your baby
Feed your baby according to need
Aim for optimal positioning and attachment
Avoid supplementation unless medically indicated.

Speaking with an Australian Breastfeeding Association counselor or seeing a lactation consultant can provide you with individualized support and information to help maximize your supply.

Despite getting breastfeeding off to the best possible start, if you still struggle to make enough milk, you could speak with your doctor about the use of a galactagogue (a substance that increases milk supply).

For more information about medications and herbs to help increase milk supply, see The Breastfeeding Mother’s Guide to Making More Milk by Diana West and Lisa Marasco.

What if breastfeeding doesn’t work out the way I wanted it to?

It’s important to remember that ‘successful’ breastfeeding means different things for different mothers.

Breastfeeding is about so much more than milk. It’s about building a relationship with your baby.

Even if you’re unable to make a full supply, if breastfeeding your baby makes you feel happy, then no matter how much (or how little) milk you make, breastfeeding is ‘successful’ for you.

Some mothers who don’t make a full supply, find it helpful to use a breastfeeding supplementer (e.g. supplemental nursing system).

This is a device that allows a baby to receive supplemental milk while feeding on the breast.

For more information about see Defining Your Own Success: Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction Surgery by Diana West. Although this book is based on breastfeeding after breast reduction surgery, it’s still relevant for mothers who breastfeed after breast augmentation surgery.