Can I Still Breastfeed After a Breast Augmentation?

Getting a breast augmentation is a great way to boost your self-esteem and give yourself the curves you’ve always desired. However, one big concern many Houston women have before getting a breast augmentation is whether or not they can still breastfeed if they choose the procedure.

Luckily, for most women, breastfeeding after augmentation is not an issue, especially when done under the expert care of doctors like Dr. Yarish and Dr. Bartlett. However, there may be a few instances when breastfeeding could pose an issue. Learn more about how breast augmentation may or may not affect your ability to breastfeed below.

Factors That Can Affect Breastfeeding

In general, breast augmentation should not affect your ability to breastfeed. However, as with any surgery, there is the risk of complications that could alter your ability to produce and deliver milk. Some of these complications include:

• Nerve damage as a result of incisions made around the areola. To prevent this from happening, your doctor can make incisions in the belly button, armpit, or under the breast instead.
• Improper placement of the implants. For breastfeeding, it’s better to have implants placed under the chest muscle, as implants placed under the breast tissue can sometimes affect milk production.
• Mastitis, which is a type of breast infection that can lead to the development of scar tissue. Scar tissue can block milk ducts and prevent the production of milk.

Of course, when you choose skilled Houston plastic surgeons like Dr. Yarish and Dr. Bartlett, most of these issues are nonexistent. They’ll carefully perform your surgery with exact precision to prevent damage to the nerves, milk glands, and milk ducts you need to produce and deliver milk.

Tips for Improving Milk Production After Breast Augmentation

If you are experiencing trouble producing milk after breast augmentation, there are a few tricks you can try to up your production levels. These include:

• Taking a supplement to stimulate milk production, such as blessed thistle and fenugreek.
• Taking a drug called domperidone, which can also enhance milk production.
• Using a breast pump or supplemental nursing system to signal to your body to keep producing milk.

Does Breast Augmentation Poison Breast Milk?

Many Houston women also have the fear that their implants could release toxic chemicals into the milk, making it hazardous to breastfeed. Luckily, these are myths.

If you have silicone implants and they leak, it is harmless for the baby to ingest as it’s just water. And if you have silicone implants, research hasn’t found any evidence that this causes harm to babies.

Get More Answers to Your Breast Augmentation Questions in Houston

If you have more questions about breast augmentation, Dr. Yarish and Dr. Bartlett are here to help. They can help you decide if the procedure is right for you or if an alternative, such as a breast lift, might be a better option.

To learn more about your options and schedule your initial consultation at our Houston office, give us a call today at (281) 645-0355.