I see many women who want to get breast implants at my Toronto-area practice, and one of the most common questions is: “Will I be able to breast-feed if I have a baby someday?” In most instances, the answer is yes.
Certain breast augmentation procedures bypass and preserve the glands, ducts, and nerves involved in nursing. The 3 most common incision methods are:
- Inframammary: underneath the breast
- Transaxillary: through the underarm area
- Periareolar: around the areola
The inframammary and transaxillary methods offer the highest rates of success when it comes to breast-feeding. The periareolar incision is along the border of the areola, increasing the potential risk of interfering with the nursing mechanisms of the breast.
If you are planning any breast surgery, you may want to postpone the procedure until you are finished having children. The benefit is twofold:
- It eliminates any concerns about how surgery will affect nursing.
- Pregnancy alters the shape, size, and position of breasts in most women, sometimes requiring additional surgeries to restore the desired appearance.
If you do plan to have children and still want breast surgery, ask your surgeon about methods that preserve glandular tissue and milk ducts.
Thank you for the information