Breast Feeding after Plastic Surgery
Plastic Surgery and Breast Feeding |
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Breastfeeding is, indeed, one of the most rewarding experiences for both mother and baby. The importance of breastfeeding to the early development of a child has long been established and has become a well-accepted convention. Many women who are considering going through a breast augmentation surgery fear that they will not be able to breastfeed later in their life. In this article, you will find all the relevant information regarding breastfeeding and breast augmentation. Will I be Able to Breastfeed After Going Through Breast Augmentation Procedure?Breastfeeding is a major concern for women who come in for breast augmentation or even other breast surgical procedures. While there are many different angles and factors to look at while answering this question, the general answer is yes, women can breastfeed after breast enlargement. However, since breast augmentation is an individual procedure, and the side effects and recovery process vary for each woman, you should acknowledge that there is a small chance that your ability to breastfeed will be affected. Studies found some correlation between insufficient milk supply and breast enlargement. It is very important that you discuss your future plans involving breastfeeding with your cosmetic surgeon before going through breast enlargement. Your cosmetic surgeon at Breast Enlargement New York understand such concerns, and will then know how to go about the procedure and reduce your breastfeeding issues to the very minimum through the incision site of the breast implants. Breast Augmentation Incision TechniquesProfessional cosmetic surgeons believe that the possibility of a mother to breastfeed her baby after breast augmentation is dependent on the site and the type of the incision. Below are the four different incision techniques that you should discuss with your cosmetic surgeon in order for you to come up with an educated decision:
After discussing your plans of having children and breastfeeding in the future, your cosmetic surgeon will, of course, rule out the incision technique that might risk your ability to breastfeed. While the periareolar incision technique may cause the loss of sensation in the nipples and areolas, the transareolar incision technique is an option your cosmetic surgeon will advise you not to consider. As the term suggests, the transareolar incision technique cuts across the areola and nipple region, which may cause damages to the glandular tissue, nerves and blood supply. Because of that, it will be nearly impossible for mothers to be able to obtain a full milk supply for her baby following this type of surgery. The best option for women who wish to have a breast enlargement procedure and still be able to nurse in the future is the axillary incision technique. Because the incision is made in the armpit, the glandular tissue, nerves and blood supply are in no way damaged. Through the axillary incision technique, no disruption of breast tissue will occur, which suggests that milk supply is also not disrupted. In addition, the axillary incision technique leaves very minimal scarring that might hinder the breastfeeding process. Myths About Breast Augmentation and BreastfeedingIn the early 1990’s, many people believe that the silicone originated from the breast implants could leak into a mother’s milk and thus harm a baby’s health. That is why there are many women who have undergone breast surgery, including breast augmentation, prefer not to breastfeed their babies due to the belief that the breast implants – whether silicone gel-filled or saline-filled – can harm their babies. There is no proven evidence that breast implants could, indeed, threaten both the mother’s and baby’s health. The milk that a mother provides is still the best for babies. Medical associations, especially the pediatric community, encourage breastfeeding to babies regardless if the mother has had breast augmentation procedure or not. Risks and Complications of Breast AugmentationAs mentioned above, the axillary incision technique is the best option for women who wish to breastfeed in the future after breast enlargement. However, fully independent from the incision site, placement of the implants and type of implants, any type of breast augmentation procedure affects lactation and nursing. The extent or gravity of the concern will never be known until you actually try to breastfeed. Generally, inadequate milk supply is due to the pressure that the breast implants put on the milk ducts, which causes the latter to be unable to produce milk. If such complications arise, you should inform your baby’s doctor about the procedure you have had so that he or she can monitor your baby’s health. If the milk supply does not improve, your baby’s pediatrician will most likely recommend that you combine breastfeeding with special formula. Other risks and complications are mastitis and galactorrhea. Mastitis is the infection of the milk ducts while galactorrhea is the production of milk in a woman who is not even pregnant. These problems are very rare, but it is important that you are aware of them before going through breast augmentation procedure as they could affect lactation and breastfeeding. In conclusion, in most cases, women who have gone through breast augmentation surgery can breastfeed like any other women. Nonetheless, since there is a small chance that risks and complications can arise in relation to breastfeeding after breast enlargement, you should discuss the prospect of breastfeeding in your future with your plastic surgeon prior to going through the procedure. Feel free to call us anytime for any questions you may have regarding the risks and complications that a breast augmentation procedure can have on breastfeeding. One of our expert breast cosmetic surgeons will gladly accommodate your call and give you the information that you need. |
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