Can I Breastfeed After Breast Augmentation? What You Need to Know (2025 Guide)
If you're considering breast augmentation but hope to breastfeed in the future—or you've already had implants and are now pregnant—you're likely wondering whether nursing will be possible. The good news: most women with breast implants can successfully breastfeed. However, your ability to nurse depends on several factors, including your incision type, implant placement, and whether you had pre-existing breast tissue or anatomical considerations.
This guide covers everything you need to know about breastfeeding after breast augmentation, including success rates, which surgical techniques preserve nursing ability, potential challenges, and what to discuss with your surgeon if future breastfeeding is important to you.
Can You Breastfeed With Breast Implants?
Yes, in most cases.
Research shows that the majority of women with breast implants can breastfeed successfully. Breast implants themselves don't interfere with milk production or make breast milk unsafe for your baby. Silicone and saline implants sit either behind the breast tissue or behind the chest muscle, keeping them separated from the milk ducts and glands that produce milk.
The key factors that affect breastfeeding ability are:
- Incision location — Where your surgeon made the cuts to insert the implants
- Implant placement — Whether implants are above or below the chest muscle
- Surgical technique — How carefully nerves and ducts were preserved
- Pre-existing factors — Your natural breast anatomy and milk production capacity
Studies indicate that approximately 70-80% of women with breast implants who attempt breastfeeding are successful, compared to about 80-90% of women without implants. The difference is modest, and many factors beyond surgery influence breastfeeding outcomes.
How Breast Augmentation Can Affect Breastfeeding
Breast augmentation can impact breastfeeding in three primary ways:
1. Nerve Damage
The nerves around your nipple and areola help trigger milk production through a reflex that releases hormones. If these nerves are damaged during surgery, your body may not receive proper signals to produce milk.
Periareolar incisions (cuts made around the areola edge) carry the highest risk of nerve damage because they pass directly through this sensitive area.
2. Disruption of Milk Ducts
Your breasts contain a network of ducts that carry milk from the glands to your nipple. If these ducts are severed during surgery, milk may not flow properly even if production is normal.
Again, periareolar incisions pose the greatest risk because they cut through the area where ducts converge near the nipple.
3. Pressure on Breast Tissue
While implants don't directly interfere with milk production, very large implants or those placed above the muscle can create pressure on breast tissue. In rare cases, this may affect gland function or milk flow.
Most surgeons recommend submuscular (under the muscle) placement for women planning to breastfeed, as this keeps implants further from milk-producing structures.
Which Incision Types Are Best for Future Breastfeeding?
Your incision location significantly impacts your breastfeeding success rate. Here's how different approaches compare:
Inframammary Incision (Breast Crease) — BEST OPTION
Success rate for breastfeeding: 85-90%
This incision is made in the natural crease beneath your breast. It avoids the nipple, areola, and most milk ducts entirely, making it the safest choice for preserving breastfeeding ability.
Advantages:
- Minimal risk to nerves and ducts
- Excellent surgical access for precise placement
- Well-hidden scar in natural breast fold
Ideal for: Women who prioritize future breastfeeding and don't mind a scar beneath the breast.
Transaxillary Incision (Armpit) — GOOD OPTION
Success rate for breastfeeding: 80-85%
The incision is made in the armpit, leaving breast tissue completely untouched. This approach preserves nerves and ducts but offers less direct surgical control.
Advantages:
- No scarring on the breast
- No disruption to breast tissue, ducts, or nipple sensation
Considerations: Requires endoscopic technique and may limit implant options.
Ideal for: Women who want scarring completely away from the breast and plan to breastfeed.
Periareolar Incision (Around Nipple) — HIGHER RISK
Success rate for breastfeeding: 50-70%
This incision follows the edge of the areola, providing excellent cosmetic results with minimal visible scarring. However, it passes through the area with the highest concentration of nerves and milk ducts.
Advantages:
- Scar blends well with natural areola border
- Good surgical access
Risks:
- Higher chance of nerve damage affecting milk letdown reflex
- Greater risk of duct disruption
- Possible reduction in nipple sensation
Ideal for: Women who prioritize minimal visible scarring and don't plan to breastfeed, or those willing to accept higher breastfeeding risks.
Transumbilical Incision (Belly Button) — RARELY USED
Success rate for breastfeeding: Similar to inframammary
This approach involves inserting saline implants through an incision near the belly button. It's rarely performed today due to limited implant options and surgical control.
Advantages:
- No scarring on breast
- No disruption to breast tissue
Considerations: Only suitable for saline implants, not silicone.
Implant Placement: Over or Under the Muscle?
Where your implants sit also affects breastfeeding potential:
Submuscular (Under the Muscle) — RECOMMENDED
Implants placed beneath the pectoralis muscle sit further from milk ducts and glands, reducing pressure on breast tissue. This placement is generally considered safer for breastfeeding.
Benefits:
- Less direct contact with breast tissue
- Lower risk of duct compression
- Reduced capsular contracture rates
Subglandular (Over the Muscle)
Implants placed directly behind breast tissue but above the muscle can create more pressure on ducts and glands. While many women with this placement breastfeed successfully, submuscular placement is typically preferred for those planning to nurse.
What the Research Shows
Multiple studies have examined breastfeeding outcomes after breast augmentation:
- A 2014 study in Aesthetic Surgery Journal found that women with inframammary incisions had breastfeeding success rates comparable to women without implants.
- Research published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery showed that periareolar incisions were associated with a three-fold increase in breastfeeding difficulties.
- A 2019 systematic review concluded that while breast augmentation can affect breastfeeding, incision type and surgical technique are the most important predictive factors—not simply having implants.
The takeaway: choosing an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon who understands the anatomy and your breastfeeding goals significantly improves your chances of successful nursing.
Planning Breast Augmentation When You Want to Breastfeed
If you're considering breast augmentation and plan to have children in the future, discuss breastfeeding goals with your surgeon during your consultation. Here's what to address:
Tell your surgeon explicitly that breastfeeding is a priority. This ensures they select the safest incision and placement approach.
Ask about their experience. Choose a surgeon who routinely performs nerve-sparing techniques and understands lactation anatomy.
Consider timing. Some women prefer to wait until after completing their family to have breast augmentation, though this isn't necessary. Others choose augmentation first and successfully breastfeed later.
Discuss incision options. If breastfeeding is very important, prioritize inframammary or transaxillary incisions over periareolar.
Understand that no guarantee exists. Even with the best technique, individual anatomy and healing vary. Some women without implants also struggle to breastfeed due to factors unrelated to surgery.
Breastfeeding After Breast Augmentation: What to Expect
If you have breast implants and are now pregnant or planning to nurse, here's what you should know:
Breast Changes During Pregnancy
Your breasts will still enlarge and prepare for lactation as they would without implants. You may experience:
- Increased breast size and fullness
- Tenderness or sensitivity
- Visible veins as blood flow increases
- Colostrum leakage in late pregnancy
These are normal signs that your body is preparing to breastfeed.
Milk Production
Most women with implants produce adequate milk. However, if nerves were damaged during surgery, your body may not release hormones efficiently, potentially reducing supply.
If you're concerned about milk production, work with a lactation consultant early. They can help you establish supply through frequent nursing, proper latch techniques, and if needed, pumping.
Potential Challenges
Some women with breast implants experience:
Delayed milk coming in — It may take an extra day or two for mature milk to arrive after delivery.
Engorgement — Implants can make engorgement feel more intense. Apply warm compresses before nursing and cold compresses afterward.
Difficulty achieving deep latch — Depending on implant size and placement, positioning your baby for optimal latch may require extra support. A lactation consultant can help.
Reduced sensation — If nipple sensation was diminished after surgery, you may not feel letdown as strongly, but milk transfer can still occur normally.
Is Breast Milk Safe With Implants?
Yes. Silicone and saline implants do not contaminate breast milk. Multiple studies have confirmed that silicone levels in breast milk from women with implants are similar to or lower than levels in women without implants. Saline implants contain sterile saltwater, which poses no risk.
Your breast milk is safe for your baby.
When to Seek Help
Contact a lactation consultant or your healthcare provider if you experience:
- Significant difficulty with milk supply despite frequent nursing
- Baby not gaining weight appropriately
- Severe pain during breastfeeding
- Signs of infection (redness, fever, flu-like symptoms)
- Concerns about implant integrity
A board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) can assess latch, positioning, and milk transfer to help you troubleshoot challenges early.
Breast Augmentation After Breastfeeding
Many women choose to have breast augmentation after completing their family. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can change breast shape, volume, and skin elasticity, and some women feel dissatisfied with their post-nursing appearance.
If you're considering breast augmentation after breastfeeding:
Wait at least 3-6 months after weaning to allow your breasts to stabilize.
Be open about your goals. Some women need a lift in addition to implants to address sagging.
Know that future breastfeeding is still possible. Even if you've finished nursing, you may nurse again with future children, so incision selection still matters.
FAQs
Will breast implants affect my milk supply?
Most women with implants produce adequate milk. However, if nerves or ducts were damaged during surgery—especially with periareolar incisions—supply may be reduced. Working with a lactation consultant can help maximize production.
Can breast implants rupture while breastfeeding?
No. Breastfeeding does not cause implants to rupture. Normal nursing activities, including pumping and breast massage, are safe.
Should I remove my implants before breastfeeding?
No. There's no medical reason to remove implants before nursing. They don't contaminate milk or interfere with your baby's safety.
Which incision is safest if I want to breastfeed?
Inframammary (breast crease) and transaxillary (armpit) incisions have the highest breastfeeding success rates because they avoid the nipple and areola entirely.
Can I get breast implants if I'm currently breastfeeding?
Most surgeons recommend waiting until you've finished breastfeeding and your breasts have returned to baseline size, typically 3-6 months after weaning.
Ready to Discuss Your Options?
Whether you're planning breast augmentation and want to preserve your ability to breastfeed, or you already have implants and are preparing to nurse, choosing an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon is essential.
AestheticMatch connects you with top plastic surgeons who understand the importance of your breastfeeding goals and use techniques designed to protect your anatomy and future.
