Breast Augmentation and Pregnancy/Breastfeeding

Denver, Colorado

Women commonly ask whether breast augmentation will affect their ability to breastfeed and how pregnancy and breastfeeding affect the shape of your breasts after having breast augmentation. Dr. Nick Slenkovich is dedicated to educating his Colorado breast augmentation patients and helping you make the decision of when is the right time for your procedure.

The Best Time for Breast Augmentation

If you are planning to get pregnant in the very near future, you may wish to postpone your breast augmentation procedure until after you have recovered from childbirth and have finished breastfeeding. That way, Dr. Nick can assess the state of your entire body, including any changes in your breasts. You may even choose to have a Mommy Makeover.

Having breast augmentation surgery does not affect your ability to become pregnant.

Breastfeeding after Breast Augmentation

Most types of breast augmentation incisions will not interfere with your ability to breast feed. Dr. Slenkovich typically uses an inframammary incision (in the crease of the breast) to insert the implant and places the implant under the pectoral muscle. Since this type of incision and implant placement do not disrupt the milk ducts or mammary glands, breastfeeding is typically not a problem.

Although breast augmentation via a peri-areolar incision may make breastfeeding difficult. This incision is made around the outer edge of the areola, the darker skin around the nipple. There is a small risk of damaging or severing the milk ducts and damaging the nerves that trigger the “milk let-down” reflex. About 20% of patients who choose this incision have found some problems with breastfeeding. If the ability to breastfeed in the future is important to you, be sure to discuss your concerns during your initial consultation with Dr. Slenkovich.

If you develop a significant amount of scar tissue after breast augmentation or other breast surgery it can reduce the volume of milk you produce. However, there are techniques you can learn to use that will often allow you to breastfeed normally.

To learn more about breast augmentation and pregnancy/breastfeeding, please contact Colorado Plastic Surgery Center to schedule a thorough consultation today.