Can I breastfeed if I have breast implants?
You may be able to breastfeed with breast implants. The breast implants may push on nearby breast tissue and pinch it. This may decrease the amount of breast milk made or stored in your breasts. Implants can also pinch milk ducts, block the flow of breast milk, and make your breasts swell. You may feel more pain when your breasts are full of milk. Pain may increase while breastfeeding and may cause you to want to stop breastfeeding. You also may stop breastfeeding if you are worried that your breast milk may harm your baby.

Can surgery for breast implants cause problems for breastfeeding?
Nerves, milk ducts, and milk glands can be damaged during implant surgery. Injured nerves can decrease the feeling in your nipple area. This may reduce your let-down response (when your breasts fill with milk). Damaged milk ducts can decrease the amount of milk made by your breast. Your breast tissue may be damaged or scarred after surgery. This can be caused by a breast infection, bleeding after surgery, or a hematoma. A hematoma is a buildup of blood in an area of your breast.

Scarred areas inside the breast can pinch on an area of your breast tissue and cause it to die. This can affect the normal shape of your breasts and make them look very different from each other. You may need other operations if you have problems with your breasts or breast implants after surgery. Having another surgery puts you at risk for more damage to your breasts.

Can the way my surgery was done affect my ability to breastfeed my baby?
The way your breast implant surgery was done may affect your ability to breastfeed. It depends on the type of incision (cut) made in your breast to place the implant. An incision made around or across your areola (dark circle around the nipple) can damage the nerves. This may cause a decrease or loss of feeling in your areola and nipple, which may make breastfeeding harder. Incisions may be done under the breast, in the armpit, or in the belly button. This may help prevent damage to milk ducts, glands, or nerves.

Where your implants are placed also may affect your ability to breastfeed. Breast implants may be placed in between your breast tissue and chest muscle. They also can be placed under the chest muscle to prevent damage to milk ducts and nerves. Implants placed under the chest muscle will not cause silicone to go into your breast milk. Incisions may be made through fatty tissue, found under your breast tissue, to put the implants in place. This method may decrease the damage to breast tissue.