Women of all ages come to our plastic surgery practice interested in breast augmentation. Some Washington, DC, patients, though, may be planning to grow their families and have more children down the road. We often receive questions from these concerned mothers-to-be who want to protect their ability to breastfeed. They want to know the answer to one important question: are breast implants compatible with their future family plans?
Good news—women have nothing to fear from breast augmentation. By making smart decisions and customizing your surgery, implants should have little impact on your ability to breastfeed.
Incision Location
Breast augmentation incision location is an essential part of preserving your ability to breastfeed. Women today have 3 main options when it comes to this specific detail:
- Inframammary: This incision runs along the fold under the breast, staying away from ducts and nerves that are involved in breastfeeding. It is one of the safest and most common incision types.
- Periareolar: Located near the armpit, this is another incision option for women who want to breastfeed, as it avoids vital breastfeeding structures.
- Transaxillary: This incision circles the areola and has the potential to damage nerves, glands, or milk ducts. It’s not an ideal choice for women who wish to breastfeed.
Implant Placement
Depending on the look you’re trying to achieve—and the tissues you wish to protect—breast implants can be placed in slightly different locations. The 2 options are:
- Subglandular: Implants are placed directly behind the breast tissue. While still relatively safe, the implant has a higher chance of contacting and affecting surrounding glands.
- Submuscular: Implants are placed under the chest muscle. This location is safer for women who wish to breastfeed, as the implant is behind the pectoral muscle and kept away from glandular breast tissue.
Working with Your Surgeon
Breast augmentation is a highly customizable procedure that patients can adjust to their needs. However, despite all these variables, women have little reason to worry. Breastfeeding ability usually stays intact after breast augmentation—even without special care.
Keeping your doctor in the loop about your breastfeeding concerns is still a good idea. And the best time to talk about your needs and concerns is during your one-on-one consultation. Be sure to tell your plastic surgeon about your family plans and how you wish to breastfeed in the future. They will be able to create exceptional results while making your safety and satisfaction a priority.
Mothers-to-be can still enjoy the benefits of breast implants. With a bit of communication and preventative care, breastfeeding won’t be an issue.
If you’re in the Washington, DC, area and would like to learn more about breast augmentation, request a private consultation online. You can also contact our offices by phone at (301) 652-7700 (Chevy Chase, MD) or (703) 560-2850 (Annandale, VA).
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