Silicone breast implants do not stop women from breastfeeding in most cases, according to plastic surgeon Dr. Cristiane Gusmão, who specializes in breast reconstruction. She said the outcome depends on whether the original surgery preserved the mammary gland, the milk ducts and nipple sensitivity.
The comments come during Golden August, a month dedicated in Brazil to raising awareness of and encouraging breastfeeding, when questions often resurface about whether women who have had breast implants, or who plan to, can safely breastfeed.
Dr. Gusmão said that when a procedure involves only placing an implant to enlarge the breasts, without manipulating the mammary glands, the chances of it affecting milk production are small. She explained that implants are usually placed behind the mammary gland or the pectoral muscle, which does not compromise the ducts that carry milk, so women in these cases tend to produce milk and breastfeed normally.
More complex procedures carry greater risk
She said the picture changes with more complex procedures, such as breast reduction or a mastopexy, or breast lift, which require greater manipulation of breast tissue.
Where a procedure involves cuts around the areola or breast reconstruction, Dr. Gusmão said there is a higher risk of damage to the milk ducts and to the nerves responsible for nipple sensitivity. Depending on the technique used, this can reduce milk production or make breastfeeding more difficult.
Should implants be removed during pregnancy?
Dr. Gusmão said there is no medical reason to remove a silicone implant during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The implant stays where it was placed and, under normal conditions, poses no risk to the baby.
She added that current implants are designed to withstand large changes in pressure and volume, and that breast enlargement during pregnancy does not raise the risk of the implant rupturing.
Debunking the milk quality myth
Dr. Gusmão also pushed back on a common myth that women with silicone implants produce less milk or milk of lower quality for their children. She said implants do not alter the quality of breast milk, and that production also remains normal in most cases.
Only when the milk ducts or nerves were compromised during the original surgery can some reduction in milk production occur, she said. She added that implants do not affect how a baby latches during breastfeeding, and that difficulties are usually related instead to breastfeeding technique.
