Does breast implant reduce the quality of breast milk?

I had breast implants three years ago and am preparing to have a baby. Will breast implants reduce and affect the quality of breast milk? (Ha An, Bac Lieu ).

Reply:

Breast implants are placed in the breast tissue to increase the size of the bust. The trend of breast implants is increasingly popular for breast beautification, correction of congenital defects, and reconstruction after mastectomy for cancer treatment. Breast implants do not increase the risk or prevent breast cancer and do not affect the quality of breast milk.

The structure of the breast includes the nipple, areola, milk ducts, lobes, lobules, glandular tissue, lymph nodes and blood vessels. Breast milk is produced in the lobules, then through the ducts to the nipple.

Breast implants are placed between the breast tissue and the chest wall muscle or underneath the muscle layer. Breast implants placed directly into the breast tissue can put pressure on the milk ducts, causing them to shrink, making it difficult for women to produce enough breast milk or for milk to flow more freely during breastfeeding.

Implants placed below the chest muscle are less likely to interfere with milk production or flow. Sometimes some glandular tissue is removed during surgery to reduce the size of the breast, but in most cases enough breast tissue remains to stimulate milk production.

Mothers can breastfeed after breast implants. Photo: Freepik — Mothers can breastfeed after breast implants. Photo: *Freepik*

After breast augmentation, a mother can breastfeed, regardless of whether the breast implants are saline or silicone. There is no evidence that silicone from breast implants leaks into breast milk.

After breast implants, the mother may not have enough milk to meet the baby's needs. In some cases, the milk cannot be produced because the nerves or milk ducts are cut when the breast implants are placed. When there is a lack of milk, you should supplement your baby's nutrition with sterilized donor breast milk or infant formula.

Women with breast implants often experience sagging breasts after pregnancy, whether or not they breastfeed. Women should have breast rejuvenation surgery (breast lift or breast implant replacement) after they have had enough children.

Master, Doctor Huynh Ba Tan
Department of Breast Surgery, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City

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