Does breast implant reduce the quality of breast milk?

I had breast implants placed three years ago, in preparation for having a baby. Will breast implants reduce or affect the quality of my breast milk? (Ha An, Bac Lieu ).

Reply:

Breast implants are placed into the breast tissue to increase breast size. The trend of breast augmentation with implants is increasingly popular for cosmetic purposes, correcting congenital defects, and reconstructive surgery after mastectomy for cancer treatment. Breast implants do not increase the risk of or prevent breast cancer and do not affect the quality of breast milk.

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

Breast implants are placed between the breast tissue and the chest wall muscle, or beneath the muscle layer. Implants placed directly into the breast tissue can create pressure that blocks the milk ducts, compressing and atrophying the breast tissue, making it difficult for women to produce enough breast milk or for milk to flow freely during breastfeeding.

Breast implants are placed beneath the pectoral muscle and are less likely to interfere with milk production or flow. During surgery, sometimes a small amount of glandular tissue is removed to reduce breast size, but in most cases, enough breast tissue remains to stimulate milk production.

A mother can breastfeed after having breast implants placed. Photo: Freepik — A mother can breastfeed after having breast implants placed. Photo: *Freepik*

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

After breast augmentation surgery, a mother may not be able to produce enough milk to meet her baby's needs. In some cases, milk production is impossible due to nerve damage or duct damage during the implant procedure. If milk supply is insufficient, you should supplement your baby's nutrition with pasteurized breast milk from a donor or infant formula.

Women who have had breast implants often experience breast sagging after pregnancy, whether or not they are breastfeeding. They should consider breast rejuvenation surgery (breast lift or breast implant replacement) after they have had enough children.

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

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