Can You Breastfeed After A Breast Reduction Surgery?

Breast reduction surgery is a life-changing decision for women, especially those who are dealing with the physical and emotional stress of having large breasts. Breast reduction is a safe and effective way to create smaller and more comfortable breasts.

However, some women are still confused about whether they can breastfeed after their breast reduction surgery. Let’s get answered!

What is Breast Reduction?

Before moving forward, first, we understand what breast reduction is.

Breast reduction, also known as mammoplasty, is a type of plastic surgery that reduces the size of the breasts. During the procedure, the plastic surgeon removes excess breast fat, glandular tissue, and skin to give the breasts the desired size and shape.

The surgeon may also perform this procedure to correct the position of the breasts if they are not in the correct position. However, the surgeon will keep the nipple area intact to maintain the normal function of the breasts. The removal of breast tissues can significantly impact the breast reduction surgery cost.

When to Consider Breast Reduction Surgery?

Breast reduction surgery can provide you with breasts that are proportionate to your physique and will not cause you discomfort or interfere with your everyday life. The surgery does this by removing excess fat, tissue, and skin and reshaping your breasts to a smaller, more natural-looking size. Women consider breast reduction surgery for various reasons, including:

• To elevate chronic neck and back pain: Large breasts can cause back, neck, and shoulder pain. A breast reduction treatment may be the answer to saying goodbye to the persistent agony caused by excessively big breasts.
• Saggy and droopy breasts: Large breasts can be heavy, causing sagging and drooping. Breast reduction surgery can help to reposition the breasts so that they are perkier.
• Improve self-confidence: If your large breasts make you feel self-conscious, breast reduction surgery may be a solution for you. After surgery, bras and clothes will fit better, which can help you feel more confident in your appearance.
• Limited physical activities: Running, jumping, and other physical activities can be painful and uncomfortable for women with very large breasts. Breast reduction surgery can help relieve this pain and discomfort, making it easier for women to participate in sports and other healthy activities.

How Does Breastfeeding Work?

Breasts, also known as mammary glands, supply nutrition for newborns. Fats, glandular tissues, nerves, ligaments, and blood vessels comprise mammary glands. After delivery, glandular structures in the breasts begin to produce milk. This milk will be delivered to the nipple via the milk ducts. The milk will be sucked out of your baby’s nipples.

Nipples, in addition to producing milk, play an important function in milk production. Nerves in the nipple region, particularly the darker section, transmit messages to the brain, instructing it to begin generating milk and allowing it to flow down the milk ducts.

Can I Breastfeed After Breast Reduction Surgery?

Yes, it is possible to breastfeed after breast reduction surgery; however, in some cases, it is not always possible to produce a full milk supply. The amount of milk you can produce after surgery will depend on several factors, including the type of surgery you had, how much tissue was removed, and whether your nipple and areola were moved.

If you are considering breast reduction surgery and want to breastfeed, here are some things to think about:

Surgical Technique: Some types of breast reduction surgery are more likely to interfere with breastfeeding than others. For example, if the nipple and areola are moved or removed during surgery, this can damage the milk ducts and nerves that are essential for breastfeeding.

Even if the nipple and areola are not moved or removed, any amount of breast tissue removal can reduce the number of milk ducts and the amount of milk that can be produced. In addition, the healing process after breast reduction surgery can temporarily disrupt milk production. Despite these challenges, many women can successfully breastfeed after breast reduction surgery. Surgical techniques also affect the breast reduction surgery cost.

The Extent of Tissue Removal: Removing a large amount of breast tissue can reduce the number of milk-producing glands, which could affect milk supply.

Nipple Sensation: If you lose nipple sensation after breast reduction surgery, breastfeeding may be more challenging, as the damaged nerves that trigger the milk ejection reflex may make it difficult to detect the nipple.

Scar Tissue: Scar tissue from breast reduction surgery could potentially affect the flow of milk and damage milk ducts.

How Soon You Can Breastfeed After Breast Reduction Surgery?

Breast reduction surgery recovery typically takes one to two months for soreness and bruising to subside, but it may take up to six months to see the final results. You may notice a gradual reduction in your cup size immediately following surgery, but your breast size may still fluctuate during this time. It is important to wait six months to ensure that your breasts have fully healed and that your milk production has returned to normal before becoming pregnant, as pregnancy hormones can cause your breasts to enlarge again.

Importance of Setting Realistic Goals

How much breastfeeding is affected by breast reduction depends on how much nerve and milk-producing tissue is cut, which in turn depends on how much breast tissue is removed to meet your goals. These goals may be cosmetic, but they may also be related to pain and discomfort caused by overly large breasts.

When considering any type of plastic surgery, it is critical to establish objectives and goals, which need open conversation with your surgeon. This is especially true for childbearing women considering breast surgery. If nursing is a high goal for you, your surgeon may suggest you postpone the procedure until after you have had children.

Alternatively, you may decide to have a smaller reduction if it means you are more likely to be able to breastfeed. The reduction size, the incisions required, and the technique used to move the nipple vary widely. Realistic expectations also affect the breast reduction surgery cost.

If you are considering breast reduction surgery but worried about breastfeeding, book your consultation with Dr Lokesh Handa, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Delhi. He will evaluate your condition and guide you on when to start breastfeeding after surgery.