Breastfeeding after Implants?

When women visit me for a private consultation in my Delaware plastic surgery office, they often ask whether or not they will be able to breastfeed after breast implants, ie, whether breast implants will inhibit breastfeeding in any way.

Before I get into the details, here are some basic facts:

·       Not every woman can breastfeed successfully, whether or not she has breast implants;

·       An implant itself doesn’t interfere with breastfeeding;

·       What can affect breastfeeding is the location of the incisions used to insert the implants.

For example, an incision for placement of a breast implant can be made in one of three places: (A) under the fold of the breast (called the inframammary fold); (B) under the armpit (called a transaxillary incision) or (C) around the areola.

Incisions under the armpit or under the breast should pose no challenge to breastfeeding. An incision around the areola shouldn’t pose a challenge either, so long as neither the milk ducts nor the nerves are damaged or severed.

The nerves nearest the areola control two hormones that trigger the brain to produce milk; those hormones are oxytocin and prolactin. If those nerves are damaged, the brain may not receive the “signal” to make milk, or perhaps will make some milk, but not enough, in which case the woman must use a breast pump between feedings to provide enough breast milk for her baby.

I always advise women who have not yet had children to opt for the inframammary fold or the transaxillary incision, so as not to worry at all about any impact upon breastfeeding. I haven’t accidentally dissected any milk ducts or nerves, but it does make these women feel more at ease knowing it’s fairly impossible to have breastfeeding problems with either an inframammary or transaxillary incision.

There are a couple other caveats to getting breast implants prior to having children. One is that, after pregnancy or breastfeeding, the breasts may sag. An implant won’t prevent this sagging. The woman may need a breast lift following pregnancy and breastfeeding if the sagging concerns her. Further, if an implant patient should develop a nipple infection or mastitis while nursing, these infections can spread to the pocket under the breast wall that “houses” the implant and infect that pocket. This can lead to implant problems and perhaps even a need to remove the implants.

If you haven’t had children yet and are considering implants, be sure that you discuss these issues with me at your consultation to make sure both of us are in complete agreement about the location of your incisions.

Oh, and BTW, there’s a rumor that silicone leaking from breast implants could “spoil” the milk. There is no evidence that silicone could leak into breast milk in the first place, but even if it did, it probably wouldn’t harm the baby, as silicone is quite similar to a substance used to treat babies’ stomach gas.

So, the bottom line is that breast implants should not affect the ability to breastfeed or produce milk so long as the incision doesn’t nick or damage the nerves or milk ducts. Another reason to choose a plastic surgeon with a great deal of experience!

To your health & beauty,

Dr. Joe Danyo

Finding the best bra after breast enhancements

Whether you like racy, lacy or plain, buying new bras after your breast enhancement procedure is supposed to be fun! Sadly, according to my wife and the women in my office, bra shopping is often not fun at all! Whether you have had a breast lift, breast reduction or breast implants here in our Delaware plastic surgeon’s office, wearing well-fitting bras afterwards is very important. Even if you haven’t had a breast enhancement, finding bras that fit correctly can be a challenge.

Wearing a poorly fitted bra can make you look older, because your breasts will sag. It’s true that breast sagging can indicate the need for a breast lift, but when wearing a properly fitted undergarment, your breasts should not sag.

Here are some indications that your bra doesn't fit well:

§  It hikes up in the back.

§  You’re often tightening the straps but it still doesn’t fit.

§  When you bend over, your breasts fall out of the bra and when you’re standing, your breasts don’t fit well in the cups.

§  Your bra bags in the nipple area or it squeezes your breasts too tightly.

§  You see red marks, irritation and/or rashes on your skin after wearing the bra.

Bra Sizing Tip #1:

Bra sizes can vary a great deal from one brand to the next. There is no standard 34B, 36C or any other size for that matter. A 36C in a Lady Madonna bra may not be the same size as a 36C in a Bali bra.

Measuring “band size” is the first step in finding your correct bra size:

The band size of a bra is the number part of the size. In a 38C, the number 38 stands for a band size of 38”. In European bras, band size is measured in centimeters and in the US it’s measured in inches. To identify your band size, take a measuring tape and measure around your ribcage, making sure the tape doesn’t ride up or down in the back—it should be even all the way around. Measure right under the breasts, around the ribcage. Write down that number.

Now that you have your rib measurement, do the following:

·       Add 4” if your rib measurement was an even number, like 36 or 38

·       Add 5” if your rib measurement was an odd number, like 33 or 35, etc.  

·       Example: If your measurement was 36”, add 4” and your band size is a 40. If you measured 27”, add 5” and your bra size is a 32.

Note: Your band size doesn’t change after breast augmentation, lift or reduction because your rib measurements remain the same.

How to determine your correct cup size

Using the same measuring tape as before, measure over the fullest part of your chest and around your back, making sure the tape is level all the way around. Next, subtract your band size from your bust-size measurement. Ex: if your final band size is 34” but the measurement around the bust is 37”, you are likely to be a 34C according to the chart below.

Use this chart to determine cup size by subtracting the band size from the bust size. The difference in inches will reveal your cup size.

If you used this method but you still experience sagging, you probably need a larger cup size than shown on the chart. If the cups are loose, however, try going to a cup size one letter smaller, and see how if that works. Sometimes you need a little trial and error. Although your bra should fit snugly, it shouldn't be too tight when you fasten the bra with the hooks closest to the bra itself, ie, away from the end of the tab. That way, when it stretches with wear you can still fasten it and enjoy that garment longer. Remember, once you find a great-fitting bra, you might do well to buy only that brand, choosing other styles from their line to suit your mood and garments. As previously said, a 34B in a Goddess brand is a 34B across all of the Goddess styles, but a 34B in a Bali bra may be another size altogether.

Bra Strap Basics

Bra straps should not ever be uncomfortable. If they dig into your shoulders or leave your skin red, they’re too tight. Bra straps aren’t intended to be the main support for your breasts. The bra itself, including the cups, should be the main support, not the straps.

More Tips Bra Care

After all the time you spent finding the right size bra, be sure to hand wash and line dry your bras. If you must machine wash your bras, fasten them before washing and put inside a mesh bag. Don’t put bras into the dryer—it will loosen the elastic and the bra will wear out faster.

We hope you have found this blog post helpful! 

To your health and wellness,

Dr. Joe Danyo