Can You Successfully Breastfeed After A Breast Lift?

It is completely understandable for women to have concerns about how cosmetic breast surgery may affect their lifestyle, including their ability to exercise comfortably, sleep on their stomach, and possibly breastfeed in the future. By dramatically changing the size, shape, or position of your breasts, there certainly may be a difference in how these activities feel. Fortunately, most normal routines are still possible after breast surgery, though they may require a few alterations. When it comes specifically to breastfeeding after a breast lift, women may be surprised to learn that, in most cases, successful nursing is still possible and probable.

Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Sean Kelishadi and the award-winning team at SSK Plastic Surgery in Newport Beach, CA fully understand a woman’s concern about how a breast lift may impact her ability to breastfeed and are committed to providing fully customized care to help patients achieve their ideal cosmetic outcome and preserve their ability to breastfeed whenever possible. Learn more about the relationship between breast surgery and breastfeeding here, including how a breast lift may or may not impact your plans for nursing in the future.

What is a breast lift?

Mastopexy, commonly known as a breast lift, is a transformative body contouring procedure designed to lift, sculpt, and reposition the breasts for a perkier and more youthful appearance. This is primarily accomplished through the removal of excess skin, which often develops due to pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight loss, or aging. A breast lift may also involve moving the nipple-areola complex to complement the new shape and position of the breast itself. In many cases, breast implants are also placed during breast augmentation with mastopexy to restore lost breast volume as well as raise the breasts.

Can I breastfeed after a breast lift?

While there is no guarantee that a woman will be able to breastfeed, whether she has had a breast lift or not, the majority of women who undergo a breast lift are able to nurse their child successfully. This is especially true for women who have a history of successfully breastfeeding prior to a breast lift. Because the surgical technique allows the nipple to stay connected to the underlying tissue, the lactation system, ducts, and nerves are preserved, making breastfeeding after mastopexy a fairly promising possibility.

However, in some cases, patients experience natural difficulty breastfeeding that may be exacerbated by breast lift surgery. For example, women with a history of breastfeeding challenges, or those with babies who are unable to latch properly, may find that breastfeeding after breast lift is even more difficult. Likewise, women who have a breast reduction – which removes some of the glandular breast tissue – are more likely to experience problems with milk supply and breastfeeding. Common signs and symptoms that may mean breastfeeding after mastopexy could be problematic include:

• Long-term loss of nipple sensation
• Prior difficulty with breastfeeding
• Dramatic change to the size or shape of the nipple
• Breast reduction performed simultaneously

If you are considering a breast lift in Newport Beach, CA and have potential plans to breastfeed in the future, be sure to discuss this with Dr. Kelishadi so that he can formulate your surgical plan accordingly. Although breastfeeding after a breast lift is certainly possible, patients are often encouraged to defer the surgery until they are done having children to ensure the longest-lasting results and lowest risk for trouble breastfeeding.

Is a breast lift without implants better for breastfeeding?

Not necessarily. Countless women who have breast implants placed at the time of a breast lift are still able to successfully breastfeed. The surgical approach, incision placement, surgeon’s skill, and the patient’s previous history of breastfeeding all play a role in the potential for successful breastfeeding after breast augmentation with lift. Again, be sure to talk with Dr. Kelishadi about your intentions for breastfeeding in the future so that he can take this into account when making suggestions regarding implant type, size, and other aspects of the procedure.

Considering a breast lift in Newport Beach, CA but worried about breastfeeding in the future? We are here to help!

Just as every woman is different, every pregnancy and child – including his or her ability to latch – is also different. However, in most cases, women with a previous history of successful milk production and nursing are able to breastfeed after a breast lift without significant problems. If you are interested in learning more about the exceptional benefits of breast lift surgery and how the procedure can be custom-tailored to meet your family’s plans, we invite you to call the knowledgeable team at SSK Plastic Surgery to schedule your private face-to-face or virtual consultation with renowned board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Sean Kelishadi today. We look forward to helping you get the stunning, perky look you deserve with a breast lift in Newport Beach, CA!