Can you Breastfeed After a Breast Reduction Procedure
2 June 2023 1

Can you Breastfeed After a Breast Reduction Procedure

Motherhood is a unique feeling, and most women want to enjoy the feeling of motherhood at least once in their lifetime, as nature has created a mother so that only a mother can provide nutrients to their children naturally. Breastfeeding is one of the most essential parts of motherhood. Your child will only consume your breastmilk for the first six months.

breast-reduction-surgery

breast-reduction-surgery-in-india

But womanhood and, above all, good health should be everyone’s priority. And the process of breast reduction is no exception. Not only bodily preferences but also there are many more reasons why a certain number of women choose to lie under knives.

This article aims to clear all your doubts regarding breast reduction and future breastfeeding complications. As a want-to-be-mother, you might be thinking the most common question now that says, ‘Can you Breastfeed After a Breast Reduction Procedure?’ Read this article until the end, and you will surely get your answer.

What is Breast Reduction?

Breast reduction is a type of plastic surgery that reduces the size of breasts. In this process, a plastic surgeon removes excess breast fat, glandular tissue, and skin to give the pair the desired size and shape of the patient. Surgeons also perform this kind of surgery to fix the positions of the breasts in their right places if they are in unusual positions. However, the surgeon keeps the nipple area intact to maintain the normal function of the breasts. The process of breast reduction is also called mammoplasty.

When Should You Consider Breast Reduction Surgery?

A woman decides to reduce the size and shape of her breasts for several reasons. For breast reduction surgery you must look for the best surgeon to avoid complications. However, for the best treatment, you should consider medical tourism to India. Here, you will get various other benefits as well.

Women with bigger breasts may face certain health issues and further consequences. It takes a different mindset to go under the knife. You have to prepare yourself for the change and the procedure for it. Check out the following points to know when you can consider breast reduction surgery:

  • Bigger breasts tend to cause discomfort or severe pain in the shoulder, neck, and upper back region.
  • If you have big breasts, you might already have felt the changes in your posture. A changed and awkward posture may lead to severe neck pain.
  • A pair of large saggy breasts are prone to develop skin rashes and even infections due to excess sweat accumulation.
  • You can opt for a breast reduction operation if you find it difficult to exercise or run or even jog with those bigger sizes.
  • A large percentage of younger women feel under-confident or awkward with the large sizes of their breasts. Self-consciousness and embarrassment play a crucial role here.
  • Lastly, you may find it challenging to find the right clothes size while shopping. Again, ill-fitted bras can be held responsible here.

Precaution

Breast reduction is a safe process, but you must consult with your surgeon in case you are:

  • Already pregnant
  • Already breastfeeding your child
  • Planning to conceive soon
  • Under a weight loss regime

Going for breast reduction surgery is not a good idea during pregnancy. Your body already goes through several hormonal changes during this period. You will notice a certain increase in your breast size. Moreover, you must take extra care of your health and avoid certain medications. Breast reduction may come with certain medicine which may prove harmful to you and your baby.

You must not go for breast reduction surgery if you are lactating. It takes at least 2 to 3 months to heal. Hence, it can affect your milking and cause further complications.

If you plan to have children, it would be better to postpone reducing your breast size now. Though it is a safe process, sometimes, your milk ducts may get affected due to the surgery. An affected milk duct cannot produce enough milk for the baby and can cause other complications.
Moreover, you will lose excess breast fat if you are on a weight loss regime. Therefore, wait and see if you need surgery even after you lose a considerable amount of weight.

breast-reduction-surgery

breast-reduction-surgery-in-india

The Procedure of Breast Reduction

The process of breast reduction is, obviously, a painless procedure. You will be given anesthetic shots before your surgery. However, you will feel a mild sore after the effect of anesthesia is gone. The process of reduction is given below:

  • Your surgeon will make an incision around the nipple and the areola. The incision may look like a lollipop or an anchor.
  • Your surgeon will bring out the excess fat and glandular tissue and remove extra skin through that incision.
  • After removing them, they will work on reshaping your breasts to look similar and in the right positions.
  • They will alter the nipples, but if you have large breasts, they might remove the nipples too. You will get new pairs in place of old nipples.

Breast reduction is a simple, safe, yet complicated surgery. Any slight mistake, and you may lose your nipples. In case of a slight reduction, a simple liposuction is enough.

Pregnancy After Breast Reduction

Though it is difficult to give a concrete answer to ensure a smooth pregnancy, surgeons often guarantee that women can enjoy a safe pregnancy journey. You should remember that every woman is unique, and so is their body and health.

Normally, breast reduction surgery does not affect pregnancy. However, it entirely depends on whether your surgery will affect you.  

How Does Breastfeeding Work?

Breasts are also called mammary glands that produce nutrients for babies. Mammary glands are made of fats, glandular tissues, nerves, ligaments, and blood vessels. After childbirth, glandular tissues in your breasts will start producing milk. This milk will be transported through the milk ducts to the nipple. Your baby will suck out the milk through the nipples.

Nipples, besides providing milk, play a crucial role in milk production. Nerves in your nipple area, mostly the darker part, send signals to the brain to start producing milk and its flow through the milk ducts.

Can You Breastfeed After a Breast Reduction Procedure?

Of course, you can breastfeed after your breast reduction procedure. Generally, surgeons do not alter the nipple area and keep the milk ducts intact. They perform incisions around the armpits and under the folds of the breasts and remove excess fats, tissues, and skin through that. This procedure is entirely safe and doesn’t threaten reduced milk production.

Hence, you can easily understand that if your nipple area or nipple areolar complex region is attached to your breasts without any cuts, there will be no chance of complications. However, nearly 4% of women reported 100% milk production after replacing the nipple area.

How Long Should You Wait to Breastfeed After Your Breast Reduction Process?

Generally, it takes one to two months to recover from the soreness and bruises of the breast reduction process. You can watch signs of breast reduction recovery week by week. You will notice a gradual reduction in your cup size. However, you must wait until six months to ensure your final breast size. However, your breast size will change if you get pregnant afterward due to hormonal changes.

Within two to three months of your surgery, or to be safe, six months after your surgery, your mammary gland will start producing milk. You should wait until then for your glandular tissues and your nipple area to heal to produce milk.

Conclusion

Breast reduction is a safe procedure, and it does not cause any negative impact on your regular breastfeeding. However, it is prescribed to take time to conceive after breast reduction surgery. You can improve your milk production by frequently breastfeeding your baby as soon as they are born.

If you are willing to get breast reduction surgery, cost should not be a barrier. Get to know more about breast reduction surgery costs at CureIndia for a safe and affordable procedure.

Be First To Comment

Leave a Comment