Seeking Advice on Breast Implants and Breastfeeding

My advice is not to get one. They just make you look fat.
My sister had one years ago, then gained some weight. She says that she has lost down to size 6 and when you pick her jeans up you sware that there is no way that she could fit into them. Reason being is she has boobs and they just make her look fat. I had a baby a yr and a half ago and still in a size 12. She is 1/2 my size and I sware to me and my husband she looks just as big if not bigger... because of her boobs.
Another friend of mine had a boob job, she couldn't breast feed because of the boobs. She was told she could but couldn't. She also looks bigger than she really is... because of her boobs.
My vote or advice is to not get one, unless you like looking fat.
Sorry.....

I had implants put under the muscle in 2003. In 2007 i had twins and breast fed them for 6 months and had no problems.

Hello! Here is a good website to go to: www.bfar.org
It has great info on breastfeeding after breast and nipple surgeries (whether it be implants, reductions, lifts, etc). Hope this helps!

Hi~
No personal experience, but if you've lived 35 years W/O implants, why get them now???? Is your partner unhappy w/your breast-mass, or is it more your own dissatisfaction? Is it worth the health risks? Is it worth the cost, discomfort, worry, the weird look when you're 75 and the rest of you is shriveled up and your boobs are round and firm, etc?

My advice? Enjoy and appreciate the body God gave you and concentrate on being the best friend, sister, mom, wife, mentor, teacher, 'whatever' that you can be! I think that ALL that's gonna matter when life's over and all's said and done is 'how did you treat your fellow man?'

good morning, you said it your self. your implants will stop your future breast feeding. I have not done it and have no plans to do so, good luck!!!!!!!

Hi A., I don't have any experience with breast implants, but just thought I'd mention that it's been looking lately like small breasts (a la Paris 1920's) are "in" again. All the fashion magazines seem to be featuring smaller-sized women without "push-up" support or much cleavage to speak of. This is fun for my 32A self! I don't know your specific situation, but I'd suggest that you're beautiful already!

I have not had breast implants but I work with someone who has and she has had more children and nursed all of them for 12+ months. She check with the doctor before she got them to make sure it was ok to have kids and nurse them and she was giving the ok. I would double check with the doctors that will do the implants and go from there. Good Luck!

I have decided to get implants also, but I KNOW I want more children. So, I've decided to wait until I'm done having kids before I have them done. I'm not so much worried about being able to breast feed, or what effect it may have on that (because if you let your doc know in advance you can minimize the effects ) But I am more concerned that I will have them done, love them, and then after another baby and breastfeeding the same thing will happen to them as what happened to the ones I have now--- SAGGING. I'd rather just have them done once, like them, and then be done with it.

I completely agree on waiting until you have all your children but not b/c it will affect your nursing. I had implants (silicone) put under the muscle when I was 19. I had my first child at 35 and nursing/milk production was absolutely no problem. In fact, he is now 2 and I'm having trouble getting him to stop! However, it has done a number on my breasts. I used to joke that I would be 95 and still have perfect breasts b/c of the amazing job my surgeon did with my implants. That has all changed after 2 years of nursing my son! They are not ugly - just not the perky girls they were before. I'm actually considering getting a lift now. I would wait until you are done having kids - then you know you can get the perfect breasts you want and they will stay that way!

Hi A.! I don't have breast implants, but a girlfriend of mine does. Her doctors told her she'd probably have problems breastfeeding because of her implants and she was gearing up to have to formula feed even though she really wanted to breastfeed. She wound up being able to breastfeed just fine. No problems at all. I'm sure everyone is different, but this is just one case that I know of where implants didn't make a bit of difference in this area. Do what makes you feel good and good luck!

i haven't experienced that or even known anyone with that issue, but i have heard that implants can make it harder to nurse, but it's not impossible. hope it works out for you.

A friend of mind has breast implants and she has nirsed 3 children. I believe there is something to whether you put the imp[lant behind the muscle or in front not sure witch one. Good luck. Jennifer

You might consider waiting until after you're done nursing children b/c of what nursing does to your breasts. If you are dissatisfied with what nature gave you, keep in mind that you breasts are bigger while pregnant/breastfeeding AND consider that after breastfeeding they sag a bit. So something tells me if you are considering surgery now that you will disappointed with how breastfeeding will "mess up" the way you paid to get them they look.

I wouldn't suggest getting implants anyway but I would definitely wait till you are done with having children. My DD is almost 14 mo. and my breasts are pretty ugly. I just recently stopped nursing and plan to do it again with my next child. Whenever that happens! I just think getting pregnant will make your implants sag and useless.

I had breast implants 17 years ago when I was 19. They went through the areola. They told me I would have no trouble breast feeding. I had my daughter when I was 33. I had a hard time keeping my milk supply up. I nursed her for 5 months. It could have been because she was a preemie and I had to pump when she was first born or maybe it was just me. Sometimes women just have trouble breastfeeding. That being said... I love my breasts!! It was painful but I would do it again in a skinny minute!! BUT, if you are considering having another child I would definately wait until after. No need to ask for trouble.
Good luck!!! Steph

Implants are the way to go but I would definitely wait until you are done having children since pregnancy and nursing can cause breast to swell and sag, potentially ruining cosmetic work. I have heard that they can cause problems nursing but think it depends on the individual person.

Consults are fairly inexpensive, if not free, I would find a reputable doctor and get his opinion

No personal experience, but lifted this from www.kellymom.com, a very reputable website by a lactation consultant. It has some good links, too; I"d recommend checking it out:

Breast implants (silicone)

Silicone implants are considered to be compatible with breastfeeding, but the surgery itself can affect breastfeeding for some moms.

I have silicone breast implants. Is it safe to breastfeed my new baby? by Nancy E. Wight MD, FAAP, IBCLC
Nursing with silicone implants by Debbi Donovan, IBCLC
Breast milk contamination and silicone implants from Thomas Hale's Breastfeeding Pharmacology website
Safety of Silicone Breast Implants, Institute of Medicine (2000). See in particular Chapter 11: Effects on Pregnancy, Lactation, and Children.
Silicone Breast Implants and Breastfeeding by Cheston M. Berlin, Jr. MD. From Breastfeeding Abstracts, February 1996, Volume 15, Number 3, pp. 17-18.
Links: Breastfeeding and Breast Surgery (this website)

I would wait until done with breastfeeding. The health of your children should come before your wants. Why put your babies at possible risk if an implant leaks into your breastmilk? Or think about this: when you're done breastfeeding, your breasts will not be the same. Why get implants now and still need work later? Something to think about! Good luck.

I'm not sure personally, but I do have a good friend of mine that did get implants a while back. She wasn't able to breastfeed her son like she wanted to.

I went to see a plastic surgeon over the summer. He told me that I had to be sure that I was done having children before he would do anything on me. I'm glad that I didn't go through with it since I'm awaiting the arrival of my fourth.

Its really up to you, but there is a chance that you may not be able to breastfeed if you do get it done. Hope this helps.

Hi A.,

I can't personally give you advice, but my sister got implants before her third child and nursed him with absolutely no issues.

To go along with Melody's comments...my sister is a size 2 with a great chest...nothing on her looks fat- she looks great. I'd like to get a pair myself if I could afford them!

Hi A..
My sister's best friend had implants and successfully nursed two beautiful healthy children.
You will be fine.
W.

A., breast implants do not interfere with breast feeding. I know this as a fact, my daughter nursed both her 2 children, with no problem what so ever. Doctors won't tell you that because maybe someone at sometime years ago had a problem.
I also know of other gals that have implants have nursed their
babies.
I hope this relieves your mind.

I had a friend who had them done and she could not exclusivly breastfeed due to the lack of milk production and it was due to the surgery....not to mention she has to get them redone because of the tissue stretching. My personal advice is to wait and get it done after you have the last child so you don't have to go back to the doctor or even worry about not being able to breastfeed.

Getting breast implants is more involved than you might plan. I would ask your doctor questions like "When will they need to be replaced?" Generally every 7-10 years. Do you want to continue to get breast implants for the remainder of your life? This should be considered. It is not a one time procedure that lasts forever. A common misconception.