Breast Augmentation and Breastfeeding? A Look at Data from 9965 Women.
I've been looking into breast augmentation,
but it could apparently cause problems with breastfeeding down the road —
I've seen a few posts saying so, and it worries me..
I also searched surgery reviews to see if anyone had breastfed after the operation,
but there don't seem to be many reviews like that
If I get breast augmentation,
is breastfeeding really bound to be affected..?
Source
Hello! We are U&U Plastic Surgery, a clinic that performs breast surgery only.
Listed as an author on breast surgery research papers in the 2000s
Before writing this post, we uploaded a column on the possibility of breastfeeding after breast augmentation as well as reduction / lift surgery.
Below, focusing on augmentation only, we will introduce a study conducted on 9965 women.
If you would like to know whether breastfeeding is possible after procedures other than augmentation, please check the post below.
Breast Surgery and Breastfeeding? A Complete Guide by Augmentation/Reduction/Lift <Advice from a Clinic with a Board-Certified Breast Surgeon>
Breast surgery and breastfeeding - Notes before we begin * Currently, U&U Plastic Surgery…
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A 500-pyeong breast surgery center
Breast augmentation and breastfeeding?
With data from 9965 women,
let's find out.
Source
Below is a study conducted to find out how breast augmentation affects women's breastfeeding success rates.
The data comes from one of the academic journals where plastic surgeons worldwide publish their research.
The journal is run directly by the American society of plastic surgeons and is officially indexed in international academic databases.
( * Journal name: Aesthetic Surgery Journal )
In other words, you can consider this information highly reliable.
It analyzed 11 studies published to date on breast surgery and breastfeeding.
In total, 9965 women who had undergone breast surgery were analyzed. Of these, 8197 successfully breastfed.
Statistically speaking, the breastfeeding success rate after breast surgery comes to 82.3%.
82.3%..?
Then is the remaining 17~18%
the share whose success rate dropped because of implant surgery?
Source
Not necessarily.
The study also analyzed the breastfeeding success rate of women who had not undergone breast surgery - it worked out to about 88.4%.
In other words,
In relative terms,
compared with those who had no surgery,
the breastfeeding success rate
may be slightly lower, but
in absolute terms,
it means that at least 8 out of every 10 women have no problem breastfeeding.
Source
At least 8 out of 10,
but what if I'm not one of those 8..
Source
Some of you may be thinking this.
However, you should know that among the women analyzed in this study, some had breast surgery through a 'periareolar incision'.
A periareolar incision is, literally, a method of inserting the implant through an incision around the areola.
Because it goes through the areola, the milk ducts / mammary gland tissue are more likely to be damaged. It is a technique that can adversely affect breastfeeding.
In other words, since women who had periareolar incisions were included in the study, it is quite possible that this is why the success rate came out in the 80% range.
( * In fact, several studies have repeatedly reported that the periareolar approach is likely to lower breastfeeding success rates. )
As of 2025, breast augmentation is rarely performed through a periareolar incision.
Most surgeries are now performed through an axillary (armpit) or inframammary-fold incision, which does not affect the milk ducts/mammary gland tissue.
So we would like to tell you that you do not need to worry too much about breastfeeding after breast augmentation.
Axillary vs. Inframammary Incision? We Compare Pain in 194 Patients <With Data from an Aesthetic Surgery Journal>
I'm considering breast surgery but can't decide on the incision site - between the fold and the armpit…
blog.naver.com
If you are still worried about breastfeeding,
here is 1 thing to consider
Source
I would recommend considering a technique called Preservé.
Difficulty with breastfeeding ultimately arises when the mammary gland tissue / milk ducts cannot be well preserved during surgery.
In other words, if the surgery is performed while preserving your tissue, concerns about breastfeeding can also be reduced.
In conventional breast augmentation, the space for the implant was created mainly by 'excision', 'incision', and 'dissection'.
With Preservé, however, the space for the implant is created by pushing the tissue outward with a balloon.
Preservé surgery animation
This is why the Preservé technique can preserve more of your tissue than conventional breast augmentation.
It also has many other advantages: surgery time is on average more than 30 minutes shorter than conventional breast augmentation, and general anesthesia is not mandatory.
We have written about Preservé in detail in the columns below, so please take a look.
Motiva Preservé? Introducing breast implant surgery completed in just 20 minutes.
Hello. We are U&U Plastic Surgery, a clinic devoted exclusively to breast surgery. < Moti…
blog.naver.com
Preservé Breast Augmentation: Surgical Process and Complications? Advice from 2 Published Studies
Hello! We are U&U Plastic Surgery, a clinic that performs breast surgery only. * Last year…
blog.naver.com
That is everything we have prepared for today.
Finally, let us share some things you should know before preparing for a consultation.
[Free PDF]
Breast surgery Q&As from 2 years in mom-community forums
The complete collection
Source
For two years, we ran Q&A sessions on breast surgery in mom-community forums.
We answered questions not only about breast surgery side effects but also from those weighing important life stages such as childbirth and pregnancy.
Now, however, with so many patients visiting us, we are no longer able to offer that help to those considering surgery.
Still, in the hope of being of some help, we share a selection of the most frequently asked questions from those Q&As.
[Free PDF] A collection of breast surgery Q&As from 2 years in mom-community forums
blog.naver.com
Whichever hospital you choose for surgery, we believe this material will help you prepare for your consultation.
Even if you plan to book a consultation within the next 3 months, please make use of the material below.
[Free PDF] A collection of breast surgery Q&As from 2 years in mom-community forums
blog.naver.com
If you would like a consultation with us, please schedule one via Naver Reservation through the map below.
Thank you for reading this long post.
This has been U&U Plastic Surgery, a breast surgery clinic born from 20 years of research devoted solely to the breast.
U&U Plastic Surgery: how we came to perform the most breast augmentations of 2024 <based on Motiva Korea data>
U&U Plastic Surgery performs the most breast augmentation surgeries in Korea…
blog.naver.com
Introducing our breast surgery / anesthesiology and pain medicine specialists
Most people considering breast surgery focus on the board-certified plastic surgeon — the operating…
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U&U Plastic Surgery Clinic
Myungkwang Building, 819 Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul