Will a Breast Augmentation Affect My Ability to Breastfeed?

A super common question I get from patients considering a breast augmentation, especially women who haven't had children yet: "will I be able to breastfeed after I have my implants?"

The short answer is: in most cases, yes — but the type of incision you choose matters more than where the implant is placed.

Let me walk through the actual data and what I see in my own practice.

In general — no, not meaningfully.

Some early research suggested under-the-muscle placements might have slightly less impact on breastfeeding than over-the-muscle. But honestly:

• That research is not high quality
• The differences are small if they exist at all
• In real-world practice, I don't see a significant difference between submuscular, subglandular, dual plane, or subfascial patients in their ability to breastfeed

So if you're trying to choose between under and over the muscle, breastfeeding is unlikely to be the deciding variable.

This is the part most patients don't know — but it's probably the single biggest factor in how a breast augmentation might affect breastfeeding.

A periareolar incision is made along the lower border of the areola. To get the implant into the pocket, the surgeon has to cut directly through the breast tissue itself.

That tissue includes:

• Milk ducts (the channels that move milk from the gland to the nipple)
• Glandular tissue (where milk is actually produced)
• The connections between the milk-producing tissue and the nipple

So a periareolar incision essentially disconnects parts of the breast's milk delivery system. In my own patient population, I see more breastfeeding difficulties in patients with periareolar incisions than with any other approach.

The inframammary incision (in the breast crease) doesn't cut through breast tissue — it goes underneath it to access the implant pocket. Because of this:

• Breast ducts and glandular tissue are preserved
• Nipple connections stay intact
• Breastfeeding ability is far less likely to be impacted

This is one of many reasons it's my preferred incision for most augmentations.

The transaxillary (armpit) and TUBA (belly button) incisions also don't go through the breast itself, so theoretically they should preserve breastfeeding ability similarly to inframammary. (Both have other significant downsides, which is why I'm generally not a fan — see the full breakdown of incision options here.)

For what it's worth: I have breast implants myself. I breastfed both of my children for 18 months each with no trouble at all.

This isn't to say every patient's outcome will mirror mine — but it's worth knowing that a well-planned augmentation, done with the right incision, doesn't typically prevent breastfeeding.

The bigger general principle is worth stating: any breast surgery has the potential to affect breastfeeding. That includes:

• Breast augmentation
• Breast lift
• Breast reduction (this one has a meaningfully higher impact, since we move significantly more tissue)
• Breast revision
• Mastopexy

If you're planning to have children and plan to breastfeed, mention this to your surgeon at consultation. A good surgeon will:

• Discuss how each option might affect breastfeeding
• Help you choose the incision and technique most likely to preserve your ability
• Be honest about the level of risk vs. preservation associated with each plan

Most augmentation patients can breastfeed afterward. But every patient is different, and the choice of incision genuinely matters.

If breastfeeding is important to you, here are a few questions worth asking:

1. "What incision do you recommend for me, and how does it affect breastfeeding ability?"
2. "Is there a reason you're recommending a periareolar incision? Could we use an inframammary instead?"
3. "What's your experience with patients breastfeeding after augmentation?"
4. "Are there any choices I can make in this surgery to maximize my chance of breastfeeding successfully?"

A good surgeon will welcome these questions and give you specific, individualized answers — not vague reassurance.

A breast augmentation should not, in most cases, prevent you from breastfeeding. The placement of the implant (under or over the muscle) doesn't make much practical difference.

What does make a difference is the incision. Periareolar incisions cut through breast tissue and tend to cause more breastfeeding issues than inframammary, transaxillary, or TUBA approaches. If breastfeeding is on your future radar, that's worth raising at your consultation.

If you have specific concerns about your case, talk through them with your surgeon — and don't accept "it'll probably be fine" as the only answer. You deserve specifics.