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Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction: Is It Possible?

Breastfeeding after breast reduction is a very serious consideration for any young woman who is considering breast reduction mammoplasty and expects to have children in the future. Difficulty in future breastfeeding after breast reduction may be an issue for some patients. It will depend upon the surgeon's skill, the technique used, your anatomy and your needs as a patient. However, modern breast reduction surgeries have increased your chances of being able to breastfeed future children.

Most breast reductions include the excision of excess glandular breast tissue and breast fat for volume decrease and subsequent excess tissue excision. The chances of successful breastfeeding after breast reduction increase when the nipple is kept on a pedicle (stalk), a significant amount of glandular tissue is left and the ductwork is kept intact. The less you have removed, and the more skilled your surgeon, the greater your chances of providing future children with breast milk.

This does not mean that all patients will be able to breastfeed after breast reduction. All surgical outcomes will vary. You may be able to produce some breast milk, but not as much as your baby requires, and may therefore have to supplement.

Complications during breast reduction recovery contribute to decreased chances of successful future breastfeeding. These include necrosis of the glandular tissue, fat, ducts, and nipple. This is why pedicle flaps, instead of free nipple grafting, can increase the chances of successful breastfeeding. When a proper blood supply is maintained in the nipple, the likelihood of nipple necrosis is lowered. When the ducts are left intact, the likelihood of successful subsequent breastfeeding increases. In patients needing significant breast reduction, this option may not be available, resulting in the need for free nipple grafting. This doesn't mean you will never be able to breastfeed, just that your chances are usually lower than those whose nipple complex and ductwork were left intact.

Please discuss this with your plastic surgeon, and consult with several surgeons to explore all your options for breastfeeding after breast reduction. If you become pregnant after having breast reduction surgery, I strongly recommend that you speak with a lactation consultant.