Breast Reduction Surgery and Breastfeeding

Breast reduction surgeries are operations have the potential to affect breastfeeding and one of the important things that women considering to have this surgery are curious about is whether their ability to breastfeed will be affected. Basically, breastfeeding happens when a baby sucks on the nipple of a breast, this stimulates nerves in the breast that trigger the release of hormones called oxytocin and prolaction which start milk production in the glandular tissues in the breast and they are transferred to the nipples by milk ducts. In breast reduction operations, the breasts are reduced in size and they are given a new form. Whether the patient will have the ability to breastfeed or not will be determined by where the incisions are made on the breasts, how much and what kind of tissue is removed.

Certain nerves in the breast structure, glandular tissues, milk ducts and nipple sensitivity are necessary elements for breastfeeding. These mentioned elements may be impaired during a breast reduction operation. The preservation of the ability to breastfeed within the individual anatomy of the patient after a breast reduction operation is affected by the surgical method to be used, where the incisions are made on the breasts and the amount and the type of tissues that are removed. If the nerves that are important for milk production are impaired during a breast reduction operation, if too much glandular tissue is removed, if the nipples lose sensitivity, the ability to breastfeed may lost. In some breast reduction operations, the nipples are cut off from blood supply and relocated on the breasts. Procedures like these can cause loss of nipple sensitivity and can impair the connection between the nipples and the milk ducts.

Whether the patient will have the ability to breastfeed or not after their breast reduction operation can be clarified when the patient tries to breastfeed following a pregnancy after their operation. If there is enough amount of glandular tissue remaining in the breasts, if the major nerves affecting milk production are not impaired, if the milk ducts are intact and preserve their connection to the nipples, if the nipples have sensitivity, the ability to breastfeed can remain.

If the patient wishes to keep their ability to breastfeed after their breast reduction operation, they should inform their surgeon about this and discuss this subject before their operation. In the light of a physical examination, the surgeon should inform the patient about possible outcomes. If the patient intends to give birth and breastfeed in the near future, it may be advisable for them to postpone their surgery until this process is completed. Since pregnancy and breastfeeding can also affect the size, volume and the firmness of the breasts, it can be recommended to complete these processes first then have the breast reduction operation, if the timing of the two are going to be close to each other.