Breast Enlargement Surgery Risks and Complications FAQs

Will Breast Enlargement Surgery Affect the Ability to Breastfeed?

Although a rare complication, some women do find they have difficulties or are unable to breastfeed after a breast enlargement procedure. However, if you were able to breastfeed before your procedure, you will likely still be able to breastfeed after healing.

Breast enlargement can be done in several ways, some of which are more likely to preserve the ability to breastfeed. These include making incisions (cuts) under the breast or in the armpit or having the implant placed under the chest muscle. These measures may help prevent damage to the milk ducts and nerves in your breasts.

What are the Effects of Drugs and Alcohol on Breast Enlargement Surgery?

Smoking, drinking large amounts of alcohol, and/or taking recreational drugs, increases the risk of complications during and after surgery.

All BAAPS/BAPRAS surgeons strongly recommend that you stop smoking and using all nicotine products at least six weeks before your operation. This is because smoking reduces blood flow throughout your body which in turn slows healing times and can even increase the likelihood you develop complications like infection or necrosis.

When operating near delicate and small parts of the body like the nipples during a breast augmentation, the reduction in blood flow caused by smoking can reduce the chance that the skin heals well or even prevent this skin from ever regaining healthy blood flow at all, causing the tissue to die off and leave the area prone to infection and in a poor aesthetic state. In general, smoking increases healing times increases the likelihood of infections, and other potential health and result in damaging complications.

Drinking large amounts of alcohol before and after surgery is also discouraged by our surgeons because of its relation to overall poor health and lowered immune response. Patients who drink large amounts of alcohol before surgery also increase their risk of complications by two to three times. These risks include increased bleeding, increased likelihood of developing an infection, and possible interactions with medications given to you before or after surgery.

Recreational drugs can have a wide range of effects on the body, and can therefore impact your surgery and results in a variety of ways. This is why it is recommended you are honest with your surgeon about any drug use and follow their instruction to stop any use before your surgery and throughout aftercare.