Breastfeeding after breast surgery

Breast surgery doesn’t have to mean the end of breastfeeding. Whether you’ve had surgery before, need it now, or are planning it for the future, it’s normal to wonder what this means for breastfeeding your baby, or future babies. 

The good news is that many mums can breastfeed after breast surgery – sometimes fully, sometimes with a little extra help. Every situation is different, and understanding your options can help you feel confident and supported.

The way breast surgery affects breastfeeding can vary and outcomes are different for everyone. Depending on your situation, you may be able to:

• fully breastfeed your baby, without needing top-up feeds
• partially breastfeed, with some top-up feeds
• breastfeed with the help of medicines to boost your milk supply

It’s hard to know exactly how your surgery will affect breastfeeding until your baby is born and you start feeding. How your surgery was done can impact how fully you can breastfeed.

• Breast reduction surgery:  Reduction surgery is more likely to affect milk supply than augmentation, especially if your nipple was moved during the procedure. This will have disrupted the nerve supply to the nipple and areola. It also depends on how much the surgery disrupted the milk glands and milk ducts. However, nerves can regrow, although slowly, and glandular tissue may develop during pregnancy.
• Breast augmentation: If you’ve had breast implants, you may be able to breastfeed fully or partially. If your augmentation was because you didn’t have enough breast tissue (breast hyperplasia) then this may also mean you have problems with milk supply. Especially if nerves and milk ducts were cut during surgery. Many mums with implants can breastfeed successfully, but some may need extra support.
• Mastectomy: If you’ve had a mastectomy, or a partial mastectomy and treatment for breast cancer, you can usually breastfeed from the other breast once treatment is past. Some mothers who've had a partial mastectomy may be able to partially breastfeed on the affected side as well. 

If you’re planning breast surgery, talk to your surgeon about your breastfeeding goals. They may be able to change the way they do the surgery to help you return to breastfeeding or breastfeed in the future. 

If you’re breastfeeding now, ask your doctors how the surgery and any treatments or medicines might affect feeding. Find out how soon you’ll be able to breastfeed your baby afterwards or whether you’ll be able to keep feeding on the other breast. 

You may find it useful to read more about breastfeeding and anaesthesia and going to hospital. Whatever your situation, staying in touch with a breastfeeding counsellor or lactation consultant after surgery can help you start or keep going with breastfeeding.

Whether you’re planning surgery, recovering, or feeding your baby, help is here. 

If you’re pregnant and have had breast surgery in the past, learn as much as you can about how breastfeeding works and the supports you may need to build your milk supply. Attending a breastfeeding education class can answer your questions and build your confidence. ABA offers these in person and online. Talk with an ABA breastfeeding counsellor or lactation consultant and your health care team and make a breastfeeding plan. 

If you’re planning surgery, connect with an ABA breastfeeding counsellor or lactation consultant to talk through what breastfeeding might look like afterwards. 

You don’t have to navigate this alone. Help is here to give you the best chance of meeting your breastfeeding goals.
 

© Australian Breastfeeding Association January 2026