Breast Implants, Breastfeeding and Mammograms

If you’re thinking about breast augmentation and you’d like children one day, three questions tend to come up sooner or later. Will I still be able to breastfeed? What will pregnancy do to my result? And will implants get in the way of my mammograms?

These are fair things to ask, and you should get a clear answer, not just a reassuring one. Below we look at what studies have found so far, where the gaps are, and a few steps you can take before and after surgery to keep your options open.

A/Prof Bish Soliman (AHPRA MED 0001679053) is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon who performs breast augmentation for patients across Sydney, North Sydney and the North Shore. Family plans are a routine part of his consultations.

Can you breastfeed after breast augmentation?

Many women do breastfeed after breast augmentation. It’s important to be clear, though, that no one can promise it, with or without surgery. Plenty of women who’ve never had an operation find breastfeeding difficult too.

What makes augmentation different from some other breast operations is what’s left untouched. A breast reduction removes breast tissue and usually repositions the nipple. Augmentation generally doesn’t remove glandular tissue, and the milk ducts and nipple are usually left in place. The implant sits behind the breast gland (or behind the gland and chest muscle) rather than inside it.

That said, the research is worth knowing about.

A 2014 systematic review in the International Breastfeeding Journal found that women with implants were about as likely to attempt breastfeeding as women without. Among those who did breastfeed, however, women with implants were less likely to breastfeed exclusively. The authors noted that the evidence came from only three small observational studies.
A 2023 systematic review in Aesthetic Surgery Journal came to a similar conclusion. Most women with implants in the included studies did breastfeed successfully, but the rate was lower than for women without implants when the two groups were compared directly.

So the honest summary is this: many women with implants breastfeed, but on average they’re somewhat more likely to need to supplement. The research can’t tell you how things will go for you as an individual.

Does the incision matter?

Breast implants are usually placed through an incision in the fold under the breast (an inframammary incision) or around the edge of the areola (a periareolar incision). Because a periareolar incision is close to the nipple, it’s natural to wonder whether it affects feeding.

The evidence here is mixed. A 2018 meta-analysis of comparative studies found that a periareolar incision didn’t appear to reduce exclusive breastfeeding rates compared with an inframammary one. Even so, incision position is a reasonable thing to talk through if feeding a future baby matters to you. The same goes for implant placement, whether that’s in front of the chest muscle (subglandular), behind it (submuscular) or a combination of the two (dual plane).

The main point is simple. Tell A/Prof Bish before surgery if you’re planning a family, so these choices can be made with that in mind.

How pregnancy changes augmented breasts

Pregnancy changes breasts, whether or not they contain implants. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, breast volume usually increases and the skin stretches. Once you’ve finished feeding, volume can drop again, and the skin doesn’t always spring back the way it was.

The implant itself isn’t damaged by pregnancy. What can change is the breast tissue and skin around it, which may alter the shape or position of the breast over time. Some women find there’s more sagging, or that the breast sits lower on the implant than it used to.

How much this happens varies widely from person to person. Genetics, skin quality, weight change during pregnancy, the number of pregnancies and how long you breastfeed can all play a part. Some patients are still happy with their result years later. Others decide, once their family is complete, to consider a breast lift (mastopexy), implant revision, or a combined procedure as part of post pregnancy surgery. Neither outcome is inevitable, and there’s no way to predict with certainty which group you’ll fall into.

Will breast implants affect my mammogram?

Yes, implants can affect a mammogram, but they don’t stop you having one. Silicone doesn’t let X-rays through the way breast tissue does, so an implant can hide part of the breast on standard images.

This is why BreastScreen NSW asks women to mention their implants both when they book and again at their appointment. Radiographers use extra techniques for women with implants. One of these is implant displacement views, sometimes called Eklund views, where the implant is gently pushed back towards the chest wall and the breast tissue is drawn forward so more of it can be seen. BreastScreen NSW says its radiographers are trained in these techniques, and that the type of implant and whether it’s over or under the muscle doesn’t change your ability to be screened.

A few other points from BreastScreen NSW are worth knowing:

More images are usually needed. That means slightly more radiation than for women without implants, though BreastScreen NSW states that the benefits of screening still outweigh the radiation risk.
Radiographers keep compression on the implant to a minimum. There’s a very small chance a mammogram could break up the scar tissue around an implant. BreastScreen NSW says this isn’t harmful, but it could affect shape and texture.
Screening isn’t an implant check. BreastScreen radiographers can’t assess your implants for problems. If you have concerns about an implant, see your doctor or book breast implant checks.

BreastScreen NSW also notes there’s no evidence that women with breast implants are more likely to develop breast cancer. Separately, some implants have been linked to a very rare lymphoma called BIA-ALCL, which the TGA’s breast implant hub covers in detail.

The practical message is clear. Mammography remains appropriate for women with implants, and you should keep up routine screening as recommended for your age. BreastScreen Australia invites women aged 50 to 74 to screen every two years, and women aged 40 and over are eligible. If you notice any new breast change at any age, such as a lump, see your GP rather than waiting for your next screen.

Timing: should you have breast augmentation before or after having children?

There’s no single right answer. Both approaches are reasonable, and the choice depends on your circumstances.

Having surgery before children. Some women don’t want to wait years for a change that matters to them now. They go ahead knowing that pregnancy may alter the result, and that they might consider a lift or revision later on.

Waiting until your family is complete. Others prefer to wait until they’ve finished having children and breastfeeding, and the breasts have had time to settle. That way, surgery is planned around the breasts as they’ll be for the longer term. It may also mean one operation instead of two. The trade-off is waiting, sometimes for quite a while.

Neither option is a mistake. Your age, your plans, how certain you are about the timing of pregnancy, and how you’d feel about possible further surgery all matter. It’s a decision to make with good information and without pressure, and it’s one of the things a consultation is for.

What to raise at your consultation

The more A/Prof Bish knows about you, the better your surgery can be planned. It helps to come prepared to talk about:

Family plans. Whether you’d like children, roughly when, and how much breastfeeding matters to you.
Breast history. Any previous breast lumps, biopsies, surgery or infections, and any family history of breast cancer.
Screening history. When you last had a mammogram or breast ultrasound, and whether any follow-up was recommended.
Previous pregnancies. If you’ve already had children, how your breasts changed and whether you breastfed.

Because breast augmentation for cosmetic reasons is cosmetic surgery, you’ll need a GP referral, and Medical Board of Australia guidelines require at least two consultations and a cooling-off period before surgery can be booked. That time is useful. It gives you room to think through the timing questions above and come back with anything you’d like to ask. Your consultation will also cover the risks and complications of surgery in detail.

Why choose Dr Bish for breast augmentation in Sydney & North Shore

A/Prof Bish Soliman is a Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon and an AHPRA Registered Medical Practitioner (MED 0001679053). He’s Sydney-based and specialises in complex microsurgical reconstruction, including breast reconstruction, alongside aesthetic surgery of the face, breast and body, and skin cancer surgery.

If you’re planning a family, you’re welcome to ask A/Prof Bish how pregnancy, breastfeeding and breast screening might fit around your surgery. He’ll talk you through what’s known, what isn’t, and what it could mean for your own plans.

Qualifications

FRACS (Plastic Surgery). Awarded by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
MS (Plastic Surgery). A postgraduate Master of Surgery degree.
MBBS (Hons 1). His medical degree, completed with First Class Honours.
BCom. Bachelor of Commerce.
AHPRA specialist registration in Plastic Surgery. MED 0001679053.

Verify his credentials independently

Consultation locations

The Woollahra Clinic. Level 1, 156 Edgecliff Road, Woollahra NSW 2025
West Pennant Hills. 31 Castle Hill Road, West Pennant Hills NSW 2125
North Shore Health Hub. Tower A, Level 3, Suite 5/7 Westbourne Street, St Leonards NSW 2065

To talk through breast augmentation and how it fits with your plans for a family, contact the practice or call 1300 372 474. Please bring your GP referral to your first appointment.

FAQs

Can you breastfeed with breast implants?

Many women breastfeed after breast augmentation, because the milk ducts and nipple are usually left in place, but no one can promise it. Research suggests women with implants are somewhat less likely to breastfeed exclusively, although the studies are small. Tell A/Prof Bish Soliman at your consultation if you’re planning to have children.

Do breast implants affect mammograms?

They can. An implant can block the view of some breast tissue on standard mammogram images, so let the screening service know about your implants when you book and again on the day. The radiographer can then take extra images with the implant moved out of the way. Having implants isn’t a reason to skip screening, so keep having mammograms as recommended for your age.

Should I have breast augmentation before or after pregnancy?

This is a personal decision with no single right answer. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can change breast volume and skin, which may alter your result and lead some patients to consider a lift or revision later. Discussing your family plans at consultation will help you decide on timing that suits your circumstances.

Will pregnancy ruin my breast implants?

Pregnancy doesn’t damage the implants themselves. The surrounding breast tissue and skin can stretch and lose volume, though, which may change how your breasts look. Some women remain happy with their result long term, while others consider a breast lift or implant revision once they’ve finished having children.

Can a mammogram damage breast implants?

It’s uncommon. According to BreastScreen NSW, radiographers use techniques that keep compression on the implant to a minimum, but there’s a very small chance a mammogram could break up scar tissue around the implant. This isn’t harmful, but it could affect shape and texture. If you have any concerns about your implants, see your doctor before screening.

Medical references

Last reviewed: October 2026.

This article gives general information and can’t replace advice about your own health and circumstances. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. Results differ from person to person.

Breast Augmentation and Breastfeeding, Pregnancy and Mammograms: What You Should Know