We asked Harley Medical to give us a comment about cosmetic breast surgery before and after breastfeeding.

Harley Medical

Many of our patients do actually come to us after childbirth looking to regain breast shape and fullness post pregnancy and breast feeding. Many do go on to have further children and they can breastfeed completely normally.

One of their leading surgeons Mr. Mallik says "that there will be a percentage of women that have difficulty breastfeeding, circa 4% of women are unable to breastfeed and this does not change post breast enlargement. Implants do not interfere with the ability to breastfeed. Though there is some evidence to suggest if the implants are inserted in the periarolar area this may have a reduction in milk production. This is not a procedure that is performed in the UK where most surgery is completed via an incision under the breast".

We would recommend that a woman does not have implants till three months post breastfeeding.

Below is a checklist of questions you should ask if you are considering cosmetic breast surgery.

You can download a very comprehensive booklet from www.mhra.co.uk which provides an excellent amount of information which has been written by real women who have had breast implants, health professionals, and representatives from interested organisations.

A selection of Questions

• Checkout independent hospitals and reports, visit www.healthcarecommission.org.uk
• Look into the experience of the surgeon, how many successful or complicated implant surgeries, if a GMC specialist...
• Ask to see breast implants and the type available
• Ask yourself what size you want to be, discuss the options
• Query the cosmetic effects of the operation, scars, list disadvantages and advantages
• Ask lots of questions about the operation, local or general anaesthetic, recovery period...
• What happens with the immediate post-operative effects, such as bruising, pain, swelling, bleeding etc.
• Longer term effects, wrinkles, nipple sensation, rupture and the symptoms to look out for...
• What is the follow up procedure, when do they happen, screening...
• Financial implications, costs of consultation, follow-up meetings....
• Breast screening and how this will affect you
• Breastfeeding - do they interfere with breast feeding, effects on children
• and ask about what happens if things go wrong, what measures are in place, complaints procedure, and how to report if things go wrong.

This is a guide to the types of questions you should be asking, you may have more or less things that you want to know. There are a number of websites that have more professional advice and we have given you a list here.

Sources of Information

Professional Associations

Health Care Commission www.healthcarecommission.org.uk

NHS Direct www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons www.baaps.org.uk

British Association of Plastic, Reconstructuve and Aesthetic Surgeons www.bapras.co.uk

British Association of Surgical Oncology www.baso.org.uk

General Medical Council www.gmc-uk.org

RNC Breast Care www.rcn.org.uk

Consumer Interest Groups

Breast Cancer Care www.breastcancercare.org.uk

CancerBACUP www.cancerbackup.org.uk

Consumers' Association www.which.net

Patients' Association www.patients-association.org.uk

Support Groups

Breast Implant Information Society www.biis.org

Note: The Department of Health recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. If you or a friend would like help in coping with any breastfeeding difficulties, please see your midwife or health visitor, or refer to our Support Links.