[Breast feeding following breast reduction-plasty and mastopexy?]

A certain amount of breast tissue remains connected with the nipple after aesthetic breast surgery, except in cases of free nipple grafting. Breast feeding is therefore possible. The obstetrician or the midwife are often with the question, whether breast feeding can be recommended. In this study we have investigated, whether lactation is adversely affected by breast surgery. 105 patients who had been operated for unilateral or bilateral mammahyperplasia or mammoptosis, were examined and questioned about breast feeding after operation. The operative techniques of McKissock, Pitanguy and Strömbeck had been used. Breast feeding attitude of our patients was compared with a corresponding collective without breast surgery from the 2nd University Clinic, Gynaecological Department. Five of 14 patients breastfed their babies. The remaining patients did not breastfeed, either after having been counselled not to breastfeed or because of admission of the newborn to a neonatal care unit. Only in two patients no lactation was observed. In our opinion, patients should be informed and encouraged, that breastfeeding is possible after aesthetic breast surgery.