[Breastfeeding after breast surgery: patient information]

Area of Science:

• Breast surgery outcomes
• Lactation and maternal health

Context:

• Breast surgeries (partial mastectomy, augmentation, reduction mammaplasty) impact women of childbearing age.
• Pre-operative patient information regarding breastfeeding is often insufficient.

Purpose:

• Evaluate pre-operative patient information on breastfeeding.
• Describe breastfeeding difficulties post-surgery.
• Create an informational guide for future patients.

Summary:

• Few patients inquire about breastfeeding pre-surgery; surgeons rarely provide this information.
• Breastfeeding success varies by surgical type and technique.
• Lactation insufficiency and nipple hypoesthesia are common, especially after reduction mammaplasty and periareolar incisions.

Impact:

• Developed an informational document to address patient knowledge gaps.
• Provides a reference for managing breastfeeding post-breast surgery.
• Aims to improve patient counseling and outcomes.