Do Breast Implants Influence Breastfeeding? A Meta-Analysis of Comparative Studies

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Reproductive Health
• Lactation Studies

Background:

• Aesthetic breast augmentation is a prevalent global plastic surgery procedure.
• Many women undergo this surgery during their childbearing years.
• Long-term effects of breast implants, particularly on breastfeeding, remain a subject of ongoing research and debate.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis assessing the impact of aesthetic breast augmentation on breastfeeding.
• To compare exclusive breastfeeding rates between periareolar and inframammary incision techniques.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across major scientific databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, etc.) up to May 2018.
• Included studies were comparative, focusing on breast implants and breastfeeding outcomes.
• Meta-analysis was performed using random-effects or fixed-effects models based on data heterogeneity.

Main Results:

• The meta-analysis included four cohort studies and one cross-sectional study.
• Women with breast implants showed a significant reduction in exclusive breastfeeding rates (pooled RR = 0.63) and overall breastfeeding rates (pooled RR = 0.88).
• No significant difference in exclusive breastfeeding rates was observed between periareolar and inframammary incision types (pooled RR = 0.84).

Conclusions:

• Breast augmentation with implants is associated with a lower likelihood of establishing breastfeeding, particularly exclusive breastfeeding.
• The choice of periareolar incision for breast augmentation surgery does not seem to negatively impact exclusive breastfeeding rates.