Breastfeeding after Breast Reduction Surgery

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Surgical Outcomes
• Lactation Science

Background:

• Breast reduction surgery, or reduction mammoplasty, is a common procedure.
• Informed counseling for patients considering this surgery requires understanding its impact on breastfeeding.
• Limited research exists on the specific effects of reduction mammoplasty on milk production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the existing literature on breast reduction surgery and its implications for breastfeeding.
• To identify gaps in research regarding lactation capacity after reduction mammoplasty.
• To inform nursing practice and patient counseling related to breast reduction surgery.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search of Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL databases.
• Inclusion criteria: studies in English mentioning both breastfeeding and breast reduction (or reduction mammoplasty) in abstract or title.
• Keywords included mammoplasty, breast milk, human milk, breastfeeding, lactation, breast reduction, and reduction mammoplasty.

Main Results:

• Four systematic reviews and four additional articles were identified.
• Definitions of "successful" breastfeeding varied significantly across studies.
• No studies specifically quantified 24-hour milk production or comprehensively assessed milk-making capacity post-surgery.
• While some techniques may preserve milk supply, their efficacy for milk production remains unquantified.
• Breastfeeding after breast reduction surgery is an under-researched area for nurse researchers.

Conclusions:

• The term "success" is not clinically useful when counseling patients about breastfeeding after reduction mammoplasty.
• Patients should be counseled that breast reduction surgery may affect their ability to achieve a full milk supply.
• Further research is essential to evaluate the impact of different breast reduction techniques on the breast's milk-making capacity.