After the scare tactics of certain aspiring stars in the media had been worn thin by legitimate studies, it became clear that breast feeding after silicone breast augmentation was safe. From a purely physiologic standpoint two factors stand in the way of silicone secretion into milk. The first factor is the size of the silicone at the molecular level, the second is the fact that silicone never comes into direct contact with the cells that line the duct that secretes the milk. One of the surgical approaches to breast augmentation surgery, the circumareolar (around nipple) cuts through the breast ducts. Three approaches, the inframammary (under breast in fold), transaxillary (armpit), and TUBA (through the belly button). Even when the surgical approach carries a risk of transecting, or cutting through the milk carrying ducts, the passages either heal, or become blocked as in fibrocystic change, but do not retain a communication with the implant cavity making this of no consequence. As much as it would make for a good sensationalistic “story,” silicone breast implants do not harm the baby.
Jacob Gerzenshtein, MD, FACS,
A Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
