If you've got breast implants, the thought of breastfeeding may worry you, but not for the reasons most new moms worry about. Sagging after breastfeeding isn't going to be a problem if you have implants, but breastfeeding may not be easy for you. In some cases, you may not be able to breastfeed at all if you have had breast augmentation, although many women with implants can and do breastfeed.

Breast implants are bags of saline or silicone gel placed under the skin to enlarge your breasts. This is done as a surgical procedure. With any surgical procedure comes the risk of cutting nerves or damaging tissue. If this happens during breast surgery, breastfeeding may be a challenge for you.

If your incision goes around or through the dark circle around the nipple, called the areola, you're more likely to have nerve damage or loss of sensation that might make breastfeeding more difficult. Incisions under your armpit are less likely to cause problems with breastfeeding. If your implants were placed underneath the chest wall to prevent damage to the milk ducts, you're also more likely to have a successful nursing experience.

Damage to the milk ducts, which carry milk to the nipple, could block the milk flow to your baby. Nerve damage can interfere with signals sent to the brain to trigger the hormones involved in milk production and let-down, prolactin and oxytocin. As your breasts enlarge during pregnancy and breastfeeding, the implants could also put pressure on the tissues, decreasing the amount of milk you make or making it impossible for the milk to reach the nipple.

There is no proof that nursing with breast implants harms your baby in any way. Even if silicone from an implant leaks and gets into the breast milk, which isn't likely, it probably would cause no harm, since silicone is similar to a drug used to treat gas in babies.

Talk only to a board certified plastic surgeon if you're concerned about the effects of possible leaking from the implants into the breast milk after breast augmentation. If you have saline implants, the saline should not cause any problems, even if it leaks.

You won't know until you try to breastfeed; whether or not you'll produce enough milk to feed your baby by breastfeeding only, but even a small amount of breast milk is beneficial for your baby. You may have to watch your baby more closely at first to be sure she's gaining weight properly. And remember that many new moms have trouble getting started with breastfeeding; don't assume that the problem is with your implants and give up nursing without talking to your doctor first.