Serum prolactin levels following augmentation mammaplasty.

A prospective study to evaluate the possible relationship between augmentation mammaplasty, a chronic irritant to the breast, and serum prolactin levels was carried out. Eleven healthy female subjects were studied. Serum prolactin levels were determined twice prior to surgery and at 1 and 3 weeks after surgery. No significant change was detected in the postoperative prolactin values. In four subjects evaluated 3 months following surgery, the prolactin levels also remained unchanged. In addition, none of the women developed galactorrhea during their observation period. These results suggest that the placement of a Silastic implant for augmentation mammaplasty may not be a chronic stimulus leading to either galactorrhea or elevation of prolactin levels.