Lisa,
Scar tissue is fibrous and inelastic.  The areola needs to stretch quite
a bit to allow the nipple to reach the junction of the hard and soft
palate...  Engorgement or scarring would retract the skin and make it
more difficult or even impossible for this stretching to take place.
        You also don't know what was done internally, there might be
internal scarring holding the nipple back as well as the visible
scarring.
        The mom can probably increase her nursing at the left breast and
gradually discontinue pumping the right if she wishes.  I have had
mothers in my practice who needed to do this because of prior surgery,
and they were able to satisfy the infant nursing unilaterally.
--
Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC  NYC  [log in to unmask]