Does Repetitive Surgery Decrease Breast Sensitivity?

I cant give you a definitive number as far as how many breast surgeries is the limit. But each additional surgery does increase the risks. This would be all the risks. Meaning capsular contracture risk does definitely increase, especially if the surgery is for capsular contracture. So, the issue here is that is there and absolute need for repeat surgery. Meaning is simply for going larger or is it for capsular contracture. If you dont need the surgery then dont push the envelope... more

I assume you are referring to breast augmentation surgery. "What are the side effects of repetative surgery? "- Each surgery is associated with POTENTIAL risks (death, bleeding, infection etc) AND with DEFINITE consequences (scarring). The more procedures, the more scarring. While this is not a major factor in all women, it does change breast shape and the way the breast drapes over implants. "Does it increase the risks of capsular contracture? " - We KNOW capsular... more

Hello, Plastic surgery is an interface between art and science, so there are few absolute answers. We do know that repeated surgery on breasts can decrease sensitivity as more and more breast tissue can be replaced by scar tissue. This is a tendency though and not a definite. There is no "number" of operations that you can avoid to avoid the problem entirely. Capsular contracture is one result of the scarring around the implants in many cases. It can be increased by genetic... more

Thank you for the question. There is no “recommended maximum amount of breast surgery that can be performed”. Repeat surgery may, it does not necessarily, decreased breast sensitivity. This depends mostly on trauma to the sensory nerves that I supplied from the outside of the breasts. The risk of capsular contracture exists every time the breast Implant is exposed with additional surgery. A good rule of thumb may be to avoid additional... more

There is no definitive answer to this. In general, the more you risk, the greater the potential for injjuring a nerve that could effect akin and/orvnipple sensation. However, I have had patients on whom I have operated who have had return of previously diminished sensation.

Hi, Thank you for your question. There is no definite answer in terms of the amount of times that breast surgery can be performed. However, with every surgery you are at a greater risk for complications. This includes infection, pain, reaction to anesthesia, numbness, capsular contracture, leakage, scarring, etc. The more scarring, and the more times you are potentially exposed to things like bacteria, the greater your risk is for capsular contracture. As far as sensitivity, it does not... more

What's more important than the risk of nipple sensitivity loss is the risk of nipple, areolar or other tissue loss. Repeated breast surgery disrupts the blood supply to the tissues each time. With this the risk of tissue loss is dramatically increased with each surgery. Although there is a risk of changes in sensation, the risk is minimized if it is only an exchange of implants or surgery that doesn't involve more tissue dissection. There's no magic number of surgeries that the breasts... more

Repetitive breast surgery can certainly increase the complications. In terms of sensitivity I know of no study that specifically looked at this. As for other complications, I think that the reasons for multiple procedures most likely resulted form dissatisfaction or complications from prior surgery so it would be hard to differentiate this from say patients that just want constant changes. Certainly, more surgery leads to more scarring, and potentially more problems of thins tissues,... more