91%
591 reviews
Worth It Rating
Our index shows the percentage of community members saying this was "Worth it". See cosmetic treatment rankings
Loss of Sensation After Breast Augmentation?
I am 34 and thinking about getting breast implants mostly to even out my chest (one breast is a C-cup, the other is a B-cup). I want my breasts to look better and more symmetrical, but I am really scared of losing sensation in this area. What I want to know is - Will breast implants cause me to lose sensation in my breasts? Is there anything I can do to avoid this, or is it inevitable if I undergo breast augmentation? Thanks a lot!
+5
Nipple sensation after breast augmentation
Hello,
In my experience the incidence of nipple/areola sensation loss after breast augmentation is very rare--perhaps close to 1%. This has been my experience regardless of the implant type (saline vs silicone) and incision used (inframammary, areola, axillary). I think nipple sensation loss is more likely to occurr when overdissection of the pocket on the side (laterally) is performed and perhaps when excessively large implants are used.
All the best,
Dr Repta
more
+3
Sensation loss and breast augmentation
Loss of sensation of your breasts can occur with augmentation, but the overall incidence of permanent sensation loss is very low.
Things that can increase the chance of having permanent sensation loss are:
Large implants
Incisions around the nipple
Houston Plastic Surgeon
+2
Sensation after breast augmentation
You should be able to feel your breasts after this surgery. Typically, you'll see loss of sensation when the difference pre and post op is very significant. If you start an a-cup and move to a d-cup you may be stretching the nerves so much that they loose blood supply and struggle to transmit sensation impulses.
During surgery the nerve could get stretched though, remember that this implant is not really meant to be there so it could happen even in the case of an implant that is not too...
more
+2
Risks of Surgery
With any surgery, it involves risks and complications. However, choosing a board certified plastic surgeon is very important when considering surgery. There is a low percentage rate of patients who lose sensation after breat augmentation surgery. There is also a risk of hyper-sensitivity. Some patients report numbness for a couple months and then their sensation returns. Results may vary from patient to patient depending on the severity and complexity of your case.
+2
Loss of sensation with breast implants
There is always the risk that there may be some loss of sensation with placing breast implants, but this is fortunately a rare occurrence. It is not uncommon for there to be some temporary changes in sensation right after the surgery due to swelling and the stretch from the implant to the nerves, but this usually doesn't last.
There seems to be a difference in incidence of loss of sensation with the incision placement. The closer you are to the nerve to the nipple, the higher the...
more
+2
Breast Augmentation and Loss of Sensation
Loss of sensation, while rare, is a known complication of breast augmentation and may be related to several variables--choice of incision, extent of dissection, and size of implant.
To begin, there are three main approaches to Breast Augmentation:
Below the fold (IMF approach)
Under the arm (trans-axillary approach)
Through the areola (periareolar approach)
There is no perfect approach and every incision has its advantages and its disadvantages. The most important thing for you, as a...
more
+2
Jaime-- this is a very common question. The short...
Jaime-- this is a very common question. The short answer is that the risk exists, but it is pretty low. There are some folks that suggest that an incision under the breast in the breast crease is less likely to cause a problem compared to the incision in the areola, so many surgeons will exclusively only perform the procedure through this one incision.
The bottom line is that you have to sit down with your plastic surgeon and discuss the risk versus your desire to have breast augmentation,...
more
+1
Loss of sensation possible with breast implants
On average, studies that have looked at loss of sensation after breast augmentation state that it happens about 15% of the time and is unrelated as to where the incision is. In general, smaller implants which require a smaller pocket tend to have a lower incidence of sensation loss than larger implants.
+1
Sensation After Breast Augmentation
The loss of sensation after breast augmentation depends on 3 things: 1. your incision location 2. the size of the implant and 3. placement of the implant behind the pectoralis muscle. If there is any numbness, most of the sensation does return within 3 months of the procedure. However, the loss of sensation with an inframammary fold incision is less than other incisions. It is somewhat higher in the transaxillary and the periareolar incision. In summary, the loss of sensation is dependent...
more
+1
Sensation loss after Breast Augmentation
Nerve tissue is the hardest to predict. Nerves generally do not like to be moved, squished, cut, etc; Roughly 85% of the time the sensation to the nipple will be the same. 10% of the time it will be decreased. 5% of the time it will be increased. Each patient is different. Best to sit down with your board certified plastic surgeon and go through all the possibilities.
+1
Loosing sensitivity after breast augmentation.
If you loose sensitivity, chances are it will resolve over a few weeks to months. It is rare that you will loose sensitivity for good.
+1
Loss of sensation after breast augmentation
Fortunately, permanent loss of sensation following breast augmentation is extremely rare. More common are temporary sensory changes that generally resolve quickly over several weeks. Having said that any cosmetic breast surgery (augmentation, lift, or reduction) does carry a small risk of permanent sensory changes to the breast. Again, this risk is very very low.
+1
Loss of nipple sensation after breast augmentation surgery is not as common as you might think
Decreased nipple sensation, or loss of nipple sensation is one of the most severe complications expressed by our patients. Fortunately, it is not as common as we might think.
Loss of nipple sensation is a result of injury to the nerve during breast augmentation surgery and is not directly related to the implant itself. When the implant is placed under the breast, or under the muscle, the nerve providing sensation to the nipple is located on the outside portion of the chest wall. The...
more
Reno Plastic Surgeon
+1
Loss of nipple sensation after Breast Augmentation
It is very uncommon to permanently lose nipple sensation after breast augmentation surgery, although not impossible. To minimize this risk as much as possible, I recommend using the incision below the breast (in the infra-mammary crease), placing the implant under the muscle, and not using extremely large implants for your body to avoid over-stretching the nerves. Temporary loss of nipple sensation is also very uncommon, and I've not seen it last for longer than 6 months...
more
+1
Loss of nipple sensibility after breast augmentation is very rare.
Nipples may be hyposensitive (numb) or hypersensitive after breast augmentation, but this is limited. I have had patients complain of numb nipples for as long as 6 months after breast augmentation but I don't recall any patient having permanent loss of sensation. It's possible but very unlikely.
+1
Nipples rarely fall asleep following BAM's
The quoted incidence of nipple insensitivity is between 10 and 15 percent following a BAM. Our studies confirmed closer to 5 percent. It may happen even in the best of hands. Very very rare to see two numb nipples. Dont go too big. gs
+1
Loss of sensation after breast enlargement
There is a 10 to 15% chance of permanent reduction in nipple sensation following breast augmentation. Why?
The breast implants not only stretch your skin and muscle, they also stretch the nerves that supply sensation to the nipples. The nerves usually recover--but not always.
If you choose to undergo breast augmentation, keep in mind that larger implants stretch the nerves more than smaller implants. Regardless of the implant size, however, loss of nipple sensation remains an inherent...
more
+1
Loss of sensation in breast augmentation
There is always a risk of decreased sensation or loss of sensation to the breast or nipple areola after breast augmnetation, though the risk is small but it is there.
The only precaution you can take is to choose an experienced board certified plastic surgeon.
If you are still worried, then do not do the surgery.
+1
Uncommon to lose sensation after breast augmentation
This is an uncommon complication. You may be referring to loss of sensation to the breast skin or to the nipple itself. It is not uncommon to have TEMPORARY decreased sensation to the breast skin immediately after the surgery, but this recovers.
Regarding the nipples, this is an uncommon complication and is independent of the incision placement.
If you have breast asymmetry, I would think the benefits of the surgery far outweigh the small chance of this happening to you.
Good Luck!...
more
+1
15 percent chance of Numbness after Breast Augmentation
If you are absolutely not willing to risk any numbness after Breast Augmentation, you should NOT have the operation. Although 85% of women who have the operation do not suffer numbness, less than 2 in 10 women can end up with permanent numbness.
The feeling to the nipple in most women depends on the functioning of the end branches of the sensory nerves that leave under the 5the rib and enter the breast along its side. If the implant is very wide, if the side pocket is made wide to allow its...
more
+1
Breast augmentation nuance
While there is a small chance that you can loose sensation in the nipple after breast implant, this is not something that happens often and I would not think that you should shy away from breast augmentation for this reason alone.
In my practice in Santa Barbara, I prefer the inframammary approach for breast augmentation, and I have not seen any nipple numbness in my patients. Make sure you discuss this concern with your plastic surgeon, and he or she can perform some particular maneuvers...
more
+1
Loss of sensation after breast augmentation
All procedures do have the risk of loss of sensation. There are several different approaches used to place implants and each has its unique risk of sensory loss. Most physicians choose the approach they were taught in training and tend to lead the patient towards what they are most comfortable with. We perform over 1000 breast augmentations per year and used every approach from, nipple, crease, axilla, TUBA or TABA. The risk of sensory changes tends to be higher with IMF and NAC then through...
more
+1
Loss of nipple sensation after Breast Augmentation
There is a real risk of nerve loss after breast augmentation, but this can be ameliorated by careful dissection, inframammary incision placement, and minimal injury to the pectoralis fascia. Discuss these risks with your plastic surgery and ask for a real estimate of risks before you proceed.
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1
Not by themselves.
Hello,
Bigger implants requiring larger pockets may contribute to more numbness. Implants placed by surgeons making thin skin flaps (a technical issue) can also result in more numbness.
Most patients see little change in their sensation unless they are going quite larger and/or are in inexperienced hands.
+1
Possible loss of sensation
Sensation to the nipple is usually preserved with breast augmentation.
The key word here is usually. Any surgery can cause loss of sensation. There has been a significant amount of research into nipple sensation.
The cutaneous innervation of the female breast is derived medially from the anterior cutaneous branches of the Ist-VIth intercostal nerves and laterally from the lateral cutaneous branches of the IInd-VIIth intercostal nerves. The nipple-areola complex is consistently supplied by...
more
Anxious about breast implants and whether you're getting the full story? Learn 10 secrets from a RealSelf community member who went through it all.