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Loss of Sensation After Breast Augmentation?

asked 4 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Douglas S. Steinbrech, MD
Question viewed 21,020 times
Tags: age 25-34, risk, sensation loss

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!

37 answers to Loss of Sensation After Breast Augmentation?

+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
Remus Repta, MD

Phoenix Plastic Surgeon

www.aaaplasticsurgery.com

+4

Breast Augmentation Loss of Feeling or Breast Sensation

Thank you for your question-it is an important one. Fortunately loss of feeling or sensation is uncommon after Breast Augmentation Surgery. The rate is about 5%. Fortunately most loss of feeling is temporary and sensation or feeling comes back after time. There are two types of loss of feeling: Loss of Nipple Sensation Loss of Sensation in the Cleavage Area It is more common to lose sensation in the Cleavage Area between the breasts-this often gets better with... more
Brooke R. Seckel, MD

Boston Plastic Surgeon

www.drseckel.com

+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
Robert Steely, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+2

Dr. S’ 5 tips to minimize the loss of sensation after breast augmentation

1. Plan with your plastic surgeon your options. To minimize the chance of loss of sensations I advise patients to stay away from the incision around the nipple (areole) 2. Another alternative is to have an incision under the breast where the surgeon will go directly underneath the breast tissue (sub mammary) or the pec muscle (sub muscular. In doing so this will avoid any possible... more
Douglas S. Steinbrech, MD

New York 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
Ricardo A. Meade, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+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.
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

+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
Dan Mills, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

www.danmillsmd.com

+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
Gregory A. Buford, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon

www.beautybybuford.com

+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
Shahram Salemy, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Loss of sensation after breast implant is uncommon

Loss of sensation in the nipple/areola is fortunately an uncommon occurrence. In my experience, permanent loss of of sensation may be due to stretching of the sensory nerves by using very large implants causing a stretch injury or pressure on the nerves, extent of dissection which can damage the nerves, and the size of implant. I find that the location of the incision is not usually the reason for loss of sensation. Choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon is important when... more
Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nipple sensation loss after breast augmentation

Nipple sensitivity is very important to women and it is important to try to preserve this with breast augmentation. The nerves that supply sensation to the nipple come from the lateral portion of the breast. These nerves are always stretched as part of the procedure and sometimes can be cut. The nerves are often too small to see so they can be cut without knowing. If the nerves are cut then the nipples will often be permanently numb. This does not happen very... more
Jason E. Leedy, MD

Cleveland Plastic Surgeon
+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.
James McMahan, MD

Columbus Plastic Surgeon
+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
Rod J. Rohrich, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+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.
Jeffrey Roth, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon
+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. 
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+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.
C. Bob Basu, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+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
Boris Volshteyn, MD, MS

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
Amy M. Sprole, MD

Wichita Plastic Surgeon
+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.
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+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
Grant Stevens, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+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
Ronald Friedman, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+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.
Samir Shureih, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+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
Jeffrey Horowitz, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+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
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+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
Adam David Lowenstein, MD

Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon
+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
William J. Hedden, MD

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

www.heddenmd.com

+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.
Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

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.
John P. Di Saia, MD

Orange Plastic Surgeon
+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
Steven H. Williams, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

www.trivalleyplasticsurgery.com

+1

Nipple Sensation After Breast Augmentation

Generally, there is minimal, partial, and usually temporary loss of nipple sensation following breast augmentation. I perform most breast augmentation (both above and below the muscle) through the peri-areolar approach, unless a patient has an existing incision in the inframammary fold below the breast, or unless I am using the cohesive gel textured implants, which generally require an incision larger than the diameter of the areola. I find that my patients often report a heightened... more
Athleo Louis Cambre, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

One theory: Larger breast implants increase chances of sensation loss

Loss of sensation is not very common. It can happen when placing implants. On the other hand, short term sensory change is quite common. This may be due to swelling and usually gets better within a few weeks after surgery. One theory: The larger the implant, the more likely it could happen. This may be due to stretching of the tissues ans subsequently the sensory nerve fibers that go to the nipple. There is no strong evidence suggesting any one incision is more likely to cause it. more
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Sensation loss

It is not inevitable and in most cases patients will not loss sensation in their nipples.  Most incisions are made away from the nipple, therefore avoiding any reason for loss of sensation. 
Kimberly A. Henry, MD

Greenbrae Plastic Surgeon
+1

Loss of sensation of the nipple and areola after breast...

Loss of sensation of the nipple and areola after breast augmentation is uncommon and is considered a complication of surgery. There should be no change in the sensation of the breast in a well performed breast augmentation. The sensory nerves to the breast can be stretched or cut during the procedure but the nerves are deep and off to the side of the chest, out of harms way with an appropriately chosen implant. The problem occurs when larger implants or implants that are too large for the... more
Robert W. Kessler, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Although most girls ask questions and express concerns...

Although most girls ask questions and express concerns about breast/nipple sensation during a preoperative consultations, the truth is that rarely it is a problem after surgery. Although loss of nipple sensation is certainly possible, it does not seem to be a common problem. What is even more interesting, loss of nipple sensation is not associated with particular incision site, as recent studies showed most loss occured during inframmary incisions. Therefore, nipple and axillary incisions... more
Gregory Turowski, MD, PhD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

There are a lot of misconceptions about this, but it is...

There are a lot of misconceptions about this, but it is rarely a long-term problem. Many still tell their patients that the areolar margin incision has a higher incidence of sensory loss to the nipple, but more recent studies have disproven that. One study from Brazil found that larger implants have a higher risk of sensory loss, which makes sense because the dissection required to make a larger space for the implant may get closer to where the nerves are. The take-home message is that it... more
Richard Baxter, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Loss of sensation is possible but not inevitable with breast implants

Loss or decrease in sensation is a possible complication of operating on any breast. Changes in sensation is the second most common patient complaint following breast augmentation (after capsular contracture). The choice of incision may impact on changes in sensation - some surgeons feel that the inframammary (below the breast) approach increases risk and others feel that the periareolar approach (under the nipple) increases risk; there are many studies in the literature to support both... more
Kim Meathrel, MD

Ontario Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast implant surgery rarely results in a permanent...

Breast implant surgery rarely results in a permanent loss of sensation. However, any surgery on the breast can possibly produce numbness and the only way to be assured that this will not happen is to not have the surgery. The other factors that increase the risk of sensory loss are the surgical technique and the size of the implant. Large implants stretch the nerves more and are more prone to causing numbness. If a patient experiences some loss of sensation after surgery, taking B complex... more
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

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