How Does a Breast Lift Impact Nipple Sensation?

asked 1 year ago by Houston852
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 490 times
Tags: nipples, benelli, comparison, crescent, sensation loss

Does it make a difference between Bennelli and crescent incisions on the possible loss of feeling?

10 answers to How Does a Breast Lift Impact Nipple Sensation?

Breast lifts and nipple sensation.

Any type of breast lift involves incisions, and incisions can sever sensory nerves. Nipple/areola sensation is generally provided via the 4th lateral intercostal nerve (occasionally branches from the 3rd and the 5th), which courses along the lateral chest wall where it enters the breast and has terminal branches in the nipple area. Since these nerves are not in or immediately beneath the skin, skin-only incisions should theoretically preserve sensation. However, the surgical reality is that... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.mpsmn.com

Breast Lift or Mastopexy can alter nipple sensation

Any surgery involving the breast and around the areola/ nipple complex can potentially affect nipple sensation. The chance of loosing nipple sensation depending on the extent of the surgery. Most people have about 75% chance of not loosing any sensation, 15% chance of loosing some sensation, and 10% chance of loosing all the feeling in one nipple. this can also vary depending on your surgeons skills.

S. Sean Younai, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Can a breast lift affect nipple sensation?

Although any surgery on the breast has the potential risk of affecting nipple sensation, in general standard breast lifts do not result in loss of nipple sensation. Breast reductions have a somewhat higher risk of affecting sensation, as do breast augmentations, and some breast lift techniques that do a greater amount of deep tissue manipultation. In other words, skin level procedures have less risk since the nipple sensation comes from nerves that travel up through the breast... more

Robert M. Grenley, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Does it make a difference between Bennelli and crescent incisions on the possible loss of feeling?

Neither the Benelli breast lift nor the crescent procedure should affect nipple sensation. You should know the following: the Benelli lift should only be used in combination with an implant, and only if very minor lift is needed. The Benelli procedure causes flattening of the breast and can produce significant distortion of the areola. Some of the worst results I have seen in cosmetic breast surgery have been produced by this operation. The crescent lift is essentially useless... more

Eric Pugash, MD
Vancouver Plastic Surgeon

Any style of breast lift can impair nipple sensation.

Any style of breast lift can impair nipple sensation. If you are having a Benelli or crescent lift, your breast are probably not sagging very much as these procedures do very little to elevate the breast. Therefore, they should not produce a high incidence of decreased nipple sensation, Howver, neither surgery will do very much to lift the breast. If your breasts are very pendulous, you need a true breast lift, and there will be more risk of loss of nipple sensation. No free... more

G. Gregory Gallico III, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

Nipple sensation after breast lift

For most techniques in breast lift there is little risk to nipple sensation as the nerves come into the nipple deeper within the breast than near the surface of the skin. The Benelli or round block incision and the upper crescent approach places little risk to nipple sensation. Keep in mind also that the upper crescent lift does little of anything. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift and sensation loss

There is minimal risk of losing sensation with either approach for breast lift. The nerves to the nipple and areola come through the breast gland, not from the surrounding skin. As long as the breast gland underneath is not violated, you should have sensation post op.

Ricardo Izquierdo, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift incisions and numbness

A Benelli incision is just a peri-aerola (circular incision) of the nipple and aerola complex. A crescent incision is just a partial (bottom or top half). Both of these techniques are only applicable with people with minimal drooping. People with more drooping need either a classic anchor style or the Le Jour style. there is a small but minimal risk of numbness of the nipple following a breast lift , regardless of technique. I would not let the decision on which technique... more

Jack Peterson, MD
Topeka Plastic Surgeon

Numbness and breast lifts

There is no hard data to answer your question but I would say that there should be essentially minimal to no difference in numbness incidence after a Benelli or a crescent lift. The thing to make sure of is that these two very minor lifts are going to give you enough lift to get a great looking result.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lift and Loss of Sensation?

Thank you for the question. Both of the “breast lift" techniques that you describe can be complicated by loss of sensation; the incidence of this occurring should be low ( about 5%). The incidence of loss of sensation will increase in breast implants are used as well. I hope this helps.