How Does a Breast Lift Impact 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 incisions are slightly below the skin, in the subcutaneous fat layer, and can damage or sever the nerve or its branches, causing temporary or permanent numbness.

If a breast lift is being done in conjunction with implant placement for enlargement, creation of the implant pocket can also damage or sever the sensory nerve(s) to the nipple. This occurs in about 5-10% of augmentation patients. With a full lift, numbness occurs in somewhat more, around 15% or so.

A crescent lift, IMHO, is essentially a "worthless" lift, as the amount of nipple elevation is NEVER more than a few millimeters. Ask yourself if the additional cost is worth several mm only? A Benelli round-block technique can provide modest lifting, but can flatten the breast, create irregular and potentially unsightly scars, and can cause a purse-string appearance around the areola depending on the suture choice and exact technique. Neither of these "lifts" should cause an undue risk of losing nipple sensation, but I would still advise that about 5-15% of patients may lose some sensation with either of these (not-recommended or rarely-recommended) lifts, simply because the incisions are placed right where the nerve branches exist. Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

Thank you for your question,              
The Bellesoma Method is a current technique to lift and/or reduce breasts without using implants or the ugly vertical scars.  The incisions are hidden around the areola and in the inframammary crease. The vertical incision has been completely eliminated. The areola incision heals almost invisibly due to the fact that there is hardly any tension on the closure. With this particular technique, ducts are preserved along with nerve supply maintaining nipple sensation and the ability to breast feed. Because the breast is reshaped internally and is secured to your chest muscles, upper pole fullness is possible without an implant. Attached is a patient who underwent The Bellesoma Method. Please note that her tissue was used to create upper pole fullness and cleavage without any foreign materials (mesh, implants, etc).  It is a proprietary technique that only surgeons that have been trained by me can perform. I hope this helps. 
Best wishes and kind regards, 
Dr. Gary Horndeski

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 considering surgery, as it will lower your chances of complications.

All surgical procedures carry some degree of risk. Any breast
operation can result in changes in sensation. This happens less with lifts than
reductions but is still possible Occasionally, minor complications occur and do
not affect the surgical outcome. Major complications associated with this
procedure are rare. The suitability of the breast lift procedure and specific
risks may be determined during your consultation.

Although breast lift surgery
is a relatively safe operative procedure, complications can occur.Loss of sensation is a recognized
complication of this procedure and can occur in about 10 to 15% of
patients.Loss of sensation may involve
breast skin, or in more serious cases, the actual nipple areola complex.In the vast majority of cases, it’s transient
and resolves with time, but in some cases may be permanent.When crescent and Benelli breast lifts are performed, the
dissection is relatively superficial.For this reason the incidence of decreased sensation would be lower with
these procedures than with standard mastopexy techniques.When patients have lost sensation, it may take up to six
to 12 months for it to return.When loss
of sensation persists for longer periods of time, it may be permanent.Under these circumstances, it’s important to
discuss this issue with your plastic surgeon.

After breast lift surgery, it is possible to have a change in nipple sensation. However, in my experience it is rare to have a permanent increase, decrease or loss of
nipple sensation.