What Happens if my Right Boob and Nipple is Numb?

I just had my breast augmentation and my right boob and nipple is numb. I was wondering if this numbness will affect breast feeding as well??

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12 Doctor Answers | Asked by dina84 in Vancouver, BC

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What Happens if my Right Boob and Nipple are Numb?

Numbness anywhere on the breast, including the nipple, is very common after breast augmentation. The risk is the same regardless of the incision, and seems to increase along with implant size. Nerve recovery can be expected for up to 2 years after surgery, at which time about 15% of women will continue have some loss of sensitivity. Loss of sensitivity will not affect the ability to breastfeed. Don't be too concerned at this early stage of your recovery -... more

Nipple Numbness Post Breast Aug

In my practice, I tend to discuss risks and complications of surgery with my patients before their procedure. Numbness of the nipple is a common risk of breast augmentation surgery, but it tends to improve after 6-12 months after the procedure. If the problem continues, consult with your surgeon. There are some cases that the sensation will not come back after the surgery. Everyone reacts and heals from surgery in different ways. I hope the numbness goes away in time for you. more

Numbness after BA

You don't say how long ago your breast augmentations were, but it is not uncommon for numbness to occur for several months. The nerves have been stretched over the implant. As they come back to life you may experience hypersensitivity on your nipples and later brief shooting pains. These are good signs and mean that recovery is occurring. It is very unusual for the sensation to not return, but it could take up to a couple of years. Your patience will be... more

Nipple numbness after breast augmentation

Nipple numbness after breast augmentation can occur and is a known "complication". There are several reasons why it can happen but the good news is that sensation will usually return. Also, numbness of the nipple should not affect future breast feeding. The timing of when sensation returns depends somewhat on why it has happened and it can take as long as 12 months or more. Reasons for developing numbness after a breast augmentation include the use of a... more

Numbness of the nipple following breast augmentation and the ability to breast feed

Numbness of the nipple and breast does occur following a breast augmentation. Usually it is temporary, decreasing over a period of a few weeks to a few months. Sometimes, it can take a year to 2 years to regain the maximal amount of sensation. This issue is totally independent of the ability to breast feed - so don't worry. That is, even if there is permanent numbness of the nipple which is very rare, this will have no impact on being able to breast feed.

Breast Augmentation, Sensation, Breast feeding

Numbess after surgery is not unusual. Most get better in weeks or sometimes months. Permanant changes are unusual. Breast feeding is a complex response affected by many factors. Numbness may or may not change the ability to breast feed.

Nipple numb

You did not say how long it has been since your surgery. if numbness occurs it is usually temporary so give it some time. the difficulty with breast feeding is that when the nipple is numb you will not know if the baby latches on and therefore it can be hampered.

Rick Rosen, MD

3 reviews

Norwalk Plastic Surgeon

Numbness after breast surgery

Some degree of numbness is common after breast augmentation - most of the time the sensation returns within a few days/weeks. The nerves carrying sensation have little to do with the milk glands - so please do not worry about breast feeding.

Anindya Lahiri, MBBS

4 reviews

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

Nipple Numbness After Breast Augmentation...

Nipple numbness is known possibility following breast augmentation, and all prospective patients should be forewarned. This is caused by the need to cut or stretch nerves that otherwise stand in the way of properly placing the implant, and the surgeon has no way to avoid this. Also, as has been noted, nipple sensitivity may gradually improve for as long as 12 - 18 months following surgery. This, however, should not impair your future ability to breast feed. I think you should take... more

The feeling might still return

All women seeking breast augmentation should be told that they might have numbness after the surgery. Although mot women do not have this problem, it does occur occasionally. The feeling can recover if the nerve has just been stretched in surgery. There is nothing that I know of that can be done to fix the nerve.

Numbness after breast augmentation

Numbness of the nipple soon after augmentation happens infrequently and sometimes disappears in three to four months after surgery. It occurs more frequently with larger implants and is secondary to excessive stretching of the sensory nerves. If it has been several months since your surgery, it is unlikely that sensation will return. This should have little effect on your ability to breast feed.

Nipple Numbness after Breast Augmentation

Alteration of nipple sensitivity is a well known risk of breast augmentation - even if everything is done perfectly. Usually early post-operative numbness improves with time. The sooner it improves, the better the prognosis for complete return of sensation. I have seen sensation improve up to 1 year after surgery. Total absence of feeling on both breast would be expected to affect breast feeding. Decreased sensation on one or both breasts would not likely pose a problem. Dr Harrell more