What is the Best Incision to Use to Maintain Nipple Sensation with Implants?

I have decided on Allergan 410FF 375 or 410FM 350 implants under the muscle. To avoid double-bubble I need a lift. The PS (very experienced) says he can insert 410 style implant through periareolar incision and perform crescent lift. I don't care about scars too much. I am worried about nipple sensation and blood flow. Would a full anchor lift with IMF placement of the implants make sense?

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nipple sensation 350-399cc blood flow

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10 Doctor Answers | Asked by g1 in San Diego, CA

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What is the Best Incision to Use to Maintain Nipple Sensation with Implants

You have two questions to answer; 1) the choice of incision generally is not related to loss of nipple sensation but more ot implant size and 2) the use of a crescent lift is only for slight 1-2.5 cm corrections. I would really need measurements to assess your nipple in relation to your crease.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Breast reshaping and implant incisions

Hit here- I would seek at least one other opinion from plastic surgeon very experienced in breast surgery. My concern is that you will be unhappy (based on your photos) with an attempt at a lift don around the nipple- and once done this is impossible to correct.... With regard to implant placement, I believe placing the implant through an incision far from the nipple is the best way to prevent loss of function, among other problems.

Lift and augmentation

I think a circumareola aug lift will be OK. I do not think the specific incision method affects the sensation. I think it may be more due to the size of the implants used.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Multiple issues including nipple sensation

I would agree with the first response that your "experienced" plastic surgeon doesn't sound too experienced to me. I would condemn the use of both "crescent lifts" and periareolar incisions to put in breast implants and a lift will not avoid double-bubble contour problems. There are multiple issues here that need defining and response. The first is the need for a lift. It is not possible to judge this from the picture because it is not apparent where the... more

Breast augmentation with 410 implants and a mastopexy (breast lift): what incision?

I would say your "very experienced" breast surgeon may need more experience, in that from your photos it would appear that you need a significant lift, either vertical or "t-type", and make sure you are included in the 410 study as these are still experimental devices. The thinking that an implant will provide a lift is false and incision type effects sensation is false. Nerve preservation with pocket dissection for the breast implant is the most important step. I... more

Nipple sensation with breast lift and breast augmentation

The risk for a change in nipple sensation with breast augmentation is about 15% regardless of the incision used. The nerves to the nipple travel from between the ribs through the breast tissue to the nipple-areolar complex. There are no scientific papers that conclude that any incision is more risky than the others, and the mastopexy incisions will not add to the risk. I am not impressed with the results from crescent mastopexies. I think you would need a... more

Anchor scar never indicated for breast lift.

Hi, Crescent lift doesn't do much, and anchor scar is not appropriate for breast lift (only for extreme breast reduction). From your picture. I think you need a "doughnut" lift with a scar around your nipples. With good technique, nipple sensation is preserved. I would also recommend somewhat smaller smooth walled breast implants over the muscle. This would probably give yo the best long term shape.

Best incision to use to maintain nipple sensation

Great question. I recommend either infra mammary or axillary incision to preserve the nipple areolar sensation. It seems to be the best way to protect the tiny nerve endings areound the areolar nipple complex. From MIAMI Dr. B

Sensation after Augmentation/Lift

Since neither lift method does anything other than remove skin and tighten the skin around the breast (and implant), neither will cause loss of sensation. The one thing that has been shown to cause sensory loss in these procedures is the size of the implant base. The larger the implant base, the greater the loss of sensation. The size you have chosen appears to be reasonable for your frame. You should, therefore, have minimal sensory loss. Everyone has some, but studies have shown that,... more

Incision to Maintain Nipple Sensation

Neither the crescent lift nor the anchor lift incisions should pose a significant rick of loss of nipple sensation. In my experience there is little difference in the incidence of loss of nipple sensation with periareolar or inframammary incisions for augmentation, both of which are around 3-4%.