Breast Augmentation: Q&A

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Is It Possible to Virtually Eliminate the Risk of Nerve Damage During Breast Augmentation Through the Armpit?

I am looking for a surgeon who will take all necessary steps to avoid permanent nerve damage to any part of my body during a transax breast aug. Is it possible to assure your patients in good faith that the risk of nerve damage will not exceed the single digit range (i.e., 0.-9.99%) I would greatly appreciate all thoughtful commentary put forth by surgeons specializing in the axillary approach or particularly educated on the topic of nerve damage associated with BAs. Thx!

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17 Doctor Answers | Asked by Nicole1988 in CA

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Can you "virtually eliminate" the risk of nerve damage in breast augmentation

Thanks for this second question today. The risk of nerve damage in breast augmentation is very small and is not specifically related to the incision used, more by the surgeon's technique and the size of the implants used. The bigger the implants, the more the risk. The axillary incision actually carries an additional risk of numbness that the others don't have. This is from injury to the nerves that branch across the armpit and give feeling to the inner... more

I'm afraid it is not possible to completely remove the risk of nerve damage during breast augmentation through the armpit

Thank you very much for your enquiry, I'm afraid it is not possible to completely remove the risk of nerve damage during breast augmentation through the armpit but this is extremely rare. Normally, the symptoms of nerve damage do include tenderness in the area and possibly loss of sensation on the inner part of the arm. There are number of surgeons however who do specialize in this approach and it would be worthwhile discussing with them there experience of nerve damage in the... more

Nerve damage after breast augmentation- which incision is best?

Nerve injury after breast augmentation may lead to nipple numbness or breast pain. Most often, this is a temporary effect, caused by stretching of intercostal nerves that enter the breast from the side. The periareolar approach probably has the highest rate of numbness because the skin and breast tissue are cut near the nipple. The inframammary approach has a very low risk of nerve injury, because the surgeon is staying below the muscle. With the transaxillary approach, it is possible... more

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Axillary breast augmentation, New York breast augmentation

I have been doing axilary breast augmentation for past 30 years, since 1982. I do about 6-8 per week. I can assure you that I have not had any nerve damage occur as a result of this type of surgery so far. Nerve damage is very rare from this type of surgery if performed by experienced surgeon. Usually saline implants are used as these can be inserted through a very small incision which also reduces any risks of damaging any surrounding tissue. These surgeries are done on an... more

Breast augmentation incision location

Anytime you make an incision in the skin you are cutting sensory nerves. It does not matter how you make that cut-laser, scalpel or even a diamond. I assume in your hypothetical you are referring to the nerves that are the sensory nerves of the breast rather than the skin in general. If that is the case it does not matter what the skin incision is (belly button, crease under the breast, armpit or even surprisingly the nipple itself). A study some years ago using sensitive measures of skin... more

Transaxillary augmentation

A transaxillary augmentation is not my favorite way to go. No matter what approach there is always a small risk of nerve damage and no one knows exactly why it happens in the cases that it does occur in..

Steven Wallach, MD

13 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Risk of nerve injury during trans axillary breast augmentation vs. other incisions

No surgeon, no time,no where can completely eleminate the possibility of nerve injury in any invasive proceedure, no matter how skilled or experienced they are. Numbness of the nipple/areola ,if it should occur, usually returns to a functional level within a year

Nerve damage in Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation through a transaxillary approach carries the highest risk of nerve damage, 15% in the literature than the more common inframammary approach. A periareolar approach has more nerve damage than the inframammary approach. Nerve damage also depends on the size of the implant that you and your surgeon choose. A saline implant trough the axilla is placed in the submuscular pocket empty and would have less chance of nerve damage that a prefilled silicone gel implant. As... more

Is It Possible to Virtually Eliminate the Risk of Nerve Damage During Breast Augmentation Through the Armpit?

You're probably talking about injury to the intercosto- brachial Nerve while using the transaxillary approach to BA. That injury risk is negligible in the hands of experienced surgeon in this technique.

Nerve damage risk can be eliminated in breast augmentation

The under the arm or transaxillary approach to breast augmentation can be performed without risk to the nerves under the arm, risk to sensation in the breast and nipple is another matter. With any approach, under the arm or under the breast, the nerves within the breast can be stretched and challenged, and numbness or damage can occur. The larger the implant, the greater the risk. Damage to the nerves under the arm though just should not happen. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd more

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