Nerve damage and nipple sensitivity - are some people more prone to nerve damage?

Breasts are a different story than the rest of your anatomy. The nerve anatomy is different on every person. Although you have a dominant nerve for nipple sensation, usually there are multiple that innervate to help reduce the chances of complete nipple sensory loss.

Hi there,Great question! Changes to nipple sensation are very common after breast augmentation. During surgery, the implant stretches the breast tissues, including the nerves and that can cause changes in areola sensitivity. These changes typically resolve in a few months, but in some cases can be permanent. There is really no guarantee it just depends how your body responds.

Sometimes, when the nerve to the nipple is stretched there is a temporary annoying increase in sensation for about 6 weeks before it returns to normal. But, on a scale of 0 to 10, if the importance of sensation for you is a 10 and you are the one to lose it- that's a big deal. Only you can decide how important this surgery is to you. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Dear Powerful953277,
numbness is very common. It depends on the operation but often times sensation can return in a couple of weeks, a year, or not at all. Nipple sensation itself is very important and can sometimes be lost with breast surgery. This is often mentioned in the risks of the consent process. However, a meticulous surgical technique can reduce the chance of numbness.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Change in sensation is a risk with breast augmentation. Most patients experience changes after surgery related to swelling. Once the swelling resolves typically sensation returns to normal. For some patients however the changes can be permanent. There are certain factors that may increase the risk of sensation changes, such as selecting a very large implant. I encourage you to discuss your concerns with your surgeon.

Any incision can cut small sensory nerves and leave you with less sensation. The inframammary incision is least likely to cause loss of sensation to your nipples. Having implants placed behind the breast, with or without behind the muscle, can also interfere with nipple sensation, but this risk is less than 5%. Otherwise, consider fat grafting which has less risk to nerves.

Hi and welcome to our forum!Any surgical intervention has the potential to cause nerve injury. Small almost microscopic nerve fibrils may be injured during dissection. 15% of breast augmentation patients will experience permanent altered nipple sensitivity. This is especially important for you to know and accept as it is an erogenous zone for you. Perhaps you are not a candidate?Best wishes...