2 weeks post. How do I get feeling back in my nipples after breast implants?

Thanks for your inquiry, it is not uncommon to have some nipple sensory changes in the early post-op period, please discuss your concerns with your surgeon for further counsel.  

Thank you for your question. It is not uncommon to have some changes in nipple and breast sensation after breast augmentation. It typically takes a few months for them return to normal sensation. I would recommend following up with your plastic surgeon regarding your concerns as her/she may have specific recommendations. Best of luck. 

I am sorry to hear about your concerns.
Although numbness or loss of sensation is a risk associated with breast augmentation,
sensation does indeed return in most patients. At 2 weeks post op, it is too
early to tell if this loss of sensation is permanent. It could still come back
with time. The pain you are experiencing sounds like nerve pain which is very
common after a breast augmentation. This occurs when nerves in the skin are
stretched as a result of the sudden increase in volume. This pain will subside
with time but can be managed with over-the-counter pain medicine. I recommend
discussing these concerns with your plastic surgeon as well. Best of luck!

Hi mshae,It is much too early for you to worry that you won't get your sensation back. It can take sometimes more than a year for the sensation to return. Be patient and discuss your concerns with your surgeon.I would also recommend that you stop stretching your arm. this type of movement can displace the position of your implants and cause a different type of problem. Please discuss with your surgeon what type of exercise that he/she recommends at this point in your recovery.Best Wishes,Dr. Christine Rodgers

For most patients, nipple numbness is a relatively normal and transient complication after breast augmentation. There's nothing to do to recover sensation more quickly; usually time is the only remedy. Hope this helps! Sam Jejurikar, MD

Dear mshae,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. I imagine your numbness is just temporary although I would have to examine you.Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

it is perfectly normal to have altered nipple sensation following breast surgery of this kind. They may be hypersensitive or numb or sometimes both in the same nipple! This takes weeks to months to settle but you will need to be patient. I am sure your surgeon would have discussed this with you pre-operatively too.Please rest assured this will settle and massage/desensitisation of the nipples on a twice daily basis is required. It is also useful for your partner to do this too. Speak to your surgeon and they will reassure you too.Good luck

Dear mshae,Sorry to hear that you are having these issues after surgery.  Loss of nipple sensation is unfortunately a risk with any type of breast surgery.  The risk is relatively small overall.  Most of the time, numbness after surgery is temporary nerve paralysis called neuropraxia.  This can be due to traction on the nerve or heat from the cautery used during surgery.  Neuropraxia will resolve on its own but can take 2-3 months or longer.  Hypersensitivity can also occur which should also resolve with time for similar reasons.  Hope this helps.  Be sure to follow up with your surgeon to discuss any concerns that you have.  Best of luck.  

when it comes to loss of sensation following breast augmentation.  If there is any sensation in the nipple, no matter how unpleasant it may be, that is a good sign that things will return over the long term.  As for hypersensitivity, as aggravating as it is, it will subside and resolve with time.  I encourage my patients to massage their nipples in hopes of desensitizing them sooner.

Thank you for your question. It is not uncommon at this point in your recovery for the nipples to be numb and possibly different on the 2 sides. The nerve may have not liked the stretching needed to form the pocket for the implant. Surgeons know generally where the nerve is located but it is slightly different in all cases. We therefore gently stretch the tissues in that area. Sometimes the nerve does not like that and it will stop working for a while. Give it time and usually the sensitivity and function return.