How Long Can It Take for Nipple Sensation to Come Back After Breast Augmentation

Although breast augmentation is a relatively safe operative
procedure, occasionally complications can occur.Loss of sensation is a recognized
complication of breast augmentation and can occur in about 5% of patients.Loss of sensation may involve the breast skin
or, in more serious cases, the actual nipple areola complexes.In the vast majority of cases, it’s a
transient phenomenon that resolves with time but, in some cases, it may be
permanent.In most cases, sensation
returns in 3 to 6 months but, in rare cases, may take up to a year to return.The
problem seems to occur more frequently when larger implants are used.This tends to stretch nerves and compress them
as well, resulting in loss of sensation.It’s important that you discuss this issue thoroughly with your plastic
surgeon before proceeding with breast augmentation.Although relatively rare, there’s no question
that loss of nipple areola sensation can potentially occur with this procedure.

 Generally speaking, most patients regain  lost sensation within the first year after surgery, if return of sensation  is  going to happen. Unfortunately, if loss of sensation is permanent, there are no surgical or nonsurgical modalities that are helpful. Best wishes.

Hello! Thank you for your question! Breast procedures such as the
breast lift and breast reduction certainly result in a more shapely,
perky, and fuller appearance of your breasts along with raising of the
nipple-areolar complex to an appropriate position. Since there is an
incision made around the areola along with some rearrangement of tissue
of the breast, there is a risk, albeit very small, of change in
sensation to the area. The reported rate of sensation changes
(decreased, loss, or increased) is ~7%. In my experience, this rate is
reportedly much lower, but is higher when tissue is excised or the
amount of lift that is needed, so the breast reduction procedure has a
slightly greater risk. The risk is lower in breast augmentation, but still present.   It can take up to a year for sensation to
return. It may take up to a year to regain sensation. After that time,
chances are small that it will improve.  Best wishes!