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Do we lose breast sensitivity after getting silicon breast implants?

Do we lose breast sensitivity after getting silicon breast implants? I am a size A and would like a natural look, but not at the cost of losing breast sensitivity. I am considering getting small implants to get a B or small c size at the most.

Doctor Answers 10

Do we lose breast sensitivity after getting Silicone Breast Implants?

June 16th, 2016
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After Breast Augmentation surgery nipple sensation can temporarily change. You may experience some numbness of the breast. After a few weeks and the breasts are healed the breast/nipple's normal sensation should return. Be sure to discuss your concerns with your board certified plastic surgeon.

Web reference: http://www.awomanplasticsurgeon.com/breast/about-breast-implant-surgery

Cynthia L. Mizgala, MD
June 16th, 2016

Do we lose breast sensitivity after getting Silicone Breast Implants?

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After Breast Augmentation surgery nipple sensation can temporarily change. You may experience some numbness of the breast. After a few weeks and the breasts are healed the breast/nipple's normal sensation should return. Be sure to discuss your concerns with your board certified plastic surgeon.

Learn more: http://www.awomanplasticsurgeon.com/breast/about-breast-implant-surgery

Cynthia L. Mizgala, MD

Breast Sensitivity and Implants

June 16th, 2016
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A breast augmentation surgery, whether it is with saline or silicone implants always has a slight risk of loss of sensitivity. This is due primarily to little nerves that might get cut during surgery. If this happens, it will usually resolve on its own to feel natural again.
Lawrence Bundrick, MD
June 16th, 2016

Breast Sensitivity and Implants

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A breast augmentation surgery, whether it is with saline or silicone implants always has a slight risk of loss of sensitivity. This is due primarily to little nerves that might get cut during surgery. If this happens, it will usually resolve on its own to feel natural again.
Lawrence Bundrick, MD

Do we lose breast sensitivity after getting silicon breast implants?

June 15th, 2016
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Your breast or nipple sensation may change after surgery but it should normalize within weeks to months. With any surgery, you always risk losing sensation because of traction on the nerves but the nerves generally grow back in due time. Best to ask your operating surgeon for more details if you are still concerned. 
Farah Naz Khan, MD
June 15th, 2016

Do we lose breast sensitivity after getting silicon breast implants?

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Your breast or nipple sensation may change after surgery but it should normalize within weeks to months. With any surgery, you always risk losing sensation because of traction on the nerves but the nerves generally grow back in due time. Best to ask your operating surgeon for more details if you are still concerned. 
Farah Naz Khan, MD

Do we lose breast sensitivity after getting silicon breast implants?

June 20th, 2016
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It is not unusual to have some numbness in the cleavage area after breast augmentation. Nipple sensation loss is unusual but can occur in 5% of breast augmentations.

Web reference: http://www.bostonplasticsurgeryspecialists.com/services/breast-surgery/breast-augmentation/

Brooke R. Seckel, MD, FACS
June 20th, 2016

Do we lose breast sensitivity after getting silicon breast implants?

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It is not unusual to have some numbness in the cleavage area after breast augmentation. Nipple sensation loss is unusual but can occur in 5% of breast augmentations.

Learn more: http://www.bostonplasticsurgeryspecialists.com/services/breast-surgery/breast-augmentation/

Brooke R. Seckel, MD, FACS

Do we lose breast sensitivity after getting silicon breast implants?

June 17th, 2016
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Temporary numbness is common after surgery but long term sensitivity changes are much less common, especially with smaller implants. See link below for examples. 

Web reference: https://drgutowski.com/Before-After-Photos/Breast/Breast-Augmentation

Karol A. Gutowski, MD, FACS
June 17th, 2016

Do we lose breast sensitivity after getting silicon breast implants?

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Temporary numbness is common after surgery but long term sensitivity changes are much less common, especially with smaller implants. See link below for examples. 

Learn more: https://drgutowski.com/Before-After-Photos/Breast/Breast-Augmentation

Karol A. Gutowski, MD, FACS

Breast Sensation After Surgery

June 16th, 2016
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Placing implants in the breast can affect the sensation to the nipple and to the skin. Fortunately, this is uncommon and usually if it does happen it is temporary and will resolve with time. You will need to decide how important this risk is versus your desire for implants. Most patients find the risk acceptable.
Jeffrey W. Hall, MD
June 16th, 2016

Breast Sensation After Surgery

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Placing implants in the breast can affect the sensation to the nipple and to the skin. Fortunately, this is uncommon and usually if it does happen it is temporary and will resolve with time. You will need to decide how important this risk is versus your desire for implants. Most patients find the risk acceptable.
Jeffrey W. Hall, MD

Do we lose breast sensitivity after getting silicon breast implants?

June 16th, 2016
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First of all, the type of implant is immaterial. Yes, there is always a risk to losing sensitivity of the nipple(s) or other areas on the breast with any type of breast surgery and runs in the 5-10% range depending on which research paper you read. Sometimes this sensitivity returns, sometimes it does not. If you want no risk you need to not do any surgery. 
Ronald V. DeMars, MD
June 16th, 2016

Do we lose breast sensitivity after getting silicon breast implants?

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First of all, the type of implant is immaterial. Yes, there is always a risk to losing sensitivity of the nipple(s) or other areas on the breast with any type of breast surgery and runs in the 5-10% range depending on which research paper you read. Sometimes this sensitivity returns, sometimes it does not. If you want no risk you need to not do any surgery. 
Ronald V. DeMars, MD

Sensory losses with Breast Augmentation

June 16th, 2016
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Breast Augmentation regardless of the type of implant used may be associated with temporary or permanent loss of sensation. Most such losses are caused by traction- the pulling forward of the breast and the skin by the implant and most normalize in a few months. However, there is a small number in whom such losses and numb patches may be permanent. If you are completely unwilling to risk any loss of sensation you should not have this surgery because no ethical surgeon can assure you that however small the risk of numbness is it would not happen to you. 

Peter Aldea. MD
Memohis, TN
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon
4.8 out of 5 stars 114 reviews

June 16th, 2016

Sensory losses with Breast Augmentation

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
Breast Augmentation regardless of the type of implant used may be associated with temporary or permanent loss of sensation. Most such losses are caused by traction- the pulling forward of the breast and the skin by the implant and most normalize in a few months. However, there is a small number in whom such losses and numb patches may be permanent. If you are completely unwilling to risk any loss of sensation you should not have this surgery because no ethical surgeon can assure you that however small the risk of numbness is it would not happen to you. 

Peter Aldea. MD
Memohis, TN

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Breast sensation should remain intact after implant surgery

June 16th, 2016
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When breast implants are placed the blood vessels, nerves and milk ducts are preserved.  So, theoretically no feeling should be lost and the ability to breast feed should remain intact.  However, those nerves are stretched and it is possible the sensitivity could decrease or increase immediately after the procedure.  Nerves regenerate very slowly and it may take 9-12 months for the sensation to return to normal.  The size of the implant does not influence the possibility of nerve injury.

Good Luck!
David Finkle, MD
June 16th, 2016

Breast sensation should remain intact after implant surgery

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When breast implants are placed the blood vessels, nerves and milk ducts are preserved.  So, theoretically no feeling should be lost and the ability to breast feed should remain intact.  However, those nerves are stretched and it is possible the sensitivity could decrease or increase immediately after the procedure.  Nerves regenerate very slowly and it may take 9-12 months for the sensation to return to normal.  The size of the implant does not influence the possibility of nerve injury.

Good Luck!
David Finkle, MD

Sensation

June 15th, 2016
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Any surgery to the breast carries the risk of sensation loss. Also, you have two different breasts, and they may not have the same sensation after surgery. Most women do retain full sensation after breast augmentation.
Connie Hiers, MD
June 15th, 2016

Sensation

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Any surgery to the breast carries the risk of sensation loss. Also, you have two different breasts, and they may not have the same sensation after surgery. Most women do retain full sensation after breast augmentation.
Connie Hiers, MD

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.