Is there anything at all that can be done to regain some sensation?

Question

Hi there. I am 2.5 years post-op from bilateral breast reduction, still lost sensitivity in left nipple - any hope? I had my breast reduction in August of 2017. There were some healing complications along the incision towards the bottom of my breast, but otherwise, I healed decently. The one problem I have is that my left nipple still has very little sensitivity and it’s worrying. I get electric shocks on occasion, and it does respond to pressure, but I can’t feel much else. My surgeon gave me a hard no but I want another opinion.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

For the vast majority of patients, breast reduction will not cause a permanent loss of feeling in the nipple or areola. If you require “free nipple grafting”, it is inevitable that you will have loss of sensation.Best to check with the plastic surgeon who performed your breast reduction as he knows how the surgery was performed;  but in my experience, the sensitivity diminishes with time.

Miguel Delgado, MD · Answer

Unfortunately loss of some or all of nipple sensation is one of the risks with breast reduction surgery, although rare, it is a risk. Most sensation will return by 6 months, after 2 years there isn't a likelihood of returning sensation.

Francis Johns, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.The sensory nerves are disrupted during surgery and can take anywhere from 6 months to a year to return to baseline. In some cases, the sensation increases or in your case it decreases. At 2.5 years from surgery, there is not anything you can do. It is one of the most common side effects of having the surgery and unfortunately there is no treatment to help the sensation return.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Compassionate4069,
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.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Ajay Mahajan, MD, FRCS (Plast) · Answer

‘Complete loss’ of nipple sensation after breast reduction is surgical technique dependent and is rare if the procedure is done by an experienced, fully qualified plastic surgeon. Sensation can however be ‘decreased’ in about 10% of cases. This is generally temporary and most of the sensation returns to normal in about 3 months. Sometimes it can take about 12 to 18 months to fully recover, but at the end of this period there will be no further recovery of sensation. Even more rarely, the nipples can sometimes end up being hypersensitive. At the end of the day, percentage of risk is irrelevant even if it is as low as 0.1%, as if you end up being a patient in the 0.1%, then as far as you are concerned the risk has been 100% for you…!

Is there anything at all that can be done to regain some sensation?

Answers (6)

Answer: Numbness

Answer: Numbness

Answer: Sensation after #breastreduction with #PlasticSurgery

Answer: Sensation after #breastreduction with #PlasticSurgery

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Everything you need to know about Breast Reduction

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Is there anything at all that can be done to regain some sensation?

Answers (6)

Answer: Numbness

Answer: Numbness

Answer: Sensation after #breastreduction with #PlasticSurgery

Answer: Sensation after #breastreduction with #PlasticSurgery

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Reduction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.