Burning in Sternum After Breast Augmentation

Pain and burning sensations after breast surgery are not entirely normal.

It is important not to ignore nerve pain or unpleasant sensations relating to nerves because these may become permanent.

Often physical therapy, desensitization, and occasionally a neurologist may be helpful.

Also if the problem is located at an area that requires revision, that may be the time to investigate the nerve problem.

This is normal, it likely has to do with the muscle being over dissected a bit which would feel like a really aggresive chest workout

it is not unusual to have sensory irritation even up to a year after augmentation.  it is odd but i have found that the side that the patient feels has an appearance problem also has a pain problem associated with it. be patient.

Burning sensation usually means a nerve is being irritated.  It could be that it is being stretched or it may be caught in some scar tissue that is not irritating it.  Potentially a talk with a pain specialist may help.  Sometimes medication can be used to soothe irritated nerves.

Burning 7 months after breast augmentation is not common.  Likely origin of the problem is nerve injury.  If symptoms improve with implant manipulation  then one can consider revisional surgery for symptoms.  Otherwise it be best to review with your surgeon nonsurgery options based on your symptomatology (sometimes meds such as neurontin, or desensitization techniques via OT).

The speed of sensory return can vary greatly from patient to patient.  Your surgeon would need to rule out other causes such as problems with the implant, but such sensations can occur from sensory reinnervation or small nerve endings being trapped in scar which is normally formed.

It is not common to have pain or burning 7 months after your breast augmentation in or around your sternum but possible.

In the first 3 to 4 months after the surgery it is not uncommon to have numbness, tingling and burning sensation in any area of the breast due to regeneration of the sensory nerves that may have been servered during surgery. The sensation usually comes back around that time.

Although sudden new pain at 7 months could be due to nerve regeneration it is unlikely.

If it is new onset pain that has not been there before it could be some type of inflammatory condition that maybe temporary such as of the cartilage or bone in that area. A short course of anti-inflammatory may help.

See your doctor and if it gets worse and does not get better further studies such as blood work for inflammatory markers or an MRI maybe warranted.

Good luck!

It is likely a nerve problem but could be a traction problem with the bottoming out.  If the pain goes away or is a lot better when you support the bottomed out area with your hand, providing some support to this area either with stitches and/or Alloderm or Stattice may help.  I have not had any patients with the issue you have medially but I have had a few patients with bottoming out laterally who have had a lot of discomfort that resolves when the bottoming out is fixed.  Good luck. 

Lisa Lynn Sowder, M.D.

The burning you are experiencing is undoubtedly due to nerve irritation.  I would recommend using anti-inflamatories to lessen the pain and possibly a nerve block if it persists.  It should resolve but seven months is a long time.  Ask your surgeon for a referral to a pain specialist if pain does not respond to the other measures.

All the best,

Talmage J Raine MD FACS

You probably have some paresthesia of sensory nerves in the area of the burning.  Have your surgeon evaluate you to rule out other pathology.  Donald R Nunn MD  Plastic Surgeon.