Is nipple sensitivity lost after mastopexy?

Thank you for your question, The Bellesoma Method is a current technique to lift breasts without using implants or the ugly vertical scars.  The incisions are hidden around the areola and in the inframammary crease. The vertical incision has been completely eliminated. The areola incision heals almost invisibly due to the fact that there is hardly any tension on the closure. With this particular technique, ducts are preserved along with nerve supply maintaining nipple sensation and the ability to breast feed. Because the breast is reshaped internally and is secured to your chest muscles, upper pole fullness is possible without an implant. Attached is a patient who underwent The Bellesoma Method. Please note that her tissue was used to create upper pole fullness and cleavage without any foreign materials (mesh, implants, etc).  It is a proprietary technique that only surgeons that have been trained by me can perform. I hope this helps. Best wishes and kind regards, Dr. Gary Horndeski

Breast lift (mastopexy) is a surgery where patients have typically thought about the procedure for years prior to coming into the office.  The vast majority of patients want to be able to exercise and wear clothes without their breast limiting those activities.  However, patients often do worry about the sensitivity of their nipples after a mastopexy (breast lift surgery).  It is import to remember that many patients have decreased nipple sensitivity when they have very large or ptotic breasts.  This comes from the fact that the nerves have been stretched over a period of years. 
It is impossible to predict if patients will lose sensitivity in their nipples after a breast lift, but the majority of patients return to their baseline in terms of sensitivity several months after surgery.

Patients typically go through a several phases in terms of sensitivity after their breast reduction surgery.  Patients can lose sensitivity initially after their surgery as the nerves are stretched and moved by the lift and re-arrangement of the breast tissue.  However, the majority of the breast lift techniques are designed to protect the glandular tissue below the nipple areolar complex.   Protecting this glandular tissue below the nipple areolar complex does two things, one it protects the blood suppler to the nipple and areola, it also protects some of the nerves going to the nipple areolar complex.  The nipple sensation typically starts to return over the next couple months, but can vary greatly from patient to patient. 

Patients can also experience a period of hypersensitivity after their mastopexy.  This hypersensitivity is typically the period when the nerves are “waking” back up and are sensitive to any type of contact.  During this period of hypersensitivity, it is important to massage the breasts as this will help the nerves return to baseline.  The nerves need to adjust to being touched again.  Wearing a soft, sports bra typically helps until the sensitivity returns to baseline, however massaging the nipple areolar complex is key to helping calm down the hypersensitivity of the area.  It is important to touch them or the hypersensitivity can linger for a period of time. 

Some initial nerve sensation changes initially are normal in a mastopexy; however, the majority of patients return to their baseline in terms of sensitivity several months after their surgery.


It is important to discuss this risk with your Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon.  They can help guide you through the process and further discuss the risks of losing sensation after your breast lift surgery.

There is a risk of decreased nipple sensitivity following cosmetic breast surgery. However, it is rare. Usually, you will experience some numbness as you recover, but once you’ve fully recovered, nipple sensation should be back to normal.

It is rare to have a temporary or permanent decrease or loss of sensitivity to the nipples after mastopexy surgery. For most patients there is no change in sensation. Best of luck to you. For more information on this and similar topics, I recommend a plastic surgery Q&A book like "The Scoop On Breasts: A Plastic Surgeon Busts the Myths."

it's possible to lose sensibility of the nipple after breast surgery (including breast reduction and/or mastopexy), but this is a small portion of the time (around 1 in 20 cases), in my experience.

It is quite rare to have long-lasting changes in sensitivity after a breast lift. This should be less than 5%. In the early phases of healing, most women have and increase or decrease in sensibility. It often takes about a year for this returns to normal in most cases.

Some loss of nipple sensitivity can be lost after a mastopexy especially in the early postop period.  However, it's likely to return to normal once the healing process is done.

Most patients have normal nipple sensation after surgery.  Many have decreased sensation initially and most of the time that is due to swelling. As the swelling subsides, the sensation usually improves.

Nipple sensitivity changes after Mastopexy alone is very unlikely. Generally the breast gland, through which the nerves run, is not changed in a way that will affect the sensation of the nipple. Please remember that the nipple, which is a point where the breast gland and skin come together, is usually not separated from the underlying tissue, but rather becomes lifted as the support ligaments of the breast are tightened. There is skin removed, but the underlying breast tissue remains together and connected to the nipple, maintaining sensation. Please discuss your concerns with your Plastic Surgeon, who will undoubtedly discuss the technique more completely with you.

Hello and thank you for your excellent question. Many women are concerned about changes in nipple sensitivity after breast surgery. In general, immediately after surgery, about 1/3 of patients have no change, 1/3 of patients have an increase in sensitivity, and about 1/3 have a decrease in sensitivity. However, over the next 6 - 12 months, nipple sensation returns to normal, such that at 1 year, only 1-2% of women have any permanent changes in nipple sensation. There are a few caveats to this: the risk of permanent nipple sensation is related to the extent of surgery. For instance, a patient undergoing a 2 kilogram breast reduction has a very high likelihood of having permanent nipple sensation changes, whereas a woman undergoing a peri-areolar mastopexy has a much lower risk. Make sure you specifically look at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.  Also be sure to have a frank discussion about your specific concerns. The most important aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend that you seek consultation in person with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon. Good luck! 

Best,

Jon Ver Halen, MD FACS 
Harvard educated plastic surgeon