Breast Augmentation: Cost, Reviews, Photos

Numbness can occur after breast augmentation. The reason is due to the disruption of the sensory nerves as they travel from on top of the pectoralis muscle, through the breast gland to the skin and nipple. At 8 months after surgery, if you have had some resolution of the numbness, you may get more. Regrowth of peripheral nerves is quite slow and can take up to 18 months before it is complete. This being said, it is unlikely that you will regain full sensation in those areas, but it may improve much more so than it currently is. (David Bogue, MD, Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon)

Temporary loss of nipple sensation is quite common. Sensation usually returns to normal in 6-12 months. If you do not see any improvement after 2 years you may be one of the rare cases who has permanent sensory loss.

Nerves that travel from the chest to give sensation to the breasts are very thin and often invisible. They can be injured during surgery. Generally, this is not the result of your doctors techniques. (Ivan Thomas, MD (retired), Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon)

Numbness after breast augmentation may persist

At this time I would say that it is unlikely that you will recover complete sensation of your nipples, though I would also expect that it should improve somewhat with time. Utilization of the peri-areolar incision in breast implant surgery does carry a higher incidence of numbness than the incision under the breast, though it has some advantages as well and so different patients may request different incisions for different reasons. The peri-areolar incision requires cutting through some of the breast tissue, and this can disrupt the sensory nerves. My preference in my Santa Barbara plastic surgery practice is to utilize the incision in the inframammary crease, as the dissection is largely below the breast tissue and less likely to cut these nerves.

Nuance maneuvers such as blunt, rather than sharp dissection in the lateral pocket further decreases the incidence of nipple numbness in my Santa Barbara breast augmentation practice.

The potential for nipple numbness, however, is a known risk with any breast operation, and should be part of any such informed consent discussion before surgery. (Adam David Lowenstein, MD, FACS, Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon)

Numbness 20 months after breast augmentation is likely permanent.

Permanent numbness like you have experienced after breast augmentation occurs infrequently. The causes can be related to varying degrees of sensory nerve damage (stretching, overheating, or actual direct nerve disruption). The causes and the frequency of these sensory changes has also been discussed by my colleagues previously. Patients who note decreased sensation in their breasts immediately after surgery, often experience very slow but encouraging return of sensation with time. It is likely that this recovery may take weeks to months. When your recovery of sensation has halted (the breasts feel the same for months) and your surgery is over 18 months prior, it is not likely that any further significant improvement will occur. (Douglas J. Raskin, MD, DMD, Colorado Springs Plastic Surgeon)

Numbness after breast augmentation

There is still a chance for improvement, however the further out you are from your surgery the less likely it is that you will regain all or substantial amount of sensation back. I would continue to wait and massage the numb areas as some additional improvement may occur. (Remus Repta, MD, Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon)

Loss of sensation after breast augmentation

Temporary sensory changes are relatively common, and usually resolve during the first 12-18 months after surgery. Permanent loss of sensation is a troubling complication after breast augmentation, and occurs in roughly 5% of patients.

It is quite rare for the sensory nerves to be cut during a breast augmentation procedure. However, the placement of an implant can stretch out the nerves and cause temporary or permanent damage. (Kelly Gallego, MD, FACS, Yuba City Plastic Surgeon)

Unfortunately, this can occur and is due to the damage to the nerve which comes in from the side of your breast. Temporary loss of sensation in the area blood is likely to recover but if you have lack of sensation so long and I think it’s unlikely this will return. (Adrian Richards, MD, London Plastic Surgeon)

Breast implant surgery can cause nipple numbness

After so long, it is likely that your nipple numbness (or decreased sensation) is permanent. Nipple numbness is a known potential issue following any breast surgery, including breast augmentation. This is not a surprise, just something that sometimes happens.

The nerves become stretched from the implant placement and/or they are partially cut during dissection to place the implant. Some people have no numbness, while others have complete numbness or somewhere in between. (Carmen Kavali, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)