breast surgery and nipple sensation?

 Hello

I'm just in the beginning stages of looking into plastics.  I would love to have some sort of breast lift/implant combination as I am not even filling out an a-cup at the moment.  The thing is, I am extremely concerned about losing sensation.  I know it's TMI but that is a really important part of, well, you know...

What have your experiences been or what have you been told about this issue?

I would only be looking to go from a 'barely a' to a c.

thanks!

Maybe it's the way a surgeon does them, or the way they used to be done, but mine are just fine.  No lack of sensation.  Extremely sensitive after surgery, drying off was brutal.. now, after 12 weeks, one is just a bit more sensitive than the other.  

Bonnie

I had a breast lift on Saturday and haven't had any loss of sensation.

I had a lift with implants and I didn't lose any sensation either. Everything still works just as it did before

 

 

 

 

       Great question.  Breast surgery can cause loss of sensation but it is very rare.  Loss of sensation results from damage to nerve endings in the breast and nipple. 
I found this collections of studies that should give you an idea of the studies that have been conducted on this important subject. 

      The following study results will give you a better idea of what to expect:

·                          Tairych et al. Study: The study concluded that the normal denominators for breast sensitivity include that the skin in the superior quadrant was most sensitive, the nipple was least sensitive, and the areola was in the center of these sensitivity spectrums. (This means the skin over the upper part of the breast was most sensitive, the areola around the nipple was medium sensitive, and the nipple itself was least sensitive.)

·                          Courtiss and Goldwyn Clinical Study: Compared sensitivity before and after surgery, noting that small breasts are commonly more sensitive than large breasts. (This means that the smaller the breast, the greater the sensitivity overall.)

·                          Gonzalez et al Study: Examined 84 reduction mammoplasty patients to find that over 90 percent maintained nipple-areola sensitivity. The study also found sensitivity retention was higher when the excision of breast tissue was less than 550 gm. (This means for breast reduction, breast sensitivity stays the same in the nipple and areola after surgery for over 90 percent of the patients. If you have less than 550 gm removed, you have the most chance of keeping full breast sensitivity.)

This is a link to our website that has more information on the different types of procedures available.  Good luck in your search.  http://www.nvpsaz.com/breast

 

 

Talk to your surgeon.  I'm told that the risk with a reduction is far greater than with a lift.  And that the risk of INCREASED sensation is as bad as decreased.

BUT - that it is still a risk.

But the increased sensation seems to dim over time.   It was at first after getting out of the shower, now it's fine.   But certainly ask your surgeon what his patients exhibit after surgery.  Maybe it's all in technique?

Bonnie

I had a bl/br on June 23 2010. No implants so I am not sure if that would make a difference. My breasts were numb around the nipples and the incisions for the first two weeks then the feeling started to come back. Now almost all the feeling is back, there are a couple of small numb spots in the crease below the breasts but my nipples are actually way more sensitive now than they were prior to surgery.

Good luck!

Ole

No implants but simply a reduction/lift. I had heard that they would be numb at first and sensation would return. I had the opposite - loads of sensation to the point where I asked my surgeon if they could turn DOWN the sensation please! (I think in my case, my nipples/areola were so large pre-op that I honestly had very little sensation anymore so when he resized them, they were far more concentrated/had more sensation). Like Bonnie, drying off post-shower was almost too much.

8.5 weeks out, I can say that they are appropriately sensitive now.

I went to see "the boob guy" here in Waterloo -and he told me that just as many people have TOO much than too little.  That was a surprise to me!  But he also said that he hasn't had a patient who didn't return to "normal" within a year at most.  

Good to know you got "normal" back fast!!