Do Aesthetic Breast Surgeries Cause Loss of Sensation?

In the matter of aesthetic breast surgeries, breast augmentation, breast lift and breast reduction surgeries will first come to mind. Breast lift surgeries can be performed at the same time with breast augmentation surgeries. Breast reduction surgeries include lifting of the breasts by contents of procedure. When it comes to the matter of breast aesthetics operations such as breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, anyone considering to undergo one of these operations may be wondering about whether there will be a loss of sensation in the breasts.

There can be temporary or permanent loss in nipple and skin sensation after a breast augmentation surgery. Depending on the patient’s anatomy and the surgical technique, the amount and the permanence of this differ. For example, in breast augmentation surgeries which involve incisions being made around the nipples, these situations can be more seen.  In breast augmentation surgeries which are performed with inframmary fold or axillary incisions, they are seen less. Also transumbilical breast augmentation surgeries can have a higher rate than these two techniques. The nipple and skin sensation may not be affected by a breast augmentation surgery at all. Sometimes diminished sensation or total loss of sensation can be experienced temporarily. Sometimes diminished sensation or total loss of sensation can be experienced permanently.

During breast reduction and breast lift surgeries, breast skin and nipple sensation may also be damaged. The preservation of skin and nipple sensitivity within the individual anatomy of the patient after a breast reduction or a breast lift surgery is affected by the surgical technique to be used, where the incisions are made and the amont of tissue to be removed. In some breast reduction and breast lift surgeries, the nipple is disconnected from blood supply and relocated. Procedures like these can affect nipple sensitivity and also may cause loss of nipple sensitivity.

Nevertheless, the majority of patients undergoing good quality breast aesthetic surgery do not experience any problems with loss of sensation. Immediately after the operation, the changes in breast skin and nipple sensation can be restored without any problem with the completion of the healing process.