This is a great question! You must accept a risk of some loss of sensation. The most common area to lose sensation is on the skin of the lower outer quarter of the breast. Whether this happens is related to the course of the nerve to this patch of skin. Less common, but more important, is whether sensation is lost in the nipple. The nipple incision is more apt to create this problem, but with all incisions this is a risk because the major nerve to the nipple comes from the very side of the breast, and any dissection puts this nerve at risk. The larger the implant, the wider the pocket has to be, and the greater the chance of this damage. The less accurate the dissection, the greater the risk of this problem. But even when everything is done perfectly, some women can permanently lose sensation and all patients must be able to accept that risk before proceeding.This is a great question! You must accept a risk of some loss of sensation. The most common area to lose sensation is on the skin of the lower outer quarter of the breast. Whether this happens is related to the course of the nerve to this patch of skin. Less common, but more important, is whether sensation is lost in the nipple. The nipple incision is more apt to create this problem, but with all incisions this is a risk because the major nerve to the nipple comes from the very side of the breast, and any dissection puts this nerve at risk. The larger the implant, the wider the pocket has to be, and the greater the chance of this damage. The less accurate the dissection, the greater the risk of this problem. But even when everything is done perfectly, some women can permanently lose sensation and all patients must be able to accept that risk before proceeding.
Do people lose sensitivity in their breasts after an augmentation?
