Cosmetic Surgery Charleston Dr. Widenhouse Blog

While loss of nipple sensation is possible after breast augmentation, it is a rare complication, and most often temporary. Patients who do experience numbness in their breasts after surgery can expect it to fade in a couple of months, as swelling decreases and you continue to heal. However, for some women, it may take up to two years for sensation to return.

Loss of sensation is related to a few different factors:

• Excessively large implants – If you choose implants that are larger than the diameter of your breasts, your odds of experiencing of nipple numbness will increase.
• Periareolar incision – Around 15% of patients who choose this incision location will have some loss of sensation, compared to the inframmamary incision (5%) and the transaxillary incision (1%).
• Overdissection of the implant pockets during surgery – This can be avoided by a skilled breast surgeon.
• Implant placement above the muscle – This placement method will increase the likelihood of numbness, compared to implants that are placed below the muscle.

Dr. Widenhouse takes every possible precaution during breast augmentation surgery to avoid this complication, but your chances of experiencing it may depend on the choices you make about breast implant placement and the incision location.

If you have further questions about breast augmentation, please contact us today to schedule a personal consultation with experienced breast surgeon Dr. Brian G. Widenhouse. Port City Plastic Surgery serves patients throughout the Charleston, South Carolina area.