It's quite normal for breast augmentation patients to experience nipple numbness, soreness or tingling, or even a pulsing sensation, as the nerves recover. These effects are only temporary and should subside within the course of a few months.
Breast augmentation provides some lift
Often, however, the nipples will need to be repositioned higher on the breast at the same time the implant is placed to achieve a natural, perky and youthful look.
A: Nipple-sparing mastectomy is a mastectomy, or removal of all of the breast tissue, without removal of any of the skin or the nipple or the dark skin around it called the areola. In a traditional mastectomy, the nipple is removed and the dark skin around the nipple is removed, as is some of the surrounding skin.
Loss of nipple sensation is a risk of any breast surgery be it an augmentation, lift or reduction. For breast augmentation, the stated risk for loss of nipple sensation can be as high as 10%. So yes, it is definitely a known, accepted complication and you need to consider this before you have surgery.
The science says that nipple sensitivity is influenced by a host of factors including, but not limited to, the body's levels of estrogen and progestogen, the location of your nipples, the placement of your nerves and your breast tissue.
Nipple Re-sensitization & Inverting using PRP Regenerative Injection Therapy. Sometimes due to breastfeeding, breast implants or age, the nipples lose sensitivity or shape over time. Using PRP injections, we can help regain some of that lost sensitivity for a more pleasurable experience.
The central portion of the nipple and areola is usually taken off the breast and then replaced at a somewhat higher position on the chest as a skin graft at the end of the procedure. In most cases, the size of the areola is made smaller so that it will appear more masculine.
For FTM (Female-To-Male) or MTF (Male-To-Female) patients, one or both nipple-areola complexes may be surgically removed and reattached in order to move its location to a more aesthetically pleasing location without sacrificing the health of the nipple. This is called a nipple graft.
Nipple sensation usually returns to normal over time
The good news is that the changes in sensation following surgery are almost always temporary. Nipple sensation returns after breast surgery, as the swelling goes down and the tissue adapts to its new shape.
Nipple shape
Breast augmentation combined with a breast lift can alter the shape and size of your nipples and areolae (the darker pigmented areas of skin that surround your nipples). For some, large or asymmetrical areolae are a cosmetic concern that they would like to resolve as part of their enhancement procedure.
“If it looks like her breasts are touching in the middle, they're likely fake.” If they're set too high on the chest, instead of around where the armpits are, they're probably implants. It's supposed to be easier to spot in a bathing suit, so it's not the result of a push-up bra.
Your surgeon will advise you to keep your arms below the shoulder for about 2 weeks. This allows the capsule to form around the implant to secure it in place. Lifting your arms above shoulder level can cause the implant to move out of the pocket.
Changing the dressing
Change the dressing every day for at least 3 weeks: Apply ointment over the entire nipple area. Cover with a large Band-Aid or gauze dressing.
Some trans masc or nonbinary people might opt out of the grafts and instead choose a chest without nipples or get nipples tattooed on later. If this is something that you're interested in, you can talk to your surgeon during your consult as to whether or not they offer this procedure.
After about 3 weeks your nipple grafts should be completely healed and you can stop the dressing changes.
Before entering the operating room, the surgeon will ask you to sit upright. While sitting, surgical markings will be drawn on your breasts. The markings outline the "sitting-up" position of your breasts, to make the correct incisions later during surgery when you are lying down.
For many women, nipples are erogenous zones. A new study may explain why: The sensation from the nipples travels to the same part of the brain as sensations from the vagina, clitoris and cervix.
Outside of dysphoria caused from milk release, Swarup says that “there is a theory that very sensitive nipples have endorphins that release when touched, which could be causing the dysphoria.” This theory poses that what *actually* causes the dysphoria is a drop in feel-good chemicals, regardless of the cause.
Lauren said, "I called them 'zingers,' where all of a sudden an electrical shock goes right though my breast from my back." It's called PMPS, or post mastectomy pain syndrome. David Maine, an anesthesiologist at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, said, "Some patients will describe a shooting, burning pain.
However, you should plan to wear your bra for around 6 weeks after surgery. You should wear it as much as possible (even while sleeping), but can remove it to shower. Some women opt for a special surgical bra while others wear a supportive sports bra.
With the large dressing removed, you can take a shower but only involving your back and your abdomen and below until the dressing is removed from the new nipple-areola complex site (bolus dressing) which is usually around two weeks. Until that point in time, DO NOT GET YOUR CHEST WET!
Therefore, during the initial four weeks after surgery, breast augmentation patients should avoid overusing their pectoral muscles. Typically, this means lifting nothing heavier than 10 pounds. No heavy pulling or pushing of objects such as car doors or even heavy purses, and no weight training.
However, those who have sub-muscular placement (under the muscle) do experience some pain, much of which is due to muscle stretching. Many have described it as a cramping type of pain, which can be helped with a muscle relaxant such as Valium.
How to correctly wear your surgical bra after your breast surgery. Surgical bras should have no seam and fasten in the front with a zipper or clasps. Your surgical bra should be snug but not too tight. You should be able to insert two fingers underneath.
Although there's no harm in light fondling, be mindful that your breasts will be sensitive to touch for up to 3 weeks after surgery. And remember, there's nothing wrong with keeping your compression bra on.