numbess after implants

aprildawn714

I had my tissue expanders removed and my final surgery 4 weeks ago. will I ever get rid I the this numbness? It is just such an uncomfortable feeling when I touch my skin over my implants. I know it hasn't been that long but any input would be great.

Thanks everyone

MinusTwo

April - if you had a mastectomy, some people say they eventually get back a little sensation. My mastectomy was in 2011 and I have no feeling in my breast area, which I understand is usual.

LiveLoveLaugh2020

April I had my exchange two weeks ago. Bil NSMX 4 months ago. I felt that way after MX for a while but I don't feel that totally uncomfortable feeling anymore and I do have some sensation now. I hope it gets better for you soon. How are you feeling otherwise? I was feeling great but now starting to get these twinges of pain/discomfort.

nicci1980

Hi April! I have to say that I had my surgery in 2014. I had complete numbness as you have. It’s been five years and it’s not completely numb as it was, I do have some sensation in my breasts, armpit, and surrounding area. The sensation is not as weird feeling as it was when it first happened, so it does get better. Hope all is well.

WC3

I had enough sensation around my "breasts" and on the underside after my BMX that if I cupped my hands over them, it felt fairly normal and I thought that was a pretty good deal, however the upper portion was completely numb and running my hands over that part felt like running my hands over the top of my breasts while wearing a bra. After my exchange surgery, I had even less sensation on the cancer side. I also have numbness in part of my axilla region and some nerve damage that wraps around to my back and makes me feel like drops of water are trickling down my back when I am topless.

Generally though, none of this bothers me.

What did bother me was numbness in my neck and collar bone region from my third port placement, and the thought of that being my new normal disturbed me. Thankfully it was not permanent and I eventually regained full sensation there a few months after my port was removed.

I'm also starting to get some sensation back in the breast on the non cancer side near the scar line. I don't expect to get any sensation back over the upper portions though without a nerve transplant.

exbrnxgrl

aprildawn,

I am 8 1/2 years out from my one step implant/bmx surgery. I do have some skin sensation, but no underlying sensation. Remember, you have no underlying breast tissue, hence no underlying sensation. Wereyou not made aware of this prior to surgery?

aprildawn714

thank you everyone for your replies. this site is so helpful. I am still sore from my surgery. I have some sites that are not quite healed I had to see my PS so many times after the surgery. my one area opened up because she said my skin is so thin. I just can't wait to feel somewhat normal. I miss yoga and being able to do the things I love. But I will get there. thanks again

DiveCat

When they do a mastectomy they also cut/remove nerve tissue that was located in and around the removed breast tissue. This can lead to numbness, but in some also can cause hypersensitivity and “shocks”. I have had all three of these! Every time I go in for more surgery I have a period of time after where I get these breath-taking nerve shocks (mostly on right side radiating from right nipple). Sometimes very strongly, I understand it is part of nerve repair process. It generally lasts a few weeks decreasing in frequency as time goes on.

My new normal since my first surgery though is a numbness over most of breast mounds, with the ability to very slightly feel sensation around my right nipple with touch but it’s very minor. I am “aware” if breasts are touched being touched (or my cat is walking over them ha) due to pressure but I can’t feel anything. But the skin on outside edges, by cleavage and in middle of cleavage is sensitive. I also think due to contrast my upper chest area near my clavicles and so on seems much more alert to touch sensations. It’s actually kind of a “comforting” area for me as in its calming for me to have pressure placed there (by my own hand, by my cat laying on me, etc).

I understand there are techniques out there related to nerve repair to bring some feeling back to areas but honestly I am not bothered. I dealt with a lot of breast sensitivity and pain before mastectomies anyway due to hormonal fluctuations so don’t really feel that disappointed about the loss of sensation.

My sister had crazy hypersensitivity after her PBMX and implant reconstruction especially over upper pole. I will have to check with her and see if it is still happening (she is about 9 weeks out of PBMX and 6 weeks out of implant reconstruction). I know she is getting shocks like I did but I did not check with her on first issue.

Healthy healing, you will get there, not to your previous normal but a new normal for you. I returned to all my prior activities though I don’t work out my pecs as much anymore (sub-pec)