Why are my Nipples Sensitive After Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation causes some loss of sensation due to injury of the tiny nerves that serve the skin. If incision is in armpit, the inner arm often loses some sensation. An incision under the breast will cause loss of sensation of a 1 cm strip of skin above the incision. Neither of these incisions is prone to loss of sensation in the areola, and more commonly patients describe increased sensitivity. This hypersensitivity is temporary, and occurs because the nerves in the breast are stretched by the surgery and implant, and the stretched nerve is more irritable until it grows in length (nerves can grow!) and is again at normal tension. Use of a silicone dressing to cover the nipple is all that is needed until normal sensation returns.