AboutAlan M. Engler, MD, FACS Expertise Dr. Engler has answered over 2700 plastic surgery questions for Allexperts. His expertise is in cosmetic plastic surgery including breast surgery (breast enlargement with implants, breast reduction, breast lifts), liposuction, eyelid surgery, tummy tucks, facelifts etc.
Dr. Engler has been listed as one New York`s Top Doctors, and as "One of the World's Most Famous Aesthetic Surgeons" (Aesthetic Surgery, TASCHEN Books, Angelika Taschen, Editor). He is the author of 4 books, including "BodySculpture" (a best-selling plastic surgery book on breast surgery, liposuction and tummy tucks), "EyeScapes" (Plastic Surgery of the Eyelids), "Restylane," and "The Slim Book of Liposuction."
Dr. Engler has two US Patents for surgical instruments that he's designed, and has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Tyra Banks Show, The Ricki Lake Show (four times), and the Dr. Keith Ablow Show. Videos of his appearances are available on YouTube (SEARCH FOR "DR. ENGLER"). His website is www.bodysculpture.com.
Experience Dr. Alan Engler is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York and the author of BodySculpture - Plastic Surgery of the Body for Men and Women (ISBN 0966382749) one of the top-selling plastic surgery books on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, etc.
Education/Credentials Dr. Engler graduated from Yale University (undergraduate) and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University (medical school). He did his residency training in General Surgery and, after that, Plastic Surgery, at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York. He is on the faculty of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.
Question I had a breast reduction/lift approx. 3 1/2 months ago. The technique used was a strip of material was stitched to the chest muscle and then sutures attached to the breast tissue are attached to the strip on the muscle. So when I pushed down on my chest muscle in certain areas I can feel the sutures tugging at the bottom of my breast (there is no pain or disconfort). Incisions were made around the areola, straight down under the areola and in the crease under the breast. I went from a saggy DD to a C cup and am very happy with the new size.
It was more of a lift than a reduction as only 320 grams was taken off(200g off the right and 100g off the left).
I have to go back in for follow up surgery as the left nipple is not as high as the right therefore I have to have it lifted in about 3 months time.
I was recommended this surgeon by a friend who had had the surgery approx. 8 years ago who was extremely happy with the results. I was hesitant about the surgery for a long time as I was very worried about losing nipple sensitivity, but my friend who had had the surgery has found that hers are more sensitive than before.
Although it has only been just over 3 months since the surgery I hardly have any feeling in the left nipple and only a little bit of feeling in the right nipple. Both of the women I have spoken to who have had a reduction/lift say that they got their feeling back with in the first couple of months.
I spoke to my surgeon about the sensitivity and he said that each person is different and it depends on the individual as to how long the sensitivty takes to come back and also how much sensitity each person gets back. My surgeon said that my body has healed very well as my scars didnt get red or inflamed and have settled down very quickly. So I guess I am just a little worried as the outside of my body has healed really well but the inside isnt doing as well.
I just want to be realistic and not get my hopes up if it isnt going to get any better.
My question is due to the fact that I have not gotten much of my nipple sensitivty back as quickly as others, do you think that means that I may not get alot of sensitivity back at all, and what kind of time frame do you give to your patients in regards to this?
Answer from Dr. Alan Engler
www.bodysculpture.com
Hi Sara,
Though rare, altered sensitivity, including diminished and, occasionally, loss, are known potential effects of nearly any breast surgery, and certainly including breast lifts and reductions. Fortunately, most patients have as good, and sometimes better sensation, but even if it's diminished at this point - 3 months - it can come back. Clearly, it would be more comforting if the sensation were better even at this point.
But it can take many months for the sensation to come back; I've seen reports of it improving over a course as long as two years post-operatively. I've definitely had patients who had very little sensation early on and ultimately had very good return. I don't know the exact statistics and cannot, of course, predict exactly what will happen with you. It's certainly true that each person is different. However, having such little sensitivity at this point also has to resonably be considered as an indicator that it may not return fully, or evenly, etc. In terms of being realistic, it's probably better for you to lower your expectations in that regard, and then, hopefully, to be pleasantly surprised as more and more of it returns as it certainly may. And, in the meantime, to enjoy what seems to be an outstanding surgical result.
