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 Hi Dr. E. I am 8 months post surgery (breast reduction + lift). I have been having sharp shooting pains in my left breast from 2 weeks post until now. They occur daily and last for hours. Very painful. My plastic surgeon says there is no reason for this and he's never heard of it. He recommended a mammogram. I know it's a result of the surgery. Why is this happening? What is causing this and how long can I expect it to last? Please advise. I am so uncomfortable, I can't sleep at night. Thanks so much!
Answer from Dr. Alan Engler
www.bodysculpture.com
Hi Didi,
Obviously, I'm very sorry for the pain you're having. I, too, have not heard of anything this severe happening, but it's not that uncommon to have any of a variety of new and unusual sensations after this, or any other, surgery. These range from numbness (anesthesia) to strange sensations (paresthesias) to painful sensations (dysesthesias) and they are presumed to be due to tiny nerve fibers and endings having been cut (as a routine part of the surgery) and then growing back to varying degrees. It is unusual to have suddenly developed this at 8 months post-op, so I agree with trying to work it up with a mammograms (just to be sure you're not missing something else, aside from looking at this) and you should consider being evaluated by your internist or a neurologist.
However, I can't really help with the immediate issue of the pain, or exactly why you have it, or how long it will last...sorry about that,
