Discussing surgery outcome with patients

Whether in the operating room or in the pages of medical journals, there is a wide variety of views among medical professionals regarding breast sensitivity. Most surgeons and medical professionals agree that breast sensitivity is one of the most important factors to consider during breast augmentation, reconstruction, and reduction procedures. In comparing and understanding the general findings of many studies over the past 10 years, we have gained a better understanding of the issues and challenges surrounding breast sensitivity. Certainly, one consideration in any breast surgery is a postsurgery change in breast sensitivity.

The Importance of Information

Surgeons should discuss reasonable outcome with a patient prior to surgery. This alleviates anxiety and ensures that the patient understands the inherent risks involved with the procedure. Studies show that patients who were generally satisfied with their results received pertinent information beforehand about their surgery and/or its possible side effects. Discussing outcome gives a patient reasonable expectations.

Prior to a breast augmentation, reconstruction, or reduction surgery, it’s important that surgeons discuss the possible risks of postoperative decreased breast sensitivity (both temporary and permanent) or hypersensitivity for variable time periods.


Analyzing Breast Sensitivity

There seems to be no solid consensus on how to measure or analyze postoperative breast sensitivity. Often, surgeons employ methods they believe will improve the risk factors, including determining the appropriate surgical technique to avoid sectioning or stretching the nerve supply to the breast (including the nipple), selecting appropriate incision sites, and determining the amount of tissue to remove during breast-reduction surgery. These can help decrease the possibility of cutting sensory nerves that could adversely affect breast sensitivity.

Differences of Opinion

There are various differing opinions as to the sources, paths, and allocation of the nerves in the breast. Studies employing various comparison methods have been published, but the comparisons have suffered from broad-based statistical significance. Some have evaluated sensitivity for breast-reconstruction and breast-reduction patients, but few have evaluated sensitivity for breast-augmentation patients. Often­times, the results are qualitative, with inconsistencies related to the assessment’s accuracy; still, they lay a foundation for surgeons to explore possibilities.

Methods used to evaluate sensitivity include nipple erection detection, thermal/ cotton stimulation, and two-point discrimination. Quantifying the results of such tests are difficult at best. Perhaps, the best we can do, until further studies are performed, is to refer to studies performed in the past.

Breast-Sensitivity Studies

• Tairych et al evaluated more than 100 women to determine normal denominators of sensitivity. They concluded that the nipple was least sensitive, the skin in the superior quadrant was most sensitive, and the areola was somewhere in between.

• The first clinical study to evaluate sensitivity before and after breast surgery, conducted by Courtiss and Goldwyn, noted that small breasts are generally more sensitive than large breasts.

• Gonzalez et al studied nipple-areola sensitivity in patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty. Using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments, they found that out of 84 patients, some 90% retained nipple-areola sensitivity. They also concluded that retention of sensitivity was higher when less than 550 gm of breast tissue was excised.

• Godwin et al examined patients with macromastia to determine lack of sensation in the nipple-areola complex. Prior to surgery, they tested each nipple-areola complex with Weinstein Enhanced Sensory Test monofilaments to evaluate tactile sensation. They found that sensitivity at the areola decreased as the breast cup size increased, and sensitivity at the nipple was higher than at the areola. Also, the patient’s perceived nipple-areola sensitivity was affected by psychological factors such as dissatisfaction with his/her body.

Conclusions

Although there is disparity among breast-sensitivity studies, many are characterized by several interesting findings. There appears to be an inverse relationship between sensitivity and breast size, and superior nipple sensitivity exists when compared with areola sensitivity. Finally, there is significant patient variability among women based on age and breast size.

Jaime Caloca, Sr, MD, a founding member of Project Concern, gathers with US physicians to help underprivileged children born with birth defects. He was the first plastic surgeon to practice in the Baja California/ Mexico City area of Tijuana, and he operates a modern plastic surgery clinic that has served US patients for more than 20 years. He is a founder of the Mexican Board of Plastic Surgeons and is a corresponding member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Jaime Caloca, Jr, MD, studied general medicine and plastic surgery in Sao Paulo, Brazil. His work on breast sensitivity has been published in plastic surgery journals. He is also a member of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery. 

Reference

1. Godwin Y, Valassiadou K, Lewis S, Denley H. Plastic Reconstruction Surgery. 2004;113(6): 1598-1606. PMID: 15114119 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]