Resensation®
Breast reconstruction is a deeply personal part of the healing process after mastectomy, and for many patients, regaining sensation is just as important as restoring breast shape. While traditional breast reconstruction focuses on appearance, sensation in the breast or nipple-areola complex often does not return on its own after surgery. Resensation® is an advanced nerve-repair technique available at Plastic Surgery of the Carolinas that gives patients the opportunity to potentially regain feeling in the reconstructed breast, including after nipple-sparing mastectomy. This approach helps bridge the gap between looking whole and feeling whole again.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Resensation®?
Eligibility for Resensation® depends on several factors, including:
- The type of mastectomy (including nipple-sparing)
- Whether reconstruction is implant-based or flap-based
- Your anatomy and remaining nerve structures
- Prior surgical history
- The timing of reconstruction
Your surgeon will evaluate whether nerve repair can be incorporated into your individualized breast reconstruction plan. Resensation® requires specialized microsurgical training and may not be available in all practices.
Why Does Sensation Matter Even After a Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy?
Even when the nipple and breast skin are preserved, the underlying sensory nerves are typically severed during mastectomy and rarely regenerate on their own. Without surgical nerve repair, the nerves cannot transmit signals back to the brain, making numbness a long term or permanent outcome for many women.
Loss of sensation affects more than touch alone. Sensory nerves help detect temperature, pressure, and pain, playing an important role in everyday safety. Without sensation, patients may not feel burns from hot water or heating pads, or notice cuts or injuries to the chest area. Resensation® offers patients the opportunity to potentially restore meaningful sensation, supporting safety, intimacy, emotional healing, and body confidence.
What Benefits Can Resensation® Potentially Provide?
Patients who undergo Resensation® may experience:
- Improved protective sensation, such as detecting heat or pressure
- A stronger sense of physical wholeness and connection
- Enhanced comfort and confidence
- Improved intimacy and quality of life
- Emotional benefits that support long-term healing
How Does Resensation® Work During Breast Reconstruction?
During your reconstruction procedure, the surgeon identifies a viable sensory nerve in the chest wall and connects it to nerves within the breast tissue or nipple-areola complex using a nerve allograft. Over time, nerve fibers regenerate through this graft, potentially restoring sensation such as pressure, temperature, and light touch. This technique can be performed during immediate reconstruction (at the time of mastectomy), delayed reconstruction, or revision cases.
Figure 1: Breast with intercostal nerves and basic anatomy
Figure 2: Breast tissue and nerves to be removed during nipple-sparing mastectomy
Figure 3: Breast tissue and nerves removed during nipple-sparing mastectomy
Figure 4: Breast implant with nerve allograft
Figure 5: Breast implant with regenerated nerve
Can Resensation® Be Used With Different Reconstruction Methods?
Yes, Resensation® can be integrated into most breast reconstruction approaches, including implant-based reconstruction, flap (autologous) reconstruction, and even revision procedures.
Breast Reconstruction with Implants
During implant reconstruction, a sensory nerve from the chest wall may be connected to the overlying tissue or nipple-areola complex to encourage sensation in the skin covering the implant.
Flap Reconstruction
In flap reconstruction, the transferred tissue often contains its own nerves, giving the surgeon the opportunity to directly connect a chest-wall nerve to a nerve within the flap using a nerve allograft.
Revision Breast Reconstruction
Many patients who previously completed reconstruction may also be candidates for Resensation® during revision surgery, depending on their remaining nerve pathways and anatomy.
Your surgeon will evaluate your surgical history, reconstruction type, and individual goals to determine how Resensation® can be incorporated into your personalized treatment plan.
What Can I Expect During Recovery After Resensation®?
Sensation should return gradually and will vary for each patient. This is because nerves heal slowly, typically regenerating at a rate of about one millimeter per day. Many notice early improvements within a few months, with continued development for up to two years as the nerve fibers regenerate. Your surgeon may provide sensory-retraining exercises, including brushing, light touch, temperature based cues, and visual feedback, to help your brain interpret new nerve signals as they reconnect.
What Results Can I Expect From Resensation®?
Results vary based on anatomy, mastectomy type, reconstruction method, and nerve health. Some patients experience significant sensory return, while others notice more subtle improvements. Although no technique guarantees full sensation, Resensation® offers the possibility of restoring feeling that would not otherwise return after mastectomy.
Is Resensation® Covered by Insurance?
Breast reconstruction following mastectomy is typically covered by insurance under the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA). Coverage for the nerve-repair portion of Resensation® may vary by insurance provider and individual plan. Our team can help review your benefits and assist with insurance coordination and pre-authorization as part of your surgical planning process.
Why Choose Plastic Surgery of the Carolinas for Resensation®?
Our board-certified plastic surgeons are committed to providing the most advanced reconstructive options available, including Resensation®. We take a thoughtful, patient-centered approach to surgical planning so that eligible patients can consider both aesthetic outcomes and sensory recovery. From consultation to long-term follow-up, we focus on restoring not only appearance but also confidence, comfort, and quality of life.
Learn More About Resensation®
To learn more about Resensation® and whether it is right for you, please contact our team to schedule your consultation.