@article{ABS9840,
author = {Max L. Silverstein and Arash Momeni},
title = {Restoring sensation in breast reconstruction: a mini review},
journal = {Annals of Breast Surgery},
volume = {10},
number = {0},
year = {2026},
keywords = {},
abstract = {Loss of breast sensation after mastectomy compromises patient safety and quality of life. Insensate breasts are vulnerable to accidental injury and patient surveys consistently rank return of sensibility alongside symmetry as a top priority in breast reconstruction. In response, plastic surgeons have developed surgical strategies to restore cutaneous sensibility of the breast and nipple during reconstruction of the breast mound. Since Slezak’s original description of abdominal flap neurotization in 1992, technique modifications and improved sensation testing protocols have reduced donor-site morbidity and increased confidence in the efficacy of breast reinnervation. Contemporary studies and recent meta-analyses confirm that neurotized autologous flaps recover pressure sensitivity, two-point discrimination, and vibration sensitivity earlier and more completely than non-neurotized flaps, with corresponding improvements across multiple BREAST-Q domains. As the concept of autologous flap neurotization matures, techniques for neurotizing the nipple during implant-based breast reconstruction have recently emerged. In this article, we review the literature on restoring breast sensation following mastectomy, focusing on relevant anatomy, historical context, and outcomes after breast neurotization, with a specific focus on the senior author’s preferred approach. Widespread adoption of breast neurotization techniques remains limited by concerns about cost, operative time, and the absence of standardized testing protocols and multicenter randomized trials.},
issn = {2616-2776}, url = {https://abs.amegroups.org/article/view/9840}
}