Some feeling may return after a number of years, but patients shouldn’t expect a reconstructed breast to recover full feeling. Some numbness is likely to persist even years later.
Breast reconstruction surgery often causes many changes—both physical and emotional. It may take time for you to accept your new breast as your own, especially if it looks nothing like your old breast. Talking with other women who have undergone the same experience may help. Talking with your doctor about what to expect may also offer a sense of control over the road ahead. And make sure to call your doctor if you notice troubling symptoms after your surgery.
“Although it may be a stressful time, listen to your doctor before leaving the hospital,” Dr. Pelletier says. “Before you’re discharged, you should understand how to take care of your surgical sites and how you should care for your breast based on the surgery you had.”