Nerve Preservation and Allografting for Sensory Innervation Following Immediate Implant Breast Reconstruction

lateral intercostal nerves to subareolar nerves identified at the completion of the mastectomy. Of the 12 women (23 breasts) with at least 3 months' follow-up, NAC 2-point discrimination was preserved in 20 breasts (87%), was worse in 2 breasts (9%), and had actually improved in 1 breast (4%). All patients had intact sensation to light touch throughout the majority of, if not their entire, reconstructed breasts. None of the women developed dysesthesias or neuromas. Nerve grafting in conjunction with careful nerve preservation at the time of NSM and implant-based breast reconstruction is safe and effective with a 90% rate of preserved sensation. With longer follow-up, continued return of sensation or possibly improved sensation from baseline can be reasonably anticipated.