AdventHealth Physician Team Performs Central Florida’s First Immediate Breast Neurotization After Nipple-sparing Mastectomy

Plastic and Reconstructive Microsurgeon Sabrina Pavri, MD, and Breast Surgeon Devina McCray, MD, recently began offering immediate neurotization after breast reconstruction, a new surgical technique designed to restore breast sensation after nipple-sparing mastectomy. They performed Central Florida’s first such procedure at AdventHealth Orlando.

Loss of Sensation After Mastectomy

When breast tissue is removed during mastectomy, the nerves that supply feeling to the breast and nipple are severed, disrupting nerve signals. This can leave the breasts with a total or near total loss of sensation. In fact, nearly 80% of women experience pain, numbness or both after breast cancer surgery, and for many, this loss of sensation becomes a barrier to physical, psychological and emotional recovery.

“Losing one or both breasts can be overwhelming and is a primary reason many women choose reconstructive surgery,” shares Dr. McCray. “Unfortunately, women can also experience partial to complete numbness in their chest after surgery, negatively impacting their quality of life.”

How Breast Neurotization Works

Performed at the same time as breast reconstruction, breast neurotization involves using an allograft nerve to reconnect the lateral intercostal nerve to the underside of the nipple and areolar complex. The allograft acts a scaffold and a guide to allow the nerve to regenerate without tension in the reconstructed breast. As the nerve fibers grow, they have the potential to gradually restore sensation to the breast.

“Breast neurotization is changing the paradigm of breast reconstruction,” explains Dr. Pavri. “Now we can provide patients the opportunity to both look and feel more like themselves again.”

Dr. McCray concurs, “We are excited about this new approach to help women still feel whole after their journey with breast cancer.”