Breast cancer affects millions of women worldwide each year, and for some women, mastectomy is part of treatment or risk reduction. However, the physical and emotional loss of sensation after mastectomy often leaves patients feeling disconnected from their bodies—a side effect that may not always be fully understood before surgery.
At PRMA Plastic Surgery, restoring sensation is never an afterthought; it is a priority built into the reconstruction process from the start. Through advanced microsurgery, our fellowship-trained team performs TruSense® breast reconstruction and Resensation® procedures to rebuild both form and feeling.
Natural breast sensation relies on a complex network of sensory nerves that run through the tissue to the skin and nipple. During a mastectomy, these delicate nerve pathways may be cut or disrupted alongside the breast tissue, resulting in significant or complete chest wall numbness. Some sensation may return naturally as nerves heal, but recovery can be incomplete and unpredictable. TruSense® and Resensation® directly address this issue by re-establishing sensory nerve connections during reconstruction.
TruSense® is our proprietary sensory nerve reconstruction technique, performed directly during DIEP flap breast reconstruction rather than as a separate operation. During DIEP flap surgery, PRMA San Antonio surgeons carefully identify the natural sensory nerves supplying skin and soft tissue in the lower abdomen. When transferring donor tissue to the chest site, they preserve these nerves.
Using advanced microsurgical techniques under a high-powered microscope, our surgeons reconnect these donor nerves to available sensory nerves in the chest wall. This innervated breast reconstruction re-establishes a natural biological pathway for sensation to return. Because nerve regeneration is gradual, feeling typically develops over 12 to 24 months. Candidacy for the TruSense® procedure depends on the individual quality of sensory nerves available in the donor tissue.
When a nerve graft is needed to bridge a gap between sensory nerves, PRMA surgeons utilize Resensation®. This complementary technique relies on nerve allografts—specially treated donated nerve tissue—to bridge gaps between the chest wall and reconstructive tissue. The allograft serves as a protective scaffold, encouraging new sensory nerve fibers to grow into the reconstructed breast.
Like TruSense®, Resensation® breast reconstruction relies on precise microsurgical nerve connections to significantly improve sensory outcomes compared to standard procedures without nerve repair.
Patients do not need to stress over choosing between TruSense® and Resensation®. The PRMA surgical team evaluates nerve anatomy and your reconstruction plan to determine the most appropriate technique. TruSense® uses sensory nerves within the patient's own tissue flap, while Resensation® uses a nerve graft to bridge a gap between sensory nerves when a graft is needed.
It is completely normal for the reconstructed breast to feel numb immediately following surgery. Regaining sensation after a mastectomy takes time. As sensory nerves regenerate, patients may gradually notice light touch, pressure, warmth, or subtle tingling.
Over 12 to 24 months, continuous nerve growth can yield meaningful improvements, including temperature awareness and potential nipple sensation after mastectomy. While recovery varies by age, healing, and surgical scope, research shows nerve reconstruction can improve sensory recovery. It may also improve patient-reported quality of life compared with reconstruction without nerve repair.
TruSense® is designed for patients planning flap-based procedures, such as DIEP flap reconstruction. Resensation® surgery may be used with either flap or implant reconstruction when a nerve graft is appropriate.
Final candidacy depends on your anatomy, reconstruction plan, whether a sensation-preserving mastectomy is appropriate, and the sensory nerves available for repair. If you have already completed reconstruction without nerve repair, a consultation can help determine whether secondary options are available.
You deserve a recovery plan that restores both how you look and how you feel. For more than 30 years, PRMA’s dedicated San Antonio microsurgeons have advanced breast reconstruction techniques focused on natural outcomes, safety, and sensation. Every flap procedure uses PRMA’s dual-surgeon approach for added precision and expertise.
Contact PRMA Plastic Surgery today to take the next step in your post-mastectomy journey.