Restoring Sensation Through Nerve Grafting
When women undergo a mastectomy, they lose sensation to their chest. This numbness occurs because the nerves that provide sensation to the breast need to be cut during the procedure to remove the breast tissue.
Dr. Oren Z. Lerman is one of few surgeons in the world who can help women potentially regain breast sensation using an advanced microsurgical technique called Resensation®.
Why should you consider Resensation® by our board-certified surgeon in Manhattan, NY?
The Benefits of Resensation®
Positive Body Image
The loss of sensation in the chest can leave your newly reconstructed breasts feeling foreign. Resensation can help women regain a sense of femininity and feel more like themselves after undergoing a mastectomy and reconstruction.Improved Quality of Life
Breasts that are permanently numb can negatively affect many aspects of a woman's life. Resensation® can help women to experience physical moments such as an intimate touch without feeling like something is missing.Emotional Health
Undergoing a mastectomy is a challenging experience that can affect a woman's body image and how she feels about herself. The opportunity to restore breast sensation can help women begin to move on from their emotional pain and start healing.How Resensation® Works
Learn about the surgical technique designed to potentially restore sensation
Breast Reinnervation with Nerve Grafting
Although breast reconstruction can recreate a beautiful, natural-looking breast mound, sensation is not restored during routine reconstruction. As breast reconstruction options have advanced and natural tissue techniques such as the DIEP flap and PAP flap have emerged, we can recreate a breast using a woman's own tissue instead of an implant. The results often look as natural as they did before the surgery, however, the nerves that are severed during the mastectomy aren’t repaired the chest will likely be left numb. Dr. Lerman uses processed nerve allograft (Avance Nerve Graft) at the time of flap reconstruction to perform the nerve repair that can restore sensation to the breast. The nerve allograft becomes part of the patient's body over time, ensuring a connection is present to send signals to the brain.
Preserving Sensation After Mastectomy
Worried that you'll never regain sensation after mastectomy? Dr. Oren Lerman uses special nerve grafting techniques during breast reconstruction so your results can look and feel as natural as possible. Most women are candidates for resensation during mastectomy or reconstruction—talk to Dr. Lerman to learn more about this advanced surgical method.
Meet Dr. Lerman A Respected Leader in Breast Reconstruction
Dr. Lerman has extensive training and experience in microvascular natural breast reconstruction surgery. Restoring sensation in the breast is an intricate procedure requiring a skillset that few surgeons have. Dr. Lerman is an authority in his field who serves as the director of breast reconstruction at Lenox Hill Hospital's Institute for Comprehensive Breast Care. He is also an attending physician at Lenox Hill and Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital Department of Plastic Surgery, and Director of the Breast Aesthetic and Reconstructive Fellowship, where he supervises surgical training.
Understanding Nerve Grafts & Reconstruction
To help restore sensation, Dr. Lerman re-innervates the flap by reconnecting a severed nerve with a nerve allograft at the time of natural tissue flap surgery. By reconnecting the nerves, Dr. Lerman gives the body the best possible opportunity for the nerve to regrow and help provide sensation to the reconstructed breast. Although there will always be some numbness after mastectomy, the potential sensation return achievable after natural tissue breast reconstruction is dramatic. Nerves take time to heal, so patients can expect to start regain feeling several months after the procedure. Feeling in the breast can continue developing for up to two years.
"His Expertise and Skill Are of the Highest Caliber." 5-Star Reviews
Kimberly del Gaizo
2019
Dr. Oren Lerman's expertise and skill are of the absolute highest caliber. He masterfully navigated my demanding journey with breast reconstruction following my cancer diagnosis and double mastectomy. As my body persisted in presenting formidable challenges, Dr. Lerman never wavered in his thoughtful and methodical decisions and treatments. His empathy and humanity gave me reassurance and hope throughout the five surgeries he performed on me. Dr. Lerman is the ideal doctor. I feel lucky and blessed to call him my doctor.
View On Google
Yelena Bernstein
2019
Dr. Lerman is an amazing doctor and a very kind and carrying individual. His attention to details and ability to explain complicated surgeries make his patients and their families very comfortable. It is important to trust your doctor and Dr. Lerman is trustworthy! Thank you Dr. Lerman for your expertise and amazing care that you provide!
View On Google"I Just Loved Being His Patient."
In this video introduction, Dr. Oren Lerman's patients explain why they chose him to provide the care they needed. Dr. Lerman himself explains his approach and what inspires him as a surgeon.
