Resensation® in Old Bridge, NJ

What Is Resensation®?

Resensation® is a nerve-preserving technique built into breast reconstruction that reconnects sensory nerves during surgery, giving patients the chance to regain natural sensation in the reconstructed breast, something reconstruction alone often can’t provide. Most conversations about reconstruction center on appearance, understandably. Fewer center on feeling, yet losing sensation is its own kind of loss.

At Samra Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, we provide Resensation® in Old Bridge, NJ, to patients throughout Middlesex County, Monmouth County, and New Jersey, alongside the implant-based and tissue-based reconstruction already available at our office. We coordinate with the breast surgery and oncology teams at Old Bridge Medical Center and Raritan Bay Medical Center who plan your mastectomy, since nerve preservation tends to work best when it’s built into your original surgery rather than added afterward.

Benefits of Resensation®

By preserving and reconnecting key sensory nerves during reconstruction, this technique aims to restore feeling alongside shape.

The potential for restored protective and erogenous sensation
Nerve reconnection performed within your primary reconstruction; no separate surgery required
Compatibility with both implant-based and tissue-based reconstruction
Improved ability to detect temperature, pressure, and touch, sometimes described simply as regaining breast sense
A more complete sense of physical wholeness after mastectomy
An added layer of safety, since sensation can help you notice injury

Am I a Good Candidate for Resensation®?

You may be a good candidate if you’re planning breast reconstruction and want to explore preserving sensation as part of that same surgery.

Good candidates typically:

Are planning implant-based or flap-based reconstruction, sometimes alongside a sensation-preserving mastectomy, discussed with your breast surgeon
Have nerve tissue available near the mastectomy site suitable for reconnection
Understand sensation return is gradual and varies between patients
Are medically cleared for their primary reconstruction
Have realistic expectations, since results aren’t guaranteed
Are planning far enough ahead to incorporate nerve preservation into the surgical plan

During your consultation at our office, we review your reconstructive plan together, since Resensation® is built into the primary surgery rather than added later.

Concerns Addressed by Resensation®

This technique closes a gap that reconstruction alone often leaves open. Concerns we address include:

Complete or near-complete loss of sensation after mastectomy
Concerns about breast nerve damage from the original cancer surgery
Feeling emotionally disconnected from a reconstructed breast
Reduced ability to detect injury, heat, or pressure
A desire for reconstruction that restores more than appearance alone
Uncertainty about whether sensation after mastectomy can realistically improve

What to Expect During Resensation®

Check-In and Preparation

Your surgeon identifies which sensory nerves near the mastectomy site are suitable for preservation, based on your anatomy and reconstruction type.

The Procedure

During your primary reconstruction, your surgeon carefully preserves and reconnects nerves, often using a processed nerve graft to bridge any gaps.

Closing Up

This step is completed alongside implant placement or flap transfer, adding time to your primary surgery.

Recovery Room

You'll be monitored following your combined procedure as anesthesia wears off.

Heading Home

Recovery logistics mirror whatever primary procedure this was paired with, so plan your ride home accordingly.

Before and After Care Guidelines

Before Your Surgery

Discuss nerve preservation early, ideally during your initial consultation
Review which reconstruction types you’re considering with your surgeon
Ask whether your specific anatomy suits nerve reconnection
Set realistic expectations about the gradual timeline involved

After Your Surgery

Recovery follows your primary reconstruction’s timeline
Early numbness or tingling is a normal part of nerve regeneration
Meaningful sensation return often develops over 6 months to 2 years
Results vary significantly between patients
Ongoing follow-up tracks your progress over time

Our team sets expectations clearly from the start, since patience is genuinely part of this process.

Why Choose Samra Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

More than 40 years of combined plastic surgery experience, board-certified
Early, proactive conversations about sensation preservation
Familiarity incorporating this nerve-preserving technique into multiple reconstruction types
Honest expectation setting for a technique that varies by patient
Conveniently located in the Old Bridge Professional Plaza, close to Old Bridge Medical Center and Raritan Bay Medical Center

Frequently Asked Questions

How long until sensation returns?

Nerve regeneration is gradual, often unfolding over 6 months to 2 years, with results varying by individual.

Can this be added after reconstruction is complete?

Resensation® is designed to be incorporated during your primary surgery. If reconstruction is already finished, our team can discuss your remaining options.

Does it work with any type of reconstruction?

Yes, Resensation® surgery can be incorporated into implant-based or tissue-based methods like the DIEP flap.

Is sensation return guaranteed?

No technique guarantees full sensation return. This approach increases the potential, but healing varies considerably.

Does it significantly lengthen surgery?

It typically adds time to your primary reconstruction rather than requiring a separate procedure.

Ready to Explore Resensation® in Old Bridge, NJ?

Schedule a consultation with Samra Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, serving patients throughout Middlesex County, Monmouth County, and New Jersey, to discuss whether Resensation® fits your reconstructive plan. Call us at 732-327-0249 or contact us online to get started.