Mississauga Doctors

Large, Puffy Areolas, Inverted Nipples, but Small Breasts-- is There a Procedure to Help?

My breasts are a size 34A, but my areolas are about 6.5cm in diameter (they pretty much take up the entire breast). My nipples are also inverted-- these problems make me extremely insecure and self conscious. Is there a procedure out there for me? I'm only 20 and have a somewhat limited budget as a college student, but intimacy has become a huge dilemma, and I don't want to spend the rest of my 20s in hiding!

Yes there is a way of correcting both large nipples and inverted nipples.

The size of the areola is corrected by an operation called a peri-areolar mastopexy. This is also known as a Benelli mastopexy. In this technique a doughnut of areola skin is removed from around the nipple and then the sutured back into place. This procedure leaves a faint scar around the edge of the areola at the junction of the pigmented areola skin and the lighter normal breast skin.

Inverted nipple repair is an operation where the shortened ducts leading to the nipple are released so that the nipple can come back out into an exposed position rather than being remaining inverted. 

Patients are usually delighted with their new look and feel more confident about their appearance.

Frank Lista, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon

I Have Very Dense Fibrocystic Breasts (34E) and I Am Considering a Breast Reduction - What Are the Risks if Any?

Every operation has risks and potential complications. Having dense breasts does not increase the risks associated with breast reduction. Risks and complications are rare with breast reduction. Most patients have no problems with breast reduction surgery. Risks include:

• Infection
• bleeding
• scarring
• asymmetry
• injury to the nipple
• inability to breast feed
• decreased sensation

There are other even more rare risks but these, and all risks, are unusual. Most patients say that breast reduction is the best thing that ever happened to them.

Good luck with your surgery.

Frank Lista, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon

How Does Nipple Size Influence the Male Breast Reduction Technique Choice?

Are large nipples easier or more difficult to protect from complications or damage during a breast reduction surgery?

Nipple size does not influence the technique necessary in order to perform male breast reduction.

There are 2 standard techniques for performing correction of gynecomastia.

In the first and oldest method an incision is made around the edge of the nipple. Through this incision breast tissue is removed directly. This leaves a half moon or smiley face scar around the lower edge of the areola.

There is a newer technique called the "pull through" method where are a small 3mm incision is placed out at the edge of the chest. Fat and glandular breast tissue is then removed through this tiny incision. This operation allows for the same amount of tissue to be removed but without the scar around the nipple.

Frank Lista, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon