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10 Months Post Doughnut Lift: Symmetrical with Large Areola

asked 1 year ago by Swirlmommy in Northern NJ
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 999 times
Tags: areola, asymmetry, breast feeding, 10 months post-op, doughnut, proportion, small

After breast feeding two babies back to back, my surgeon completed a donut lift to correct the asymmetry on my *small* breasts. However, now I feel like I have A-cup breasts with D-cup areolae. I realize this procedure presents some limitations, but could the areolae not have been made smaller?

I need some peace of mind from other medical professionals!...I can't help but wonder if he simply never bothered to make them proportional.

12 answers to 10 Months Post Doughnut Lift: Symmetrical with Large Areola

Areolar stretching after 'doughnut lift'

This is a relatively common problem after a 'doughnut lift'. How much the areola stretches depends on what suture techniques were used and how much skin was removed. However it is relatively simple to reduce the areola if you are unhappy.

Anindya Lahiri, MBBS
Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

Donut (periareolar) lift has dimensional limitations.

A donut or periareolar lift essentially takes a large circle's circumference and sutures this skin length to a smaller circle's circumference. The more the discrepancy between these two dimensions, the more "gathering" or scalloping of the scar. Skin elasticity will only allow any surgeon to do so much. Smaller areolae may indeed be possible with a more aggressive donut lift, but the irregularity and scalloping will correspondingly increase. This is why you may... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.mpsmn.com

Areola Too Big after Breast Lifting?

Thank you for the question and picture. Unfortunately, what you have experienced is not uncommon. The areola can spread after this procedure depending on factors such as skin elasticity and the amount of “excess” areola skin removed. You will find that additional areola reduction can be done in a straightforward fashion ( usually under local anesthesia). I would suggest that you communicate with your plastic surgeon in a calm fashion and discuss your concerns. Best... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Large areola after donut mastopexy

Hi, I doubt very much that your areolas stretched over time. Judging from your picture, your breasts are not heavy enough to do that. However, the reason he probably chose that size for your areolas is so that you wouldn't have 'pleating'. Pleating is not pretty. It happens when we are too aggressive, and we take too much skin at one time. Your surgeon probably compensated by making your areolas larger to accommodate a one time lift. Personally, I prefer... more

Gary M. Horndeski, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.horndeski.com

Doughnut lift, large areola

If you had a doughnut lift without a permanent pursestring suture closing the larger outer circle around the smaller inside circle, the areola is bound to stretch and become too large. If you had a true periareolar lift (Benelli) with a pursestring suture and the areola stretched over time, it is possible that the areola was made smaller but the pursestring suture was absorbable and not permanent and didn't last long enough to control the size and it stretched. If it has... more

Robert M. Grenley, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Areolar stretching after breast lift

The most common complicationn following a donut mastopexy is stretching of the scar This can usually be corrected using the Sub-areolar technique ,which uses multiple sutures under the areola.This technique reduces the risk of areolar stretching in both inital procedures and revisions

Hilton Becker, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

The Downside of a Doughnut Breast Lift - Flat Breasts with Large Areolas

WE all love "a deal", something for nothing (or close to nothing); Look great without working out, making a lot of money without hard work or risky investments and - getting a GREAT result with a MINI surgery or a non-surgical procedure. Unfortunately - the world does not work this way. There is NO free lunch out there and everything has a cost. But rather than channeling my inner Milton Freedman (You Tube him if you have no idea who he was), let's address the Doughnut /... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Doughnut mastopexy

A doughnut mastopexy gathers the breast skin around the areola, and they can stretch out a bit sometimes. They certainly can be revised as well.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

10 Months Post Doughnut Lift: Symmetrical with Large Areola

Yes the areolae can be made smaller in a revision of the donut lift. Discuss with your chosen surgeon.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

You need to discuss your concerns with your doctor

Your aerola is big an can be smaller. Your before surgery picture would have been helpful. Please discuss your concerns with your surgeon . Your aerolas can be smaller .

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Donut breast lift and the best areolar size

There is considerable flexibility in the areolar size with an around the nipple breast lift. The tendency is to make the areola smaller in anticipation of relapse. The areola will expand to a degree after the lift, especially if there is pressure from an implant behind it. There is no one 'best' areolar size and the aesthetics is always worth discussing with your surgeon ahead of time so you are not left with a D nipple on an A breast. What is best is what looks best to you. Best... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

"Donut" breast lift

There is usually some flexibility with regard to areolar diameter in a donut breast lift. It depends on the quality of the skin. Pictures would be helpful to see how much smaller they could be. Generally revisions are possible; just remember that it's usually possible to make the areola smaller, but once it's too small you can't easily go larger.