To What Extent Can my Areolas be Reduced?

asked 1 year ago by R.M
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 10,944 times
Tags: age 18-24, areola, female, 110-129 lbs, 5 ft 0 in to 5 ft 3 in, reduction

I have very large areolas. My right areola is slightly larger, although my breasts are approximately the same size. I'm 23, 5'2'', weigh 120 lbs, never been pregnant and don't intend to in the next several years. I am interested in getting just an areola reduction (no other procedures) and I would like them to be reduced as much as is possible without any serious risks of side effects. How intricate would such a procedure be and what is the maximum size reduction I can expect?

5 answers to To What Extent Can my Areolas be Reduced?

Areolar reduction surgery

Posting pictures here is the best way to glean some useful info. So thanks for posting them. Areolar reduction is common to breast surgery and is part of a procedure known as a circumareolar lift. A doughnut of skin is excised from around the areola and the skin surround it is re approximated with sutures. I would guess that your current areolas measure at least 8 cm in diameter when relaxed. The common reduction is down to 3.8 or 4.2 cm because this is... more

Jason R. Hess, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Proper areola reduction requires surgery and creates scars

It is possible to perform surgery with the express goal of reducing the areolas. However, all surgery creates scars, and in this particular instance, the appropriate procedure is necessary to achieve your desired results. I would be extremely careful to seek out a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with extensive experience in all types of breast surgery, and revision surgeries. In order to properly reduce the areola diameter and achieve a long-lasting result, a full mastopexy is... more

Karen M. Horton, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Nipple or areolar reduction

Nipple reduction is sometimes the only goal of breast rejuvenation, and very often a part of a breast lift or reduction. The size of the areola can be determined by breast size, chest size, and overall aesthetics. One size does not fit all, though a range of about 3.5 to 5.5 cm. is a working number. Side effects for areolar reduction are few, though the scar can be problem for some. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Areola reduction?

Yes, you may be a good candidate for areola reduction. Fortunately, this is a procedure that can often be done under local or general anesthesia. You are wise to consider the scar that will result, around the areola. The appearance of the scar may range from a fine line to a wide/thick/raise scar (that may require scar revision surgery). You should also consider other unfavorable sequelae resulting from this procedure. This may include asymmetric areola, loss or change of... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Surgery to reduce the areolar diameter

You can definitely have surgery to reduce the diameter of the areola. The main risks are the aesthetic ones: how much improvement will you get, will the areola stretch out again, and how bad will the scars be. The obvious solution is the circumareolar mastopexy, often called the donut mastopexy. The main problem with this procedure is that it can be difficult to keep the areola from stretching out again, and it does not provide as much improvement in the extra skin of the... more

James Nachbar, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

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