Implants Were Removed 2 Weeks Ago, and my Nipples Are Caved in

Question

I'm 28yrs-old and i had BA 5 months ago. 2 weeks after surgery when i went to follow up, my PS said, it seemed there might be blood in my left breast, so he removed blood and scar tissues. (left breast)3 month later, Capsule contracted, so I had surgery to remove capsule and replace with new implant. (left breast)1 month later, I was having pain, so removed implants. Now i'm 10 days post explant surgery. My left nipple became dark, flattened, and caved in. Will it come back? it's not necrosis?

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

Your pictures demonstrate a scar contracture in the deep tissues, pulling your nipple/areola inward.  Massage and stretching early on is your best option.  Once the scar forms and deforms the breast it will require surgery to be corrected.

	Sincerely,

	Martin Jugenburg, MD

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

Good day! Generally, 2 weeks is too soon to see final results as bruising and swelling may persist. Nipple inversion may occur after trauma and can be corrected with a procedure performed in the office under local anesthesia which is commonly performed with breast revision surgery. In severe cases of nipple inversion the breast ducts may need to be severed. For others, devices such as the Niplette by Advent can be used without surgery with some success. It is often used after surgery to create suction and maintain the correction.
Do not hesitate to ask your doctor or find a board-certified surgeon that has extensive experience with this procedure. Best of luck! #RealSelf100

Richard J. Bruneteau, MD · Answer

Hematoma formation can have
devastating consequences for breast augmentation patients.  In many cases, post-operative bleeding
can result in the development of severe capsular contractures resulting in
breast distortion.  Under these
circumstances, it may be necessary to remove the breast implants and allow
healing to progress in the absence of synthetic material.

It’s not unusual for patients to
experience breast distortion following removal of breast implants when severe
capsular contractures are present. 
Under these circumstances patients are often emotionally devastated by
breast distortion and loss of breast volume.

When this situation arises in the
immediate post-operative period, it can be difficult to know if this distortion
is permanent.  In some cases
swelling resolves as tissue remodels over the course of
3-6 months with significant improvement in the aesthetic result. This can often
be facilitated with massage of the area. 
In other cases, the deformity may be permanent and secondary surgery may
be indicated.  This may require
release or resection of breast scar tissue.

If you’re concerned about the
appearance of your breasts following implant removal consultation with a board
certified plastic surgeon is appropriate. 
This surgeon should be able to formulate an appropriate treatment plan.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question and pictures.

	The &ldquo;caved in&rdquo; appearance of the nipple/areola is likely related to underlying scar tissue causing the nipple/ areola  to adhere to the underlying tissue.  This may slowly resolve with massage and maturation of the underlying scar.

	I am concerned  about the  description of the left areola being &ldquo;dark&rdquo;.

	Continued follow-up with your plastic surgeon is indicated;  revisionary breast surgery may become necessary.

	Best wishes.

Hilton Becker, MD · Answer

Your nipples have caved in because of the scarring. Go to Babies R Us and buy yourself a breast pump for breast feeding and place it arroung the scar several times a day. This will stretch the scar tissue and pull your nipple out. Take the pump to your surgeon and have them show you where to place the pump for the best result.

Implants Were Removed 2 Weeks Ago, and my Nipples Are Caved in

Answers (8)