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Is Areola Reduction Quick and Inexpensive?

is it fairly quick and inexpensive to have an areola reduction? and is it ok to do before getting pregnant again? or should it be done after im all done with having kids?

Asked 37 months ago by renai0718 in Santa Maria CA
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+3

Areola Reduction Made Simple

Hi and thank you for your question. Areola reduction can be very simple and can be done under local, meaning just numbing up the skin in the area and performing the procedure in-office. I would recommend waiting until you are done having kids, otherwise you would be performing the procedure again. Hope that helps.
Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+2

We should look at the cause of the enlarged areola before attempting to correct them.

Enlarged areola have different causes. The treatment should address the etiology. Simple areolar enlargement can be addressed with sugery in the office that leaves a scar around the perimeter of the areola. Many times, there are other issues that need to be addressed such as breast ptosis(droopy breasts) or tuberous or constricted breasts(snoopy breasts). These 2 conditions require a breast uplift possibly with implants to achieve an optimal result. ... more
Beverly Friedlander, MD
Short Hills Plastic Surgeon
+2

Areola Reduction can be challenging

Areola reduction can be more challenging than some of the posts indicate. The technique of removing some of the areola is very straightforward so in that sense, yes, easy. However, changing the areola significantly can change the shape of the breast and specific consideration should be made for issues like breast sagging (ptosis) and breast shape. In addition, incisions around the areola can widen over time. Many times the areola can return to its orginal size depending on the shape and... more
Steven H. Williams, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+1

Areola reduction

Yes, areola reduction surgery can be quick and inexpensive. You should be aware of the potential downsides with the procedure as well. For example, it is important to know that the areola scar will always be noticeable (some more than others). This may be because the scar heals with too much or too little pigment or because the scar is raised. You should also be aware, that areola reduction surgery does carry other risks such as spreading of the areola, asymmetry, shape irregularity etc.... more
Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Areola reduction could be fast, sloppy, and with bad scars that stretch with pregnancy!

So if you want poor work, unsightly results, and scars that get worse as your breasts swell with pregnancy and breast feeding, go ahead and find someone who does quick, cheap work. You really don't mean that, do you?  You really mean the best possible result for the least cost needed to get that outcome? Since the areola scars will indeed stretch with additional pregnancy, as will your breast skin, there is a distinct possibility that you may need a breast lift (mastopexy)... more
Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Areola reduction

Areola reduction is usually a straightforward procedure.  Like any procedure, there are risks.  There will be a scar around the circumference of your areola.   I would place less emphasis on "quick and inexpensive" and more on "qualified and quality".  It is your body, and this decision should not be taken lightly. Your question also has to do with timing.  If you are planning on getting pregnant in the near future, it may be... more
Jeffrey Roth, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Areola reduction is a quick and inexpensive surgery

  Patients have many different options for breast contouring. If a patient is interested in changing the shape or size of the areola, and they do not require any other breast work, this may be treated with a quick and inexpensive surgery that may be performed as an outpatient or in the office setting under local anesthesia. Your best bet is to be evaluated by board-certified plastic surgeon with a great deal of experience in breast surgery. They will be able to inform you of... more
B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Areolar reduction

Areolar reduction is a fairly straightforward procedure. The tradeoff is a scar which encircles the remaining areola. In certain patients, this scar can be more unsightly than the large areola. I would recommend waiting until you have had all the children you want to have. Often times after pregnancy women have droopiness of the breasts. If you were to have a breast lift procedure, the areola reduction could be done at the same time.
David Bogue, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon
+1

Various areolar reduction options

Areolar reduction can be done in a number of ways. Some of these techniques also address droopy breasts. I would consider them after you have completed childbearing. Cost relates to the nature of the procedure. Best Regards.
John P. Di Saia, MD
Orange Plastic Surgeon
+1

Areolar reduction is usually straightforward and can be done in the office

If you only want your areolar size reduced, this can usually be easily done in the office with local anesthetic and possible some oral sedation if you are nervous. This should not affect the feeling in the nipple areolar complex. The quality of the skin, will be a function of the skin laxity. If it is being done as part of having your breasts reduced, then it should be done in the main OR.
David E. Berman, MD
Sterling Plastic Surgeon
+1

Areola Reduction is often part of a Breast Lift Procedure

Areola Reduction is often part of a breast lift (or Mastopexy) procedure. As a woman ages, and particularly after having children, the areola expands and stretches even as the breast begins to sag and droop. Most women with large areola also have sagging breasts which benefit from either a breast augmentation procedure or a breast lift procedure. If a woman needs only a small lift, I can do this simply performing a small augmentation procedure. If this woman also needs a reduction in her... more
Phillip Chang, MD
Leesburg Plastic Surgeon
+1

Areola reduction can be done, but buyer beware

Renal, Areolar reduction is a straight-forward procedure. However, I would caution you about placing your primary focus on "quick and inexpensive." If you are planning on becoming pregnant soon, then I would hold off since the engorgement of the breast during pregnancy would stretch the repair. Good luck with your surgery.
David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Blocking suture technique for areola

Areolar reduction is safe and easy with a blocking suture. this technique yields good results with minimal scarring. However it may be wasted after pregnancy. If you want more children, I would advise waiting!
Robert M. Freund, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Areola reduction: You have many things to consider

There are several factors which must be considered when deciding if an areolar reduction would be a satisfactory procedure and whether or not you would get the result that you are expecting. An areolar reduction is really a breast lift also know as a mastopexy. The assumption is that if you have large areola that you also have some degree of breast sagging. A doughnut mastopexy or breast lift would remove the excess skin from around the areola and basically dart it in around the new width... more
Jeffrey Zwiren, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Areolar reduction can be inexpensive

Areolar reduction is a form of breast lift also known as mastopexy. The concept is to reduce areolar size and tighten the skin envelope of the breast, and to adjust the nipple height in relation to the fold of the breast. When we reduce the areolar skin alone we refer to this type of lift as a round block lift or mastopexy. The scar line runs around the nipple and is supported by a permanent suture to block and hold the nipple size, position, and shape. In order to determine if the procedure... more
Peter E. Johnson, MD
Des Plaines Plastic Surgeon
+1

Avoid plastic surgery if you are looking for cheap and inexpensive.

Areolar reduction is a nice procedure for the right patient with the right type of breasts. Most breast reductions and breast lifts are performed along with an areolar reduction as part of the procedure. Areolar reduction, by itself, is requested on occasion, and does also produce a tightening and lifting effect to ones breasts. An isolated areolar reduction can be performed under local anesthesia, IV sedation, or general anesthesia. It will take most surgeons between one or two hours. ... more
Sanjay Grover MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Wait until you're done with pregnancy before having areola reduction

Areola reduction is a relatively straightforward procedure that can be done under local anesthesia. I would probably wait until you are done having children before undergoing this procedure.
Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Areolar reduction is not so easy

Areolar reduction can be easy...or very hard, depending on how large the areolae are, how small of a reduction the patient needs, what surgeries they have had in the past (these affect blood supply) and what the shape of the breast is. Performing a "simple areolar reduction" can flatten the breast, form large scars if the operation is aggressively performed. When a reduction in areolar size is contemplated, patients and their surgeons should consider whether this should be... more
Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

You can only have 2 out of 3 things

My wife has a saying on the wall of her desk: "You can only have 2 out of 3 of the following:" quick, cheap (inexpensive), or good In other words, if it is quick and inexpensive, it may not be very good as the operator may be rushed. I caution you as plastic surgery is one area in life where it pays to pay retail. An areola reduction is just as demanding as any other procedure and should be done carefully with appropriate time devoted. As you plan to have more children, there may... more
Darrick E. Antell, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Wait until child bearing is completed before areola reduction

This procedure can be performed in the office under local anesthesia in the right patient.  Cost is not expensive. However, I would advise for you to wait until you complete your child-bearing.
Alexander M. Guba, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1

An areola reduction alone is rare

An areola reduction is usually associated with a breast lift and doing the areola alone would be very rare. Once you are talking about a breast lift, it needs to be done artfully, not "quick and inexpensive." I would suggest that you wait until you are done having children.
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

How long lasting?

If you are planning to get pregnant relatively soon, it would make sense to wait for changes of your areola to become stable, perhaps a few months after breast-feeding your last child. One problem with areola reduction is recurrence using the periareolar lift method. Unless you need, and have, a formal lift with a vertical scar, any immediate post-operate reduction in areolar diamension usually regresses as skin tension forces cause either gradual widening of the periareolar scar and/or... more
Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Definitely wait on areola reduction

Why go through all the time and expense of having them made smaller just to have them enlarge again when you lactate? I would definitely complete child bearing and then have an areola reduction. You may also want to consider a lift with or without an implant. Best of luck! 
Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Depends, but waiting makes more sense

There is always a risk of sensation loss, and loss of ability to breast feed. Add that to the fact that you are at risk for enlargement of areolas and sagging with additional pregancies, seems like this is a bit premature. Although the cohoice is yours, If you were my patient, I would advise you to have your children, and then come in for an evaluation. You may need a lift (which will reduce teh areolas), and you may need implants as well. It all comes down what you want, when you want it... more
Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Short, relatively inexpensive but highly technical procedure

Aerolar reduction is a short and relatively inexpensive but highly technical procedure if this is what you only need. (Most of these cases have breast ptosis and need a lift as well) If you are planning to have kids in a year or two, I would delay this procedure until you are done with pregnancy, delivery and nursing. All these will increase your breast volume and could cause recurrence. Good Luck!
Hisham Seify, MD, PhD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
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