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Is There a Treatment for Inverted Nipples?

asked 2 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Perry Liu, MD
Question viewed 9,329 times
Tags: nipples, inverted

What is the procedure was to correct inverted nipples? Is it a difficult or painful procedure? It doesn't really bother me but it does look weird and I'm a little self conscious about it.

24 answers to Is There a Treatment for Inverted Nipples?

+2

Fixing inverted nipples is an easy office procedure

I usually make a small incision at the base of the nipple to release the fibers and ducts and allow the nipple to come out, then keep it out while it heals with a stitch that is taped to your breast skin for several days. The incision in closed with a couple tiny sutures and the scar is virtually invisible. The procedure takes about 10 minutes with a little local anesthesia. Although there is a risk of numbness and breast feeding impairment, I haven't seen this.
Douglas J. Mackenzie, MD

Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon
+2

Surgical correction for inverted nipples

The procedure to correct the inverted nipples in many cases can be done under local anesthesia, unless the patient is interested to combine the procedure with breast augmentation or breast lift and that requires a general anesthesia. Done under local anesthetic is almost pain free and allows patient immediately to go back to daily activities. The procedure itself is not very complicated, but requires the experience of the board certified plastic surgeon. It is important to follow always your... more
Gregory Turowski, MD, PhD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+2

Inverted Nipple

The up side to this is that it can be corrected and it can be done in conjunction to other surgeries like breast augmentation and breast lift. It can also be done by itself in the office under local anesthesia. The procedure is not painful and works pretty well. One thing I would say is that you are certain and complete with any breast feeding now and in the future because the surgery does have the risk of cutting the ducts and you may and likely will not be able to breast feed, if you... more
Farbod Esmailian, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+2

Treatment for Inverted Nipples

Nipple inversion, where one or both nipples point inward instead of outward, is actually quite common and in most cases can be easily be corrected with a minimally invasive surgical procedure. I have corrected inverted nipples at the time of breast augmentation and mastopexy (breast lift) procedures, and also have preformed correction of nipple inversion alone as an office surgery under local anesthesia. Most cases of nipple inversion occur during breast development, although on occasion... more
Michael Law, MD

Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon
+2

Nipple Inversion Correction

Surgical correction of inverted nipples should only be attempted when you are sure that you do not plan to breast feed any longer. The most common cause is a tethering of the ducts that attach your nipple inside to your breast tissue. The treatment involves dividing these through a small incision and then allowing healing with bolsters in your skin that keep your nipples everted. I try to keep my patients in the bolsters for 2-3 weeks. There is a risk of reoccurence and possibly decreased... more
Michael C. Edwards, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon
+2

Nipple Inversion: Inverted Nipple Correction on one side or both

Inverted nipples can form with varying severity and can be symmetric or assymetric. In most cases, it is due to a tight fibrous band below the nipple. There are many simple methods of releasing the fibrous band with blunt dissection using one or two small, 0.5 cm incisions at the base of the nipple. Usually this will also require a suture to correct the inversion permanently. Make sure you discuss this with a board certified plastic surgeon who has experience in this technique and who... more
Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Correction of inverted nipples is a simple office/outpatient procedure

Nipples can be inverted either from a lack of soft tissue support or from tethering. If the issue is simply a lack of soft tissue support, this can be corrected by tightening the base of your nipple with sutures, without affecting your ducts or ability to breast feed. If the problem is a result of scar tissue or tight ducts, these structures need to be released and nipple support established to prevent a recurrence. A good examination and consultation with your plastic surgeon will determine... more
Perry Liu, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

nipple inversion

Inverted nipples can cause functional problems for women and emotional concerns. An inverted nipple can look flat or a slit like depression or hole at the normal nipple location. There are different degrees of inverted nipples possible. Correction of inverted nipples depends on the problem. Usually correction of the inverted nipples involve division of the lactiferous (milk ducts). Risks of the procedure include potential loss of sensation, inability to breast-feed,... more
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Yes, there is a simple procedure

Yes, there is a simple procedure that can be done in the office under local anesthesia.
Robert E. Zaworski, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Simple,easy repair for inverted nipples

I have developed a simple and painless technique to correct inverted nipples. It is done at the office under local anesthesia. It requires no incisions and only one stitch. It requires a device over the nipple for a week.I call it Reverter. You can get information in my web site.
Luis A. Vinas, MD

West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon
+1

Treatment of inverted nipples

My go to procedure for nipple inversion is nipple piercing.  I use a local anesthetic.  I grab the nipple, hold it out to length and then pierce it at the base and insert a barbell.  I leave it that way for 3 months and then take the barbell out.  The nipple usually stays out.  Some patients decline removal of their barbells because they kind of like them.  This procedure does minimal damage to the ducts or nerves and does not "burn any... more
Lisa L. Sowder, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Inverted nipples procedure not painful

There are several procedures for inverted nipples. They do not always work but are not painful. There can be some numbness that may persist though. Best Regards.
John P. Di Saia, MD

Orange Plastic Surgeon
+1

Easy treatment for inverted nipples

Inverted nipples are cause by shortening of the breast ducts that attache the nipple to the milk producing glands. If these ducts shorten, then the nipples inverts. Treatment involves cutting these ducts through a small puncture wound under local anesthesia. Next the nipple is put into a normal position and sutured.
Robert M. Freund, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Treatment for inverted nipples

Inverted nipples is not an uncommon problem. It can be unilateral or bilateral. The procedure can be performed under local anesthesia as an out patient. You should be aware that you may loss a little sensation of the nipple. This is usually temporarily. In most cases you will NOT be able to breast feed with that breast. This is usual a permanent condition so have your children first before considering surgery.
Todd B. Koch, MD

Buffalo Plastic Surgeon
+1

Inverted nipple treatment

There are many techniques for the treatment of this problem. That should tell you that there is not one perfect technique. Most of the techniques address the principle that there is tethering of the nipple down to the structures below. Once these are released, the second part is keeping the nipple out until it scars where you want it. This is usually accomplished with bolsters and/or sutures.
Jeffrey Roth, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Simple procedure

I treat inverted nipples with local anesthesia most of the time.  An incision is made along the edge of the areola and the nipple is released from the foreshortened ducts and everted.  A suture is used to direct the nipple in the opposite direction and to keep it from reattaching to the ducts.
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

How to correct inverted nipples

Correction of inverted nipples is a minor outpatient, office procedure with little downtime. During surgery, you may remain awake or take a mild oral sedative, as long as you have someone to drive you home. The nipples and areolas are made numb using local anesthetic injection, they are prepped and draped sterily, and tight ligaments that extend between the nipple skin and the breast tissue below are gently cut to loosen them. This procedure is done under loupe magnification... more
Karen M. Horton, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+1

Inverted nipple correction, breast augmentation, fat grafting

Thank you for your question. The technique I use for inverted nipple correction is to transect the deep ligaments that are holding the nipple into the breast ( from the medial aspect- so as to not affect the sensation) then a tie over bolster is left in place for 1 week while the tissues heal in the errect position. With Warm Regards, Trevor M Born MD
Trevor M. Born, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon
+1

Treatment for inverted nipples

There are MULTIPLE ways to repair pulled in / inverted nipples. That in itself SHOULD tell you that no one procedure works well all the time. The pulled in / inverted nipple is caused by pulling on the breast duct cables that leave the breast and unite to leave through the nipples. Any scar formation along these ducts can cause the nipples to be pulled in . (For this reason, despite this being a common condition, it must be kept in mind that sudden inverted nipples, especially f on one side... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Surgery for Inverted Nipples

There are as many ways to correct inverted nipples as there are inverted nipples. This means that none of them really work. First the tissue under the nipple that is pulling it inward must be divided. This will result in completely loss of nipple sensation. Then to prevent scar tissue forming where the tissue was cut either suturing or fillers or other tissue must be used. Unfortunately, none of these really work very well the and recurrence rate is very high. But it may be worth... more
Christopher L. Hess, MD

Fairfax Plastic Surgeon
+1

Treatment for inverted nipple.

There are several types of surgical treatment for inverted nipple.  It is a relatively simple procedure.  However, often the ducts have to be cut, which means you could not breast feed.  Make sure it really bothers you before embarking on a surgical procedure.  Hope this helps. Tracy M....
Tracy Pfeifer, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Inverted (shy) nipples aka nipple inversion treatment

Nipple inversion is typically caused by nipple traction exerted by the milk ducts within the breast. Rarely scars, injury, infections, or tumors may also be responsible for nipple inversion. The following information is based on an inverted nipple procedure only. During the consultation we may determine that other procedures or laboratory/x-rays or referral to a general surgeon are better suited for your optimal outcome. Occasionally, this can be treated non-surgically using a device called... more
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nipple Inversion

Treatment of inverted nipples is very common and can be done under local anesthesia.   
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Many options for treating inverted nipples, none great

There have been many operations described for nipple inversion but none have stuck as the best because of recurrence issues and a high risk of permanent numbness. Just be sure yours is long-standing because new onset nipple inversion, especially unilateral, can be the first sign of breast cancer.
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

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