Breast Reconstruction Q&A
88%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
91 Reviews
Breast Reconstructionbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Breast Reconstruction Cost: $8,900

Learn about Breast Reconstruction

487 people and 265 doctors are talking about Breast Reconstruction

Get Free Email Updates

I Had a Lumpectomy Five Weeks Ago and Just Noticed a Nipple Inversion on That Side. What Has Caused This?

asked 1 year ago by Adeline in Vancouver, BC, Canada
Latest answer by Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Question viewed 564 times
Tags: nipples, inverted, results

Diagnosed with invasive mucinous ductal cancer and had surgery five weeks ago. Yesterday , I noticed a nipple inversion on that same side. My breast and nipple have been very sore all that time. Any reason to be concerned? France

7 answers to I Had a Lumpectomy Five Weeks Ago and Just Noticed a Nipple Inversion on That Side. What Has Caused This?

+2

Nipple appearance has changed after lumpectomy

It is not uncommon for the appearance of a woman's breast and or nipple to change after lumpectomy. Sometimes the breast tissue will "settle out" and the appearance will improve. Unfortunately, however, when nipple inversion is present, it is often because the removal of the diseased tissue created a void behind the nipple, and this is unlikely to improve over time. In fact, the degree of inversion may become even more pronounced after radiation therapy. A recent studies... more
David Greenspun, MD, MSc

New York Plastic Surgeon

www.davidgreenspunmd.com

+1

NIpple inversion following a lumpectomy

This nipple inversion most probably is secondary from the surgery, the absence of the more supportive underlying tissue and developing scar contracture. You should discuss this with your surgeon who may very well ant to re-examine you.
Steven Turkeltaub, MD

Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon
+1

Lumpectomy and skin and areola changes

Without an exam I can not be sure but, this may be related to the surgery and scar contracture. You should check it out with your surgeon to be sure.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Conservation Therapy (Lumpectomy) Can Create Breast Deformities

If you have undegone a lumpectomy for breast cancer, your breast surgeon has cored out tissue to remove your tumor with a healthy margin of noncancerous tissue.  It is not uncommon for patients to see deformities  manifest over time.  Also, you will require radiation therapy to complete your breast conservation therapy.  Radiation is effective for killing microscopic cancer cells but it damages the normal tissue.  Many lumpectomy (breast conservation therapy)... more
C. Bob Basu, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.basuplasticsurgery.com

+1

Nipple inversion after breast biopsy

A breast biopsy can create a cavity that will collapse and pull surrounding breast tissue into the scar. As this occurs it may pull on ducts that connect directly with the nipple producing nipple inversion. This is greatest at 6 weeks after biopsy and may persist for up to a year before softening significantly.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Significance of Nipple Retraction or Inversion

The nipple is the exit site of all the ducts of the breast. Any significant inflammation involving a group of ducts tends to shorten them and retract the nipple. In extreme cases, this may result in inversion of the nipple. Such inflammation, as in your cases, is explicable by the surgery you just had. Sudden retraction in other instances, need to be worked up for occult breast cancer causing inflammation which shortened the breast ducts. Nipple retraction CAN be corrected. Allow... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nipple inversion after lumpectomy

Sorry for your diagnosis.  The reason the nipple retracts is that scar tissue may have formed from the lumpectomy.  Sometimes this will improve with massage and time, but speak to your breast surgeon and possibly have him refer you to a plastic surgeon for a consultation.
Steven Schuster, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

Ask a question