What Can You Do when Your Nipple is Gone After a Breast Reduction

I had a breast reduction about a month ago and they skin graft my areolas and nipples and when the dressing was remove from my areolas and nipples I had to put antibioic cream and a nonstick bandage on it,and when I change my bandage it would pull the burn looking skin off my nipple and areola and now it has pull off all the skin including my nipples.The skin is pink in color with black spots coming.So do this mean I want have any nipples and what can I do to have nipples again.I am african amer

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10 Doctor Answers | Asked by Sandra,Mississippi in Mississippi

Doctor Answers (10)
Community Comments (1)

Losing nipples

If you underwent free nipple grafting, the graft could die but your explanation is unclear. Definitely see your plastic surgeon for followup. The nipples can be reconstructed if they have been lost but this may not have occurred. You could be seeing epidermal changes and the nipple grafts may still be viable.

Nipple loss after reduction

From your decription it sounds as though you had free nipple graft and possibly lost the superficial skin (also known as epidermolysis). I would recommend continuing with the nonstick bandages and closely following up with your doctor. The loss of pigment is common in free nipple graft in African Americans and is something I discuss with all patients. You should regain some, if not all, of the pigment over time. If the nipple is indeed lost, then you may need a... more

Concerns about loss of the nipple-areola complexes following breast reduction

From your description, it is not clear whether or not you truly have "lost" your nipples. You might have just shed the top layers of skin which seems to fit the situation that you have described (including the loss and then some reappearance of pigmentation). My recommendation would be to wait at least 4 - 6 months to better determine what you are left with. Of course, you should be asking your plastic surgeon exactly what your situation is with regard to the nipples. If they... more

What Can You Do when Your Nipple is Gone After a Breast Reduction

From your description you had an amputative reduction where the N/A complexes were full thickness grafted. Sounds like you are healing slowly. Keep us posted on your recovery.

Not a good situation. You will likely need nipple/areola reconstruction.

I am sorry to hear that. It is not good news at all, I'm afraid. Today, we try to use techniques that preserve the nipple attachment to the underlying tissues. It sounds like you had your nipples grafted, which leaves them without feeling or function, and jeopardizes their survival. There are techniques to reconstruct nipples, but they are never as good as what you had and do not have function and only minimal sensation. This involves folding the skin in... more

Free nipple grafts?

I think that you are talking about free nipple grafts. If this is the case often they look quite pink and even lose color. If this is the case give it time to heal. I would follow closely withyour doctor to make sure everything is OK>

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast reduction

After a free nipple graft breast reduction it is very common for the top layers of skin to peel off as you are describing. If the dark spots are coming back thisnmeans that the pigment is starting to return and should continue over the next few months. In terms of the nipple itself there is no nerve function to these nipples so project will be minimal if any.

Loosing your nipples after breast reduction

Dear Sandra, I am so sorry this happened to you. Unfortunately, this complication is not uncommon using old standard techniques. You will have to wait until you are fully healed, then at a later time consider nipple/areola reconstruction. It is a very simple procedure and gives women a nice result. Loosing nipple sensitivity and loosing areolas/nipples altogether made me re-design how I did reductions. With my innovative technique, women with extremely large breasts not only keep... more

Breast reduction and concerns about nipples

It seems your had an extensive braest reuction, which required using your own nipple areola complex being grafted in their new locations. Some times it may take weeks to know what part of the graft will survive. During this phase of healing , the only thing you need to do would be to support the healing process. Multiple dresssing changes and topical use of antibiotics are very helpful. After completion of healing the missing part could be reconstructed easily. Please do not smoke if... more

Nipple reconstruction

Nipple grafts were sometimes used in very large breast reductions when the surgeon was not sure if the blood supply to the nipple could be preserved. In such situations the nipple would then be grafted. As with any skin (or nipple) graft, sometimes it doesn't all heal perfectly. You should wait until the healing is complete. If necessary, your plastic surgeon could perform additional surgery to reconstruct your nipple. Sincerely, Martin Jugenburg, MD more

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Comments (1)

livelaughlove72 18 May 2013

I had the same surgery. I too have the same problem. My right one worse than my left. I cry often. It has been a year since my surgery and it has not gotten any better. I am currently seeking a different surgeon for corrective surgery. Good luck!

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