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Nipple + Areola Too High After Breast Augmentation with Lift

asked 2 years ago by jenkins in uk
Latest answer by David F. Pratt, MD
Question viewed 3,431 times
Tags: areola, nipples, high

i had an uplift with implants several years ago. my areola are very large and quite high up on breast. is there anyway this can now be lowered ? i have to be careful what tops i wear as it shows above the neckline on them.

43 answers to Nipple + Areola Too High After Breast Augmentation with Lift

+2

High Nipples Can Be Fixed!

In most cases, high riding nipples following breast augmentation is a straight forward, correctable problem. Often, the correction can be made under local anesthesia during a short office “lunchtime procedure”. The options for correcting excessive nipple height following breast augmentation would include: 1. Tightening the implant pocket under local anesthesia with several strategically placed stitches without removing the implant 2. Surgically tightening up... more
David F. Pratt, MD

Kirkland Plastic Surgeon
+2

Nipple Position Too High After Augmentation Mastopexy

If the nipple is above the height of the breast crease, this could be a difficult situation for correction. If the breast has "bottomed out," re-doing the lift may help, but if the areola is showing in certain necklines, you will need to discuss the limited options for lowering the nipple-areola complex.
Paul C. Zwiebel, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon
+2

High nipple position can often be fixed

Nipple positions that end up too high after a breast augmentation with a lift usually occur for one of two reasons: 1) The implants placed were either placed too low to begin with, or they were too heavy for the breast tissue. In this situation, you can get a malposition of the implant in relation to nipple itself. This can be repaired by placing the repositioning the implant. Although a technically difficult opration, it is possible. 2) The new nipple position was set too high... more
Kevin Brenner, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+2

Nipple position after mastopexy

Nipple position after breast lift surgery is a very important component of a mastopexy.  In this case, the position of the nipple may appear high as the breast itself has prematurely descended inferiorly.  Tightening the lower pole of the breast may correct the position of the nipple. 
Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast augmentation, implant, enlargement

This typically happens when the implants "bottom out" or the breast crease called as inframammary fold is obliterated or displaced downwards. To fix this problem your surgeon will reposition the implant higher up in relation to the nipple and fix the crease all along. Postsurgery you will wear a pressure garment that will help to prevent implant displacement initially.
Sanjay Parashar, MD

Dubai Plastic Surgeon
+1

Two main reasons why the nipples can end up too high

There are two likely reasons why your nipples and areolar are now too high.  First, they may have been placed too high during your initial procedure.  Second, your implants may have "bottomed out" causing your nipples to rise.   Frequently, when implants become malpositioned, the nipple and areola tend to become displaced in the opposite direction.  The solution to your problem obviously depends on the cause.  If the nipples were placed to high... more
Kelly Gallego, MD

Sioux City Plastic Surgeon
+1

Unfortunately, this can occur following breast uplift and is a difficult problem to correct.

Unfortunately, this can occur following breast uplift and is a difficult problem to correct. Ideally, your nipples should lie approximate 21 cm from the notch between your clavicles at the lower part of your neck. If the nipples are higher than this and are shown out of the top of your bra they may need lowering and making them smaller. The ideal diameter for the brown part of your nipple (areola) is approximately 4.5 cm and this is the ideal your surgeon should aim for. I... more
Adrian Richards, MD

London Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nipples too high: a difficult problem to solve

Dear jenkins in uk, There are likely two causes of your problem: the implants have bottomed out the nipples were placed too high to begin with combination of 1 and 2 Neither are easy to fix. If the implants have bottomed out, the solution is to re-elevate them to a higher position. This tends to be difficult because the implant has a propensity to come back down due to gravity. Placing stitches to close down the lower portion of the pocket is tricky... more
Lawrence Tong, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nipples Too High

Nipples too high may either be secondary to the implants "bottoming out" in other words the crease beneath the breast descending from its original position, or your surgeon may have placed the nipple too high. If the breast implant has "bottomed out", the crease would need to be re-set or reconstructed in the correct position, and this can be somewhat difficult to do and maintain long term especially if large implants have been used. If the nipple has been placed to... more
Wilfred Brown, MD

Fairfield Plastic Surgeon
+1

NippleAreola to High After Breast Lift with Augmentation

Generally, when the nipple areolar position is too high after a mastopexy augmentation, the cause is inferior displacement or "bottoming-out" of the inferior breast fold.  This can happen with any breast operation, and can be fixed, but can recur.  The most common complaint is that patients feel that their nipple areola areas pop out or can be seen from the top of a bra or bathing suit.  Rarely is the cause from inaccurate measurements for the new nipple position... more
Daniel Shapiro, MD

Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nipple Position Too High

The ideal nipple position is centrally located over the breast mound. When the nipple is positioned too high it may be difficult to wear certain clothing without the areola showing. Depending on the reason for the high position, revisional surgery can usually correct this issue. For example, if the implant has 'bottomed out,' it can be repositioned which may fully correct the nipple position. Other options are available and can be tailored to your particular... more
Louis DeLuca, MD

Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.drlouisdeluca.com

+1

Nipple position too high after breast augmentation and lift

The position of the nipple and areola should be centered over the breast, and with time their relative position may change. It is usually easier to reposition the nipple and areolae superiorly, but they may also be lowered if necessary, although this leaves an additional scar on the skin above top of the areola.
Olivia Hutchinson, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nipple position too high after augmentation mastopexy

There may be one of two possible problems:  One possibility is that your implants have descended or moved downward on your chest relative to the breast.  If this is the case, treatment consists of elevating your inframammary fold (i.e. the crease underneath the breast) with sutures or possibly additional skin resection with a revision mastopexy.  The other possibility is that your nipple-areola complex is truly too high on your breast.  The second scenario would... more
Jaime Perez MD

Tampa Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nipple position too high after augmentation mastopexy

Nipple position too high after augmentation mastopexy--a problem that may be easy, or not, to fix.  If your implants are bottomed out, then correcting their position may fix the issue. If the nipples are truly too high, then additional corrective surgery may be needed--that could include tissue expansion, then smaller implants.
Carmen Kavali, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nipple position after breast surgery

Correcting nipple position after any breast surgery can be a difficult procedure.  But it can be done and sometimes not with significant scarring.  The reason for high nipples will help determine what needs to be done.  This reason can be nipple related or implant related.  1) The nipple position may have been placed in a high position at the initial surgery.  If this is the case, some of the skin below the nipple may need to be removed with new scars placed.... more
Naveen Setty, MD

Plano Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nipple position is important in breast surgery.

Nipple position is important in breast surgery especially when you combine a lift with an augmentation.  This is very difficult to combine and many surgeons will not perform both procedures at the same time.  Nipples being too low is more common and easier to fix; nipples being too high is difficult to correct. This may be due to implants "bottoming out" or sliding beneath the fold of the breast, or improper nipple positioning at the time of the operation. ... more
Richard H. Fryer, MD

Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon
+1

If your areola are too high, this can be fixed

Thanks for your question.   There are several factors which determine the height of the nipple/areola following a lift.  In most cases, the nipple is positioned too low but it can also be raised too much.  When this happens, although it can be fixed, the solution is not that easy.   One option would be to remove a wedge of tissue from the base of your breast and essentially bring down the nipple to a lower position on the breast mound itself.  This would also... more
Gregory A. Buford, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon

www.beautybybuford.com

+1

They can be fixed!!

Hello, Thanks for your question.  The causes of over descended implants and nipple areola complex malposition are many: too large an implant, thin skin envelope, miscalculation of amount of lift, surgical disruption of the inframammary fold, etc.  It is difficult to drop the position of the nipple after it has over lifted.  One common method for fixing the problem is to decrease the size of the implant and reduce the size of the over-stretched capsule internally.... more
Manish H. Shah, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon
+1

Proper nipple/areola placement in breast surgery

Combining breast augmentation and breast lift is a rather formidable procedure.  The surgeon needs to be well trained, experienced and talented to execute this procedure successfully.  Your condition is difficult, but not impossible to correct.  It could be possible to reposition your implants higher, so that your areola complex is more centered.  On the other hand either partial or full revision of your breast lift will need to be done.  As I said, it is a complex... more
Boris M. Ackerman, MD

Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon
+1

Areolas too high

Having the nipple/areolas too high after a breast lift is a difficult problem to correct. However, because you have implants, there is the possibility of decreasing the size of the implants to help rotate the nipples down into a more normal position. This may or may not be combined with removal of skin below the areolas. Another option involves an 'S' flap where the skin from below the areola is transposed with nipple/areola such that they switch position. The problem with this... more
David Bogue, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon
+1

Lowering the areola after a breast lift and implant. Difficult problem.

Lowering the areola after a breast lift (mastopexy) and breast implant (Mastopexy Augmentation) is a difficult problem, however you may consider making the aerola smaller which may make things appear improved. I would suggest a consultation with measurements to determine if the nipple is too high or if just the areola are too big. Making the areola smaller may be easier now that your skin has stretched and healed, however if the nipple is too high, an upper breast incision may have to be... more
Andrew P. Trussler, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Areola is Too High After Breast Augmentation/ Lift

This is know as star gazing. The nipple areolar complex should be 2 cm above the Inferior mammary fold which is at the bottom of the breast attachment into the chest wall. There are several reasons: Too low of an implant, too narrow of an implant, too much skin on the lower pole of the breast. After full evaluation a surgeon can determine what is needed. Excision of lower pole skin might be necessary with possible combination of recreation of the pocket.
Tarick K. Smaili, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nipple position after breast lift

If your nipples appear too high, it may in fact be because the rest of your breast is disproportionally low.  There may be several ways to improve your breast appearance, so I would recommend a visit to a plastic surgeon so you can be examined get a first hand answer.
Adam David Lowenstein, MD

Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon
+1

Lowering a nipple that is too high

Lowering a nipple is one of the most difficult things to do when the nipple is too high. There are two options. One would revise the position of the nipple and create a scar above it (closing the hole that is left behind from moving it downward). The other option might be to raise the fold underneath your breast so the nipple does not appear to be too low. This may be the best choice, but depends upon the current shape of your breasts and the position of the implants. If you posted some... more
Adam Rubinstein, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon

dr-rubinstein.com

+1

A difficult problem to correct

This is  difficult problem to correct because to bring the nipple down you will end up needing to place a scar above the nipple to bring it down. The scar may be less visible than the nipple peeping through the bra, but it is an issue.  Other phenomena that happens more commonly is the nipple appears high in relation to the breast because the breast has "bottomed out." If this the problem and not the actual placement of the nipple then the implant can be brought up by... more
Usha Rajagopal, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nipple and areola are too high after breast augmentation with lift

Breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic surgery in the United States because it can consistently change the breast of a woman and create a beautiful result. This surgery can commonly be done with a breast lift. If your nipple and areola are in too high a position, it is possible that the base of your breast implants may also be a little low. Your best bet is to work with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has a great deal of experience with breast augmentation and breast lift... more
B. Pat Pazmino, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.miamiaesthetic.com

+1

Correcting areola position after mastopexy require scar above areola if placed too high.

If an areola is placed too high after a mastopexy, it can be moved down but requires an incision above the areola.  This brings into play the quandery as to which is the bigger aesthetic problem, the scar or the areolar position.
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Correcting high nipple/areola after breast lift with implants

The usual cause of a high nipple/areola after breast lift with implants is a low implant - making the nipple/areola appear above the center of the breast (implant).  Correction is done from within to raise the implant.  Sometimes, the lower skin at the bottom of the breast is removed to help hold the implant up.  If your nipple/areola were really placed too high at the beginning, then the treatment is not as easy or predictable.  Your plastic surgeon can evaluate you and... more
Randy J. Buckspan, MD

Austin Plastic Surgeon
+1

Correcting high nipples

Correcting high nipples are much harder to do than raising them if they area too low. WIthout seeing you in consultation it would be difficutl to tell.  Breast lifts with implants can do that sometimes.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Correcting high nipples

Assuming that your nipples were not high to begin with, it might be that your implants are sitting too low.  This can be corrected by using two or three layers of sutures inside of the breast implant pocket to re-build the crease under your breast to a higher level.  The result of this should be an elevation of the implants higher on the chest and a rotation of your nipples into a more central area on the breast mound.  It is possible to decrease the diameter of your areola at... more
Edwin C. Pound, III, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

No easy solution to high areola showing above clothing

Unfortunately there is no easy solution to this problem. If the areola is too high, there is one way to lower it.  That is to put in a tissue expander and expand the skin above the areola.  The extra skin can then be used to lower the position of the areola.  Patients do not want this procedure as the tissue expander is very obvious, cannot be disguised and is quite strange looking.  The best solution is to select your clothes and bras carefully.  Repositioning the... more
Tracy Pfeifer, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

drpfeifer.com

+1

Not easy to correct overly elevated nipples

An overly elevated nipple/areola after breast lift surgery with or without implants is not uncommon and can be related to placing the nipple/areola to high and to the inevitability of descent / "bottoming out" of the breast with time due to gravity and tissue stretching. The nipple/areola position cannot be lowered effectively, but the lower breast can be repositioned higher on the chest wall to improve the balance such that the nipple/areola is better centered at or near... more
David J. Levens, MD

Coral Springs Plastic Surgeon
+1

High nipples after breast augmentation and lift [with video]

There are two reasons why nipple position can look high after breast augmentation and lift. First, and fortunately less common, the nipple was actually placed too high when the lift was performed. If this is the case, the nipple has to be lowered, and you will have a vertical scar above the nipple (where it was lowered from). The other cause, which is more common, is that the distance from the nipple to your breast fold is too long and the nipple is not at the center of the implant. This... more
Michael A. Jazayeri, MD

Santa Ana Plastic Surgeon
+1

High-riding nipples

This can be better addressed with a photograph - having said that, if there is too much skin between the nipple-areola and the fold under the breast, this can be corrected by removing a segment of skin from the lower pole breast area or repositioning the implants higher or both. Good luck in addressing your concerns.
J. Vicente P. Poblete, MD

Cleveland Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nipple/areola positions can be improved by adjusting implants or your lift

If your implants have settled too much, this will make your nipples appear to be too high on your breast mounds. This can be improved by repositioning your implants by adjusting the implant pockets. If your implants are appropriately positioned on your chest wall, then usually the height of the nipples can be reduced by excising some skin in the inframammary creases (the creases below the breasts). This reduces the distance from the creases to the bottom of the areolae and helps center the... more
Michael D. Yates, MD

Huntsville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nipple too high after a breast lift

It is always easier to lift or raise your nipples, but lowering them without leaving a scar above them is a difficult problem. There are generally few solutions to the problem you describe of having your nipple too high after a breast lift or breast reduction, and none of them are an easy fix. The three options that are available is to have a scar above your nipple after you move it down, something that would show in low cut shirts, but it would not have a dark pigment like your nipple... more
Ankit Desai, MD

Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon
+1

A difficult problem

The answer depends on how high the nipple/areolas actually are. If they are slightly high, they can probably be lowered with a number of simple options depending on what type of lift you had. If they are way too high, more drastic measures may be needed, ranging from additional incisions, moving the implant, etc.  A face to face consultation is important to make this decision.
David Shuter, MD

Jupiter Plastic Surgeon
+1

High riding nipples

Treatment options would vary based on the specific findings on examination. Based on what you describe it truly depends on the size of the implants and the amount of skin beneath the areola.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Malpositioned nipples

This is a difficult situation, as it is not easy to lower them. However, one thing that may help would be to remove some of the skin along the horizontal scars. You may also need to go with a smaller implant as well. Good Luck.
Scott E. Kasden, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Elevated nipples after breast augmentation and lift

This is so difficult to asses without an examination, but if the nipples are not too high, this can be addressed either by moving the areolae down slightly, or by repositioning the implants.  The procedure which would be more appropriate for you depends on your examination.  I would recommend seeing a board-certified surgeon for evaluation and possible revision.  Good luck, /nsn.
Nina S. Naidu, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

High Nipples after Breast Augmentation/Lift

A photograph would be of great help in addressing your particular situation rather than answering in generalities. Since it has been a few years after the surgery, the situation is stable. The position of the implant ideally is dead center behind / under the location of the nipples. If the implants sag, the nipples assume a higher "star gazing" position; It the implants are placed too high OR the patient develops scarring around the implants which raises them the nipples will... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Too high nipples can usually be easily fixed

Yes, this usually can be corrected without the vertical scar above your nipples. But, it depends on your current breast shape and implant position. I have corrected this for several women who have complained of similar issues. It all depends on your current breast shape and measurements. I'd be happy to look at some pictures and give you an opinion. You can also check out my photogallery page on Breast Implant Revision. The third woman on the page complained of a similar problem.   more
Daniel P. Markmann, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

DiscoverTheBeauty.com

+1

High nipples after breast lift with breast implants hard to fix.

Hi. We try to avoid this at all costs, because it is so much easier to raise the nipples a little more after a breast lift with breast implants, than to lower them. Setting the implants higher can make the nipples look lower. Otherwise, lowering the nipples leaves a vertical scar above them. Tough problem, I am sorry to say.
George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

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