Nipple Discoloration After Breast Lift

I had surgery 2 weeks ago my right nipple is fine. My left nipple came out purple now it is starting to get color but still has dark spots. My surgeon says it will heal but it will take a few months. That the nipple blistered and thats why it is still dark. It just does not look right to me. Am I going to have horrible scars after this? Does this look okay to you?

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nipples discoloration

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10 Doctor Answers | Asked by rain102

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Risks & Potential Complications of Breast Augmentation

It seems that you might have had poor circulation to you nipple with resulting blistering. Although this is a serious thing, due to the risk or loosing the nipple, it seems from the pictures that your nipple is fortunately healing. You need to follow-up closely with your doctor and refrain from smoking, heavy exercises, and wearing tight bras until everything heals.

Nipple slough after breast augmentation

You have had a close call. Nipple areolar circulation is very important during breast surgery. When parts of the nipple slough, this indicates there has been diminished blood supply, often due to a subglandular placement, large implant, or simultaneous breast lift and augmentation. Most likely you will heal well, but definitely follow up closely with your surgeon.

Changing Nipple / Areola Complex after Surgery

Thanks for posting pictures with your question - it makes the answers much more informative for other readers and allows us to give you more specific advice. You are only two weeks after surgery, so please do not worry - you are going to be fine. It appears that you have a small area of superficial necrosis of the areola which turned black. While this is not common, it can happy. In the vast majority of cases, the area will heal just fine. You will be very... more

Wound healing problems after surgery

It looks like you had an augmentation mastopexy. Your breast shape is beautiful, so you should feel good about your overall result. It looks like the right nipple-areolar complex is struggling for adequate blood supply. That's why part of it appears black and the rest is still a little dusky (light purple). It sounds like your surgeon is following you closely and managing this well. Have faith, and have a lot of patience. I'll bet you'll be just fine... more

Purple nipple

Your nipple suffered diminished blood supply and is dusky. Hopefully this will continue to improve but you should have regular followup with your plastic surgeon. Delayed wound healing is more likely to occur in smokers and diabetics. If you do smoke, please try to stop! It will take a while for this to resolve and for the nipple to heal, but it may go on to ultimately heal well.

Delayed healing of nipple after breast lift

It appears that the nipple/areola suffered diminished blood circulation and there were areas of skin loss. This is always a small risk with a breast lift, and the risk is greater if breast implants are done at the same time as making the pocket for the implant divides more blood supply and the tension of the breast lift closure over an implant is greater. That being said, this of course does not happen most of the time. It is much more likely to happen in smokers, and so if... more

Nipple discoloration after breast lift

It appears from your photo that the nipple in question has had decreased circulation that has led to partial loss of the nipple. Often times these can heal very well with careful treatment and followup. Please do not smoke or use anything with nicotine as this can inhibit your ability to heal.

Nipple discoloration after breast lift

On reason why the nipple looks purple is because the bloood is getting in better than it is getting out. It may be puffy and feel "full" as well. Likely this will get better as the blood vessels recover. It may take several months though.

Nipple discoloration

Hard to say what the long term look will be of the areola that had some healing problems. Very often, they go on to heal quite fine. You just have to give it some time to do so.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Dark nipple on one side after breast lift caused by diminished blood flow.

When breast tissues are surgically cut during breast lift procedures, skin flaps on the lower poles of the breasts (adjacent to the vertical incisions) and the nipple areola complexes can have some impairment of circulation. Superficial layers of the skin can die, causing blistering and delay in healing, but ultimately healing just fine. Or, larger areas or the full thickness of the skin or areola can have inadequate blood flow to survive. In these cases, your surgeon may ask you to help the... more