Areolas Are Now Different Sizes

Question

I had an explant & mastopexy 2 mons ago. Im happy with it except for the vastly different areola size. I know this is "normal" in other women, but I was always proud to have the exact same size areolas on each breast. Now they are substantially different. One looks like my regular areola and the other is puckered and smaller. I spoke to the surgeon about it last week. He said in 6 months if it doesnt correct he can do an in-office fix. Is it normal for areolas to take 6 mons to heal? Im scared.

Douglas L. Gervais, MD · Answer

I would agree with your surgeon that waiting is a very reasonable at this time. If things do not change, then a revisional procedure may be needed and many times can be perfomed under local anesthesia. It is not uncommon for your breasts to change with time.

David E. Kim, MD · Answer

6 months gives the breasts time to heal and settle in from the lifting procedure. The areolas will most likely not change in regards to asymmetry but it is standard to wait several months to allow for adequate healing.

Gregory A. Buford, MD, FACS · Answer

I would tend to agree with your surgeon in that your tissue needs to settle and the swelling needs to resolve before moving forward with a revision.  If at that time your areola are different sizes, then it is very reasonable to revise them and this can often be performed as an in-office procedure. 

	Unfortunately, tissue healing can be somewhat unreliable and even the best surgeons do revisions here and there. 

	I hope that helps and wish you the best of luck with your procedure!

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD · Answer

It is not unusual for the areola to be different in the early stages of healing. When performing a mastopexy precise measurements are usually made so that the diameter of the areola is 42 mm. Skin tension and asymmetric swelling can make for the areola to appear different sizes. Given time it will get better. If not then you may need a revision.

Shashidhar Kusuma, MD · Answer

Your doctor is right. Waiting is reasonable.  This asymmetry can be corrected or improved substantially in the office setting generally under local anesthesia.

Areolas Are Now Different Sizes

Answers (10)