Can Breast Augmentation Cause the Nipples to Flatten?

Hello Gail,

It appears that your surgeon used a periareolar incision to place the breast implants and give you a minor breast lift.  When you tighten around the nipple, it can flatten.  However, the tissues are tight and with time will relax.  This may cause them to unflatten a bit.  Give it time to see what happens.

Good luck,

Dr. Shah

Yes it can. In breast augmentation, nipples get flatten as a result of the type of incisions or probably due to the fact that they are stretched out with the placement of the breast implants but with time, the nipples will eventually turn out okay, it is only a matter of time and shouldn’t be a serious concern.

Part of the reason that your nipples are flatter are because they are stretched out with the placement of the breast implants. The incisions around your areolae can also affect this. Finally, it appears that you might have had a peri-areolar lift which could further stretch the skin out.

Early on the breast implant will stress the skin envelope of the breast and the nipple will stretch and lack the erectness before implants. Your implants appear slightly high and hopefully will settle into to a point of projection at the level of the nipple. As the skin relaxes the nipple will again be softer the have the necessary give to become erect with cold or stimulation.

Best of luck,

peterejohnsonmd

Thank you for the question.

If you had a circumareolar  breast lift in combination with your breast augmentation  then some flattening of the nipple areola complex and breast profile is commonly  seen.  This flattening of the breast profile is a downside of the incision around the areola which serves to “pursestring"  the tissues.

Unfortunately, only time will tell if it will be an improvement in the situation.

Best wishes.