Can Breastfeeding Cause the Areola to Change Shape?

Thanks for the question - You're correct that being pregnant can cause your breasts to enlarge. This can put significant stretch on the Cooper's ligaments (the major supporting elements of the breasts) and the skin. These changes of shape can include the areola. This typically can lead to areolas that are larger than pre-pregnancy. Hormonal changes can also lead to darkening of the areola which can be permanent. I hope this helps.

Breast feeding and pregnancy typically change the size and shape of the areola as well as the nipples and breast.

Size, color, and shape of the areola can all be changed during pregnancy and breast feeding.  Most plastic surgeons would wait 3 to 6 months after breast feeding to do anything surgically to address the issues. 

Always best to see your board certified plastic surgeon and together come up with a plan to meet your goals.

Many of the hormones released during pregnancy cause the areola to darken and enlarge. Some people believe this is an evolutionary adaptation that allows the baby to identify and latch on to the nipple. I don't have the article handy but I recall being told that the average areola prior to pregnancy measures approximately 35mm in diameter whereas it measures 42mm afterwards.

Contrary to popular belief, breast feeding does not significantly alter your breast or areolar size/shape. It's pregnancy itself that can alter breast size and shape, this includes the areolas. Once you're done having children, it's appropriate to consider an areolar reduction or mastopexy to restore your breast shape to your pre-pregnancy condition. Some patients also need breast implants to achieve the look they desire as pregnancy and breast feeding can cause loss of volume/size of their breasts.

Hello, thank you for your question. Pregnancy and childbirth cause many changes in a woman's body. Breastfeeding causes many changes in your breasts. Changes to the nipples happen during pregnancy - you may notice that they are larger and darker. If you are breastfeeding or pumping, the suction of the baby's mouth or your pump will cause your nipples to become larger and longer, the areolae may be more puffy and larger than before with irregular borders and darker coloring. Once you are finished breastfeed your nipples most likely will not be the same as pre-pregnancy, They have sustained prolonged and repeated trauma. - Dr. Leong

You're absolutely right that breastfeeding can change the areola and nipple shape.

This is because the suction on the nipple and the brown area around it (areola) can cause some distortion of the nipple and also when the breast volume decreases this again can cause alterations in both breast shape and nipple and areola appearance.

If you are considering treatment for this it would be sensible to complete your family so that if you do have a procedure the changes bottom by breastfeeding will not cause further disruption to your nipple area.

I wish you the best of luck if you do decide to go ahead with any treatment.

Best wishes yours sincerely,

Adrian Richards

Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon

Surgical Director of Aurora Clinics

 

A woman's body undergoes significant changes after pregnancy and breast-feeding. Many women find that their breasts are somewhat empty and may have stretch marks after pregnancy and breast-feeding. This is very common. It is also common for a woman to notice changes in the position and shape of the nipple and areola. A woman should wait at least for six months after finishing breast-feeding before considering breast surgery at that time, an evaluation by a board-certified plastic surgeon is the first important step. Your surgeon may recommend a small breast lift that can include an incision around the areola. At the same time as the lift, the size or shape of the areola may also be adjusted.

It is not the breast feeding per se that causes areolar stretching - it is the pregnancy and the hormonally mediated breast enlargement that cause it.
Once breast feeding stops and the breast achieves its new dimensions you will need to decide if you are happy with the shape, size and location of the breasts. If not - a Breast Lift (Mastopexy) can BOTH reduce and make the areola perfectly round while lifting the breasts and making them perkier.

Breast feeding can certainly change the appearance of the areola and the shape of the breast. Once you stop breast feeding, the breast volume and perhaps the shape of the areola should change again.