Areola reduction permanent suture?

Dear Adventurous957116,
if you get permanent sutures, they will stay inside the tissue until they dissolve. Your areola shape should not change between 3 and 6 months. . If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

There is no simple answer to your question. Permanent sutures can have long-term problems such as extrusion and infection but are better at preventing re-expansion of the areolar diameter. Dissolving sutures avoid these issues but the timeline is not as precise as 3 or 6 months. My personal preference is to use dissolving sutures, but with a little bit of over-correction so that when it dissolves after a few months it won't be too much.

If the areola alone is reduced and not moved in to another skin position, then permanent suture is indicated so the skin tension will not result in a later areola enlargement. I would not rely on a slowly absorbed suture (6 mos rated) to do the job.

If the areola is reduced as part of a mastopexy (breast lift) and a new opening is created then permanent suture is not indicated.

All the Best,

Dr J

The permanent suture always holds better than the 3 or 6 month stitch, however, the permanent may become an issue at a later date and need to be removed.