Should I have inverted nipple surgery redone? (photos)

Question

I had a procedure a few years back.... should I have it redone? It's effecting my self esteem. It goes completely flat.. to this form in the pictures .. and then comes completely out while cold or manipulated.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question and photographs.  It appears that you may be able to further improve upon your results with a revision procedure but the decision to pursue additional treatment is up to you as this is a very personal decision.

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

inverted nipple ; revision surgery.  doing the surgery again
inverted nipple ; revision surgery
The Naked Surgeon:

Plastic Surgery, The Naked Truth about Nipple Correction

To begin with, many women refer to the part of the breast with the Areola and Nipple as “The Nipple”.  Let’s discuss anatomy for a moment.  The nipple is the part that generally protrudes out from the center of what is actually the Areola.  The Areola is the larger pigmented, generally round area usually centered on the breast.  The pigment and shape can vary depending on ethnicity, genetics, pregnancy and so forth. The areola can be extremely pale and the edge hard to distinguish from the rest of the breast skin. On the other hand, it can be large, very dark and even elevated from the skin as a small “cap”.  There may also be small bumps on the areola called Montgomery tubercles.  These can enlarge with pregnancy, breast feeding or periods.

There are a variety of surgical and non-surgical treatments for each of these anatomic breast parts.  Nipple correction is often requested for correction of inversion, repair from piercings or traumatic injuries, reduction of an overly wide or projecting nipple or enlargement for nipples that are not projecting enough.

Areola correction is generally requested for areolas that are asymmetric, too large, or too projecting. Overly projecting areolas are commonly seen in patients who have a tuberous or tubular breast condition.

Most of these procedures can be done in the office under local anesthesia with minimal or no down time and quick healing. All of these procedures may interfere with breast feeding, or change and diminish sensation, so this must be considered by the patient before proceeding with a procedure.

These treatments can be found on our YouTube link   channel or Pacific Center for Plastic Surgery web site add link

Inverted Nipple Correction

This is a surprising common problem for women, seen in as many as 2% of adult females. This can be bilateral or may occur only on one side. This interferes with the ability to breast feed. It is also a source of embarrassment for many post-adolescent women especially with current trends in social media allowing the viewing of other women to be readily accessible.

For some women, the nipple can be pushed out or may come out naturally with cold as the Areola contracts. This can occur with adolescent breast development, after breast feeding, trauma or a growth in the breast tissue.

Surgical Correction of inverted nipples is also a simple operation for most women that can be done in the office as a brief procedure with local anesthesia.  It requires very small incisions that generally become invisible. Although the breast ducts are frequently affected by the surgery, we use techniques of duct sparing surgery that provides a greater chance to preserve some duct function and sensation. It is common to perform inverted nipple surgery at the same time as another breast operation such as breast augmentation, mastopexy, breast reduction or breast revision surgery.

Again, when deciding to have the surgery, our patients must accept the possibility that the ducts will not work and allow breast feeding. They will also have a high risk of diminished sensation.  That being said, the majority of our patients are overwhelmingly happy to have the correction of their nipples.

How long does the surgery take to perform?

Inverted nipple correction is a short procedure which usually takes about one hour for both sides as an outpatient surgery.

What type of anesthesia is used to correct my inverted nipples?

Most often, the operation will be done with topical and local anesthesia.  We offer Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) as well.  Patients may choose twilight or general anesthesia, but this is usually not necessary.

Non-surgical inverted nipple correction

This is  best accomplished with a device such as the Phillips AVENT Niplette. This is a device, shaped like a thimble that attaches to the nipple with a small amount of suction, pulling the nipple out of its inverted position.  We often recommend that patients use the Niplette before and after surgery to obtain the best result.

How much does inverted nipple correction cost in Newport Beach, Orange County , California

The average cost for this surgery of both sides of the breasts, including operation room, supplies and anesthesia is about $3-6000 dollars by most doctors, however, because of our experience, we can usually offer this to our patients in our office surgery center for less than $3000.00.

Gianfranco Frojo, MD · Answer

Sometimes a nipple piercing can solve this problem. Revisionary surgery may be more complicated than it seems. I would recommend seeing a board-certified or board-eligible plastic surgeon with aesthetic surgery training and experience to tackle this type of problem in a safe and efficient manner. Best of luck!

Phillip Chang, MD · Answer

Hi Xrahx

Although the procedure is relatively simple, you should take it easy for the first few weeks to enable optimal healing. Strenuous exercise should also be avoided during this time to help in the recovery process. 
After about 7 – 10 days, a follow-up appointment will be scheduled so Dr. Chang can check on your progress. Final results will occur in the months that follow. To learn more about this procedure, please visit our website.

Should I have inverted nipple surgery redone? (photos)

Answers (4)

Answer: Nipple Inversion Correction

Answer: Nipple Inversion Correction

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Inverted Nipple Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Should I have inverted nipple surgery redone? (photos)

Answers (4)

Answer: Nipple Inversion Correction

Answer: Nipple Inversion Correction

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Inverted Nipple Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.