Bump on areola incision. Not sure what it is or where to go (Photo)

The pictures you sent in to RealSelf would indicate you have either a stitch abscess (indicated by the inflammation you refer to) or a knot from a permanent suture in the perioareolar Benelli stitch.Since you have what appears to be a single scar all the way around your areola and you refer to the surgery as a lift, I'm going to make the reasonable assumption that you had a circumareolar mastopexy also known as the Benelli mastopexy.  If you were my patient, I would contact the administrator at the location where you had your surgery.  They are, by law or statute, required to keep copies of surgical procedures that were done at their facility.  Once, I had a copy of the procedure, I could determine what type of sutures your primary plastic surgeon used and the location of the knot in the permanent suture keeping your lift intact.  I personally always tie my permanent sutures at 12 o'clock.  Once armed with that information, I would be able to determine if this was a suture that could come out or needed to stay.  It is my regiment to remove these permanent sutures if they are a problem at 18 months and not before.  Early removal can lead to spreading of the areola or the circumareolar scar or both.  I recommend you find a Board Certified plastic surgeon with significant experience in Benelli mastopexies.  By significant, I mean a surgeon who has performed at least 30 of these procedures and at least a couple redos. 

Hello!You should check back with your surgeon on this one. It is possible that a permanent suture was used to tighten the skin around the areolar and reduce the areolar size. This bump may be the suture knot.Good luck!

In all likelihood, this is a stitch trying to work its way out. Call your surgeon and see if he or she has reciprocal privileges with another doctor in your area who could remove the stitch. It will speed up your healing process. Best, Dr. Nazarian