I had a breast lift and augmentation almost 5 months ago. Within the past 2 months my nipples have become overally sensitive. Also, I've noticed that the areola has faded in color immensely. Mainly in one more than the other. Any advise or info is greatly appreciated.
July 26, 2014
Answer: Nipple hypersensitivity and areola color change 5 months post-op breast lift plus implants. After any sort of breast surgery, but somewhat more often following breast lift plus implants, disrupted, irritated, or partially-damaged nerve endings are now finally healed enough to again send sensory impulses, which are perceived as "too much" particularly after a long period of diminished or absent sensation. This is entirely normal and will subside as time goes by. There is really nothing to do for this other than be patient, or you can do what La Leche advisor-mothers tell breast feeding mothers with painful nipples to do--rub, roll, or otherwise over-stimulate your tender nipples, which will gradually desensitize your brain's response to the painful stimulus. Time will do this without the painful hyper-stimulation, so I offer it for what it's worth: perhaps nothing, but at least something you can actively do besides impatiently wait.As far as areola color, unless there was circulation impairment (ischemia) after surgery causing skin loss and patchy hypo-pigmentation during healing, the melanocytes present in an areola healing normally are still present. But the areola can stretch as scars soften and mature, causing the apparent density of melanocytes per unit area to diminish (same number of pigment cells in a somewhat larger stretched area), making the appearance lighter. As both areolas heal and catch up to each other, this too should essentially vanish as a concern.If after 12 months you still have concerns, you can ask your surgeon or a Dermatologist about options regarding color. Notice I did not say tattoo artist, as this is an option that usually ends up with worse mismatch than you started with. We learned this from breast and areola reconstruction after cancer surgery.If these two concerns are all you are worried about at this point in time, good for you! That means you had successful surgery and what sounds like an outstanding result. These two things should self-resolve! Best wishes! Dr. Tholen
Helpful
July 26, 2014
Answer: Nipple hypersensitivity and areola color change 5 months post-op breast lift plus implants. After any sort of breast surgery, but somewhat more often following breast lift plus implants, disrupted, irritated, or partially-damaged nerve endings are now finally healed enough to again send sensory impulses, which are perceived as "too much" particularly after a long period of diminished or absent sensation. This is entirely normal and will subside as time goes by. There is really nothing to do for this other than be patient, or you can do what La Leche advisor-mothers tell breast feeding mothers with painful nipples to do--rub, roll, or otherwise over-stimulate your tender nipples, which will gradually desensitize your brain's response to the painful stimulus. Time will do this without the painful hyper-stimulation, so I offer it for what it's worth: perhaps nothing, but at least something you can actively do besides impatiently wait.As far as areola color, unless there was circulation impairment (ischemia) after surgery causing skin loss and patchy hypo-pigmentation during healing, the melanocytes present in an areola healing normally are still present. But the areola can stretch as scars soften and mature, causing the apparent density of melanocytes per unit area to diminish (same number of pigment cells in a somewhat larger stretched area), making the appearance lighter. As both areolas heal and catch up to each other, this too should essentially vanish as a concern.If after 12 months you still have concerns, you can ask your surgeon or a Dermatologist about options regarding color. Notice I did not say tattoo artist, as this is an option that usually ends up with worse mismatch than you started with. We learned this from breast and areola reconstruction after cancer surgery.If these two concerns are all you are worried about at this point in time, good for you! That means you had successful surgery and what sounds like an outstanding result. These two things should self-resolve! Best wishes! Dr. Tholen
Helpful
July 21, 2014
Answer: Nipple sensitivity and areolas fading five months post-op. Any advice or info about the cause would be greatly Best path is obtains a few in person evaluations from only boarded Plastic Surgeons in South Florida. I think the increased sensitivity will self correct over the next few months. But the color fading is hard to identify over the internet...
Helpful
July 21, 2014
Answer: Nipple sensitivity and areolas fading five months post-op. Any advice or info about the cause would be greatly Best path is obtains a few in person evaluations from only boarded Plastic Surgeons in South Florida. I think the increased sensitivity will self correct over the next few months. But the color fading is hard to identify over the internet...
Helpful
