Breast reduction pain at 7 months post-op. What is this? How do I fix how my nipple looks? (Photo)

Question

I'm 7 months post op. I had some nipple necrosis around my areola. I'm still having pain at my anchor scar. But what i worry about is the pain in the muscle under my breast and the hardness under my nipple which also hurts. What is the hardness and why am i still having so much pain. And how do i fix how my nipple looks

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

The hardness is from fat necrosis in the tissue that did not get enough blood flow after the reduction. Unfortunately, this is a risk of a breast reduction. If the hard areas can be removed or reduced, you should have much less discomfort in that area. You also may have some fat necrosis near your muscle.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

I encourage you to return to your surgeon for an evaluation.  The pain could be related to many things such as a hypersensitized nerve, a suture abscess or a number of other things.  An evaluation is needed to narrow down the cause.  You can consider further revision to the nipple but it is best to wait until a year or more after your procedure.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

If you developed tissue necrosis after breast reduction, then you may have prolonged inflammation and swelling after surgery. 
There is no yes or no answer to your question.
No one is going to be able to give you a definitive explanation. Why you’re having pain, what the ideology is or how it can be treated.
But we can tell you is that most patients go back to a baseline with enough time.
It’s also important to recognize that many women have breast pain as a natural baseline.
Improving the appearance of your nipple and areola maybe challenging if a lot of this is comprised of scar tissue.
Based on your picture, it looks like the tissues are still inflamed, and that this is still fairly early from a healing perspective.
Most patience have settled down to a baseline perception of postoperative changes by about 6 to 9 months.
This may take twice as long if you had complications after surgery.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD

Breast reduction pain at 7 months post-op. What is this? How do I fix how my nipple looks? (Photo)

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