Already had bottom pole tightened - Can the areola complex be lowered after being placed too high? (photos)

Question

First my Dr. is amazing! But I just can’t get used to my nipples being so high! We did the skin tightening underneath and yet I think they still sit high. If i want to show any cleavage i really can’t cause the top of the areol sits right there. There’s zero boob on top to be pushed up if that makes sense cause the areola is just there. Is there anything that can lower the areola complex? I know about scarring but i don’t know what else to do. I love the feel of them just want the nipples lower.

Kaveh Alizadeh, MD, MSc, FACS · Answer

HI Tokit1892,
It is not uncommon to see the nipples pointing up once the bottom pole of the breast has been stretched out after breast lift surgery. It is very important to provide internal lower pole support for the breast tissue to help prevent this phenomenon. In your case you have two options: Either place an implant to fill up the upper pole or shorten the lower pole in order to bring the nipples down. At Cosmoplastic Surgery, we have used the "Naturabra" technique that allows for your own breast tissue to act as an internal bra that supports the lifted breast. We just reported our results of the past 18 years of over 700 breast lift cases at the 100th anniversary meeting of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons in San Diego in April 2022.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Tokit1892,
breast revision surgery is the most difficult plastic surgery procedure performed. Botched breast surgery alters normal tissue planes and laxity, the ability of breasts to heal properly, and leaves scar tissue that dramatically affects the level of difficulty of the corrective surgery.Many patients come in to correct poor outcomes from their initial surgeries. The most common problems are due to implant malposition, bottoming out of the implant, poor scarring, and incorrect implant size.While the type of revision required will depend on the result of the previous surgery and the desired result of the patient, some revisions involve extensive pocket repair that may or may not need specialized external bras.If you are considering breast surgery revision, you should speak with a board certified plastic surgeon and have yourself properly assessed. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations. Also, you have to make sure that your surgeon understands your breast augmentation goals.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

You still have too much lower breast tissue present. This can be removed again or try to be moved up.  The nipples should stay where they are.

Douglas Taranow, DO, FACOS · Answer

You would do very well with an aggressive revision mastopexy.  The breasts would be rounder, more upper pole fullness and the nipple/areolas more centrally located. 
Dr. Taranow

Jose A. Munoz, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hi and welcome to our forum!From your photos, I note that your nipples ride high on the breast mounds. The distance from the top of the breast bone to the nipples appears normal (equilateral triangle with the top of the breast bone) , but the distance from the nipples to the fold beneath the breasts is increased. It appears that you have a dropout of your breast tissue below the nipple areolar complexes and you have lost superior pole breast volume as a result. You may be a candidate for a tertiary infraareolar mastopexy revision to further tighten the lower pole in both vertical and horizontal directions. Lowering the nipple areolar complex will potentially result in significant unfavorable scarring.Revisit your plastic surgeon for evaluation and discussion.Best wishes...

Already had bottom pole tightened - Can the areola complex be lowered after being placed too high? (photos)

Answers (5)

Answer: Revision breast procedure.

Answer: Revision breast procedure.

Answer: Candidacy for tertiary mastopexy?

Answer: Candidacy for tertiary mastopexy?

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Everything you need to know about Breast Lift

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Already had bottom pole tightened - Can the areola complex be lowered after being placed too high? (photos)

Answers (5)

Answer: Revision breast procedure.

Answer: Revision breast procedure.

Answer: Candidacy for tertiary mastopexy?

Answer: Candidacy for tertiary mastopexy?

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Lift

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