Why is my Areola So Large?

Hi Bubble popI am sorry you are having such concerns. The size of areolas can be different and varied. It can sometimes take up more of the breast than the breast skin itself. This can be secondary to pregnancy or weight gain/loss but it can also be something that you are born with. This obviously would only become apparent during/ after puberty once the breasts start to grow and increase in size. There are surgical procedures available to reduce the size of the areola and mos to f these can be done under local anaesthetic. You would need to wait until you are 18 before you could undertake any cosmetic surgery for this. It is unlikely that this would be available under the NHS current guidelines for breast surgery as this would not be leaving you with a functional problem.Just remember, that what you have is totally normal. It is not a cancer and there is no 'normal size' as such. If you would like to have the areola reduced, then this can be done in the future. Once you become pregnant, your breast size can change and increase in size. This will also increase the size of the areolas at this time as well as darken their colour. Therefore, you might want to bear this in mind prior to embarking on any surgical route.I hope this is helpful for you.Kind regards Rohit SethPlastic, reconstructive, aesthetic and hair transplant surgery

Your breasts are still developing, and will continue to do so for a few years. During this time, your breasts will most likely change in shape and size.
Large areolae are very common and are not typically indicative of a medical condition. However, if you’re particularly concerned please speak with your family doctor.

Thank you for your question.  I agree with my colleagues.  The enlarged areolar size is normal and nothing to worry about health-wise from your description.  As the breast grows with maturity, the areolae (or areolas) in some women will grow (diameter-wise) and "expand" with the growing breast.  This is something that potentially can be aesthetically addressed after final breast growth stops, usually after the age of 18.  I would recommend seeking consultation with one or several board-certified plastic surgeons at that time to see what your options are at that time.  Good luck!

Having areolas on the larger side when you have larger breasts is normal. A 36C at age 14 for natural breasts is quite full,  so again, it is normal for you to have wider areolas. Also areolar size is hereditary, and the sizes can vary from very narrow to very wide  with small or large breasts. Lastly, to clear up a misconception, having children can widen areolas in some women, but not an everyone. 
Since you did not provide a picture, I can only speak in generalizations.  There is a category where the areolas may appear large and “puffy” and usually this is a feature of a “tuberous breast”. This type of breast has specific features of the breast itself and not just the areola. Since you did not describe anything about that, I can only assume that your breasts are perfectly normal looking.  You may still grow for the next couple of years and I advise that you not worry about it at this point. 
If you are still concerned, or the size or shape of your breasts bothers you, I suggest you have a parent take you to see a board-certified plastic surgeon for an assessment and some reassurance,  although your family physician or OB/GYN would be fine as well. 

Hello and thank you for your question. It sounds like this is causing you some distress. Rest assured that large areolas are something very common amongst women. You are still very young and things are still changing in your body. Just know that if this is something that continues to bother you there is something that can be done about it. You just need to wait until you get to a point when your body is done changing/growing. At that point you can have a areola reduction surgery. I hope this helps and hang in there!Ankur Mehta MD

They are many normal anatomic variations which can demonstrated across the whole of the body. Areolar size will vary from person to person and breast to breast. The first thing to understand is that you are normal and more importantly unique. I would not be concerned about anything pathological. Additionally, you should expect further changes as you develop. Many girls will continue to experience changes in breast development into their early 20's. Thus what concerns you now is likely to change before your development is complete.There are surgical options for areolar reduction, however, I would encourage patience as you continue to develop.As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

There is tremendous variation in areolar diameter among women. In most cases, large areolar diameter is just an expression of this variation, and it is not associated with any particular syndrome.  It is not associated with an increased risk of cancer.  Sometimes disproportionately large areolae are associated with a condition called "tuberous breasts",  which also manifests other abnormalities of breast shape.  Tuberous breasts can be corrected surgically, but at 14 years of age, your breasts may not have finished growing, and so you would be well advised to wait a few more years until breast development has stopped before seeking surgery.  When you are old enough for surgery to be an option, a variation of some form of circumareolar mastopexy can be performed to reduce  your areolar diameter to a range that is more comfortable for you.  

Thank you for sharing your concerns. Having a large areola at 14 or before pregnancy, is quite normal and does NOT mean you have cancer. In fact, the female breast and the nipple areola complex,  can change size throughout our lives and this change is normal. Many young females have the most changes until they reach 20 to 22 years of age and then many more changes occur throughout our lives typically with weight changes and hormone changes (puberty, pregnancy, nursing, menopause). If you are still concerned when you are a little older (18-22) I recommend you seek the advice of a ABMS certified Plastic Surgeon.

 Thanks much for reaching out. It is quite normal for areolas to come in different shapes and sizes. I would not be concerned about the health risks. However when you  stop growing you can seek out aerola reduction surgery. Be sure to seek out a board certified plastic surgeon and a breast specialist to get the best plan for treatment.  I hope this helps :-) 

Hi BubblepopThe size of areolas can be vastly different and do not necessarily mean there is a problem. The shape of the areola can be dependent on the the breast itself and sometimes a condition called tuberous breast can exist - whereby the overall shape of the breast is constricted at its base and causes the breast tissue to herniate through the areola - this can lead to the appearance of a much larger areola.The areola as you rightly insinuated can change during pregancy - become darker and stretch due to the increase in size of the breasts during pregnancy. This can also be the case on excessive gaining of weight and subsequent loss of weight. It is not a cancerous process and everyone has different breast shapes and sizes. Is there anything that can be done - at the age you were when you posted this - it would have been advisable to wait until you had finished growing. At the stage you are currently at, you may have finished growing and the areola size is actually in keeping with the overall shape of your breast. (You may have also already had surgery!) The nature of the surgery will really be determined by the extent of the areola on the breast and the overall breast size and shape. This will determine whether you would need a straightforward areolar reduction with a scar placement within the areolar area - or the addition of a vertical scar on the lower aspect if the areolar is quite large in the vertial plane. The other option might be that a breast reduction or uplift is required which would incorporate the areolar reduction at the same time as reducing or rebalancing the breast tissue volume.I hope this may help to relieve any anxieties you may still have Best wishes