What Can I Do About my Puffy Nipples? (photo)

Question

I am an 18 year old male living with puffy nipples that protrude about an inch. I first remember them when I was around 14, so I assume it has something to do with the hormonal changes of puberty. I am 6'1" and 158 lb., and there is no fat on my breast. My pectoral muscle is very firm and looks normal. Is surgery my the option to get the gland reduced? In the US about how much should it cost? I guess I will need to confront my parents for the money, because I doubt insurance will cover it.

Michael Constantin Gartner, DO · Answer

The puffiness of your nipples can be reduced by targeting the tissue that is adding bulk to the area. This would most likely require excision and it can range greatly in price depending on where you are.

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Puffy nipples can be reduced by removing extra breast tissue directly below the areola and nipple. It is oftne done under local anesthesia as an office procedure.

David J. Levens, MD · Answer

You have a common minor amount of gynecomastia. It appears that your condition is mostly due to a small amount of firm glandular breast tissue just beneath the areola (the pigmented area with the nipple at its center). This causes an embarrassing stretching and protrusion.  It is easily corrected with a  minor surgery to remove the excess tissue through a small incision just at the lower border of the areola. 

	 Insurance does not cover the procedure as there is no medical indication.  Consult with a plastic surgeon to discuss specifics including costs.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Surgery will help with the glandular component. Sometimes liposuction alone will help remove the gland, and sometimes a small incision under the areola is necessary. Find a plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of chest and body contouring procedures each year. Then look at the plastic surgeon's website before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can deliver the results. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Babak Dadvand, MD · Answer

Hi MrPatrick,Thanks for the post and photos. Puffy nipples is a common form of gynecomastia and has a very high success rate with surgery. There is no other non-surgical method that will treat your type of gynecomastia. The cost of the procedure differs based on location and surgeon's experience.Sincerely,Dr. Dadvand

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD · Answer

The condition that you are describing is a classic typcial gynecomastia. It usually presents as a young adolescent male, possibly a little over weight. As you mature in to your late teens early 20's and the weight comes down the breasts stay the same. There is no non-surgical method to correct this problem. Liposuction is occasionally helpful but if there is any breast tissue under the areola a subcutaneous mastecomy is required. A full examination is needed to give you more information as to which treatment will be effective. It does no good to try to liposuction breast tissue as it will not aspirate.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.
	Gynecomastia comes from the Greek meaning "gyne" meaning woman and  "mastos"  meaning breasts.  It refers to abnormal development of large mammary glands in males.  The diagnosis can be made by physical examination where relatively firm tissue  (breast gland tissue) can be differentiated from relatively soft tissue (adipose tissue).
	Breast prominence due to excessive adipose tissue is called pseudo-gynecomastia or lipomastia.  The differentiation of true  gynecomastia  from adipose tissue is important because the surgical treatment may differ. Usually  physical examination by a well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon is sufficient to make the diagnosis  and to determine the best course of treatment.
	I have found that gynecomastia is often best treated with  partial excision of the prominent glandular tissue  as well as liposuction surgery of the peripheral chest area.  If the prominence of the chest wall is caused by adipose tissue, then liposculpture surgery alone may suffice.
	I would strongly suggest that you make sure you are working with a well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon. You will find that this recommendation will be more important than any specific “miracle technology” that you will undoubtedly hear about.  
	I hope this helps.

George J. Beraka, MD (retired) · Answer

Hi.

	You look like a good candidate for surgery.  As you say the problem is just in your nipples.  They need to be made flat and a little smaller.

Sherwood Baxt, MD (retired) · Answer

from the picture and the story this appears to be the standard variety of gynecomastia  and it can be treated through a tiny incision in the axilla using both a small amount of liposuction and a specialized instrument to grind up the dense gland tissue and then suction it out through the same small incision. Rarely any insurance help with it.

What Can I Do About my Puffy Nipples? (photo)

Answers (9)

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