Nipple + Areola Too High After Breast Augmentation with Lift

There are two likely reasons why your nipples and areolar are now too high.  First, they may have been placed too high during your initial procedure.  Second, your implants may have "bottomed out" causing your nipples to rise.   Frequently, when implants become malpositioned, the nipple and areola tend to become displaced in the opposite direction.  The solution to your problem obviously depends on the cause.  If the nipples were placed to high initially and your implants are otherwise well positioned, there are not many options available to fix the issue.  Some authors have recommended expanding the superior poll, but this may be  costly and involve multiple operations.  If the problem is the position of the implant, repositioning the implant may correct the issue.  There are a variety of techniques available to reposition implants.  The best judge as to how your problem can be fixed will likely be a local board certified plastic surgeon.  Lastly, the areola can stretch out after a augmentation mastopexy if a buried permanent suture is not used as a preventative measure. 

There may be one of two possible problems:  One possibility is that your implants have descended or moved downward on your chest relative to the breast.  If this is the case, treatment consists of elevating your inframammary fold (i.e. the crease underneath the breast) with sutures or possibly additional skin resection with a revision mastopexy. 

The other possibility is that your nipple-areola complex is truly too high on your breast.  The second scenario would also require revision breast surgery, possibly with breast tissue expanders.

Best wishes,

Jaime Perez M.D.

Correcting nipple position after any breast surgery can be a difficult procedure.  But it can be done and sometimes not with significant scarring.  The reason for high nipples will help determine what needs to be done.  This reason can be nipple related or implant related. 

1) The nipple position may have been placed in a high position at the initial surgery.  If this is the case, some of the skin below the nipple may need to be removed with new scars placed.  Also, depending on how far the nipple has to move, scars may be needed above the nipple.

2) Sometimes, the implant can be placed too low or drop over time.  This situation can be fixed by repositioning the implant.  Unfortunately, the procedure is not as simple as putting the implant in a new position as it has to stay there.  It can be done, but it is technically difficult and sometimes there will be recurrence of the original problem.