Is it normal to have air filled in the areola and nipple puffy and stuck out? (photos)

Question

I had a donut lift 5 weeks ago with 600cc implant under the muscle, but I found my both nipples are stuck out and the areola are very puffy with a lot of air inside, plus I can feel there a hard rings under the incision area of the areola, are this symptoms normal? Thanks

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS · Answer

Your surgeon has done a nice job of accurately suturing your periareolar lift, and the firmness you feel is indeed the purse-string suture that is used to tighten up the outer circle circumference of the donut lift to the smaller circumference of the areola. This typically gets better as time goes by, but may not completely "go away." This is an inherent disadvantage of this type of breast lift, which does not really "lift" much at all. But perhaps you wished for smaller areolas, and this was an appropriate option.The swelling you perceive as "air" is simply soft tissue swelling. There is no air here, and the degree of puffiness will diminish as tissue swelling resolves during the healing process.Other than the areolas not being concentrically cut with the nipples centered, this appears to be an excellent early result. Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

Jose Perez-Gurri, MD, FACS · Answer

Relax. The swelling of the niple/areola is absolutely normal. There is no time limit for it to resolve. Some patients go back to norma sooner than others. They should get better with each passing week. As far as the "ring" I agrre with others in that you are probably feeling the permanent "purse string" suture that was resposible for bringing the tissue together. Good luck

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

Thank you for your pictures. This seems to be fairly typical at this point. The areola probably still has a lot of swelling that will resolve over the next several weeks. The firm is around the outside of your areola probably represents a permanent stitch that will hey the diameter of the areola to prevent it from widening.

Matthew Schulman, MD · Answer

It looks like there is a size mismatch between your areolas and the circumareolar lift. This may improve as swelling goes down  but I suspect you may need a revision and areolar reduction.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

It is quite common for them to be a bit puffy at 5 weeks. That is due to swelling. The ring you might be feeling is the permanent suture that keeps the areola from spreading.  If concerned talk to your surgeon.

Is it normal to have air filled in the areola and nipple puffy and stuck out? (photos)

Answers (6)

Answer: Areolar size mismatch

Answer: Areolar size mismatch

Answer: CIrcumareola lift with implants

Answer: CIrcumareola lift with implants

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Everything you need to know about Breast Lift with Implants

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Is it normal to have air filled in the areola and nipple puffy and stuck out? (photos)

Answers (6)

Answer: Areolar size mismatch

Answer: Areolar size mismatch

Answer: CIrcumareola lift with implants

Answer: CIrcumareola lift with implants

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Lift with Implants

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