Can I get my nipple pierced after Breast Augmentation? Are there any risks? How long would I have to wait to do it?

This is a fairly common question. Since your breast ducts end at the nipple, and your ducts are filled with bacteria, you would not want to cause any bacteria to enter your not-yet-healed breast augmentation implant pocket(s).You wisely understand that 3 weeks is definitely too early. I usually recommend waiting at least 3 months, especially since piercing is elective. Your nipple may have regained sensation by then, but you could bring your nipple jewelry to your plastic surgeon and have him/her do this under aseptic conditions with local anesthesia. If numbness persists, aseptic technique is still important, and local anesthesia may not be needed!Since you have subglandular implants, your breasts sit right on top of your implants, and any bacterial contamination could lead to capsular contracture requiring re-operation(s) or full infection leading to implant removal and later surgery to replace a new implant (2 operations and big cost).So, yes, waiting is a good idea, and since every consultant will have a slight different idea as to which length of time is the "minimal required for safety," ask your own surgeon, as it is s/he to whom you will go if there is a problem. This is also why it's a good idea to have your surgeon do the pierce, if s/he agrees. Waiting as long as possible is always a good idea. Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

In general, I recommend that my patients do not have nipple
piercings after breast augmentation surgery as this could potentially cause
issues with injuring the milk ducts and increase the risk of infection
somewhat. That being said, if this is a very important goal for patients, it is
certainly something they can do at their own discretion. I would advise that
patients wait at least a few months after their surgery before having the piercing
to minimize infection risks. If you have loss of sensation in one of your nipples,
it is likely to last for a few months and will probably reduce the discomfort
of having the nipples pierced. If the sensation comes back sooner than that, I
would still advise waiting to maximum overall safety.

Hi there, this is a great question. Please wait until you are healed before getting them pierced. With the piercing, you have more bacteria in the area which can increase the risk of infection and capsule formation. You can also review your questions with your surgeon. Hope this helps and wish you the best!

Thank you for your question. You can definitely have your nipples pierced after breast augmentation. I would recommend waiting at least three months to give everything time to heal fully. When considering breast augmentation make sure you find a board certified plastic surgeon who will take the time to answer all of your questions and explain all of your options, so that you can decide if breast augmentation is right for you.

At 3 weeks post-op, your
breasts are still in a recovery phase and need time to completely heal. If you
attempt to open a new wound, which is essentially what a piercing is, you run
the risk of infection and irritation. It's best to wait until you're fully
healed, which can take three months or longer, before you consider piercing
your nipple. At that time, consult with your surgeon to discuss potential risks
and to obtain a recommendation. It's better to make sure everything's in good
shape beforehand than it is to come back months later to try and correct an
issue caused by a new piercing.

The
number of women with nipple piercings seems to be increasing.We ocassionally see women who request nipple
piercings following breast augmentation surgery.Under these circumstances, safety should be
everyone’s first priority. For
this reason, nipple piercing should be delayed for at least 3 to 6 months
following breast augmentation.This
hopefully minimizes the potential for infections within the breast ductal
system.Infection following breast
augmentation is a devastating complication that can result in loss of breast
implants.If
you’re considering nipple piercings, consultation with your plastic surgeon is
appropriate.Your surgeon should be able
to address your concerns and determine an appropriate timeline.

I would recommend that you wait until all aspects of your postop recovery are complete, including breast implant settling, incision healing, and return of nipple sensation. Best, Dr. Karamanoukian

Hello! Thank you for your question!   You certainly can get piercing.  That person will discuss the risks of the procedure.  I would wait at least 6-12 weeks for swelling to resolve and allow adequate healing to take place prior to consideration for any procedure such as that.  Your symptoms sound like your
nerves regenerating. Breast procedures such as the
breast augmentation and breast lift/reduction certainly result in a more
shapely,
perky, and fuller appearance of your breasts. With any breast procedure
there is a risk, albeit very small, of change in
sensation to the area. The reported rate of sensation changes
(decreased, loss, or increased) is ~7% for lift/reductions and much
smaller for breast augmentation. In my experience, this rate is
reportedly much lower, but is higher when tissue is excised or the
amount of lift that is needed, so the breast reduction procedure has a
slightly greater risk. It can take up to a year for full sensation to
return. Re-educating your nerves to these areas by using different
textures when showering and putting on lotion often helps.It is one risk of such a procedure, and
one that you must consider, amongst others, as with any surgical
procedure. You should consult with a plastic surgeon well-trained in
breast procedures who will examine and discuss with you the various
risks and benefits of the procedure(s) and assist you in deciding if
such a procedure will be the right decision for you.

Hi Ch,Sorry you have some nipple numbness, but most commonly this resolves.  So good luck on this!  Keep your surgeon in the loop for when you can have a piercing.  I would give it many months to be safe, especially since the implant is right under your breast and not more protected under the muscle.  The ducts could interconnect around the implant and an infection could start.  All the best, "Dr. Joe"

So a couple points of advice to you. First, just so you know, most sensation changes resolve after breast augmentation.  I would review the operation and the approach with your surgeon to get his/her statistics on this and a safe timing to make this decision.  Second, do not pierce your body for at least six months.  I rarely recommend subglandular implant placement however I know my practice has mostly smaller breasted woman who are not candidates for subglandular augmentation.  Regardless I recommend at least six months before elective interventions on the body.  Piercing the nipple of the breast that has a subglandular implant I would approach with caution! Best Wishes!!