How to keep areola from stretching back out? (Photo)

Some surgeon use a permanent suture to help prevent widening of the areola after a breast lift but this can cause problems. Other options include a Strattice or SERI donut under the skin. Find a link to an article on this below.

Hello,You will need a full mastopexy to achieve permanent areolar reduction.  Don't be fooled into thinking that doing the same thing again will have a different outcome. A formal mastopexy will redistribute the forces away from the areola so that it maintains its shape and size. Additionally, the redistribution of forces will result in a finer scar. You cannot compare your situation with other women having augmentation. Visit a few cosmetic breast surgery experts who are both certified by the ABPS and members of the ASAPS.Best of luck!

At this point, you really need to research board certified plastic surgeons and determine who has performed thousands of breast procedures, has many before and after pictures, and hundreds of reviews.Kenneth Hughes, MDBeverly Hills, CA

Thank you for your question regarding circle lifting.   Having done over 1000 of these procedures, I try to counsel patients why the procedure can work great, and how it can offer more limited results.The Benelli Mastopexy is best performed, in my opinion, with smaller breasts which do not have much weight or vertical drop.  One can easily left the nipple an inch or so, but if the breast is heavy and long, the areola becomes more elongated and enlarged.  Generally, after a single revision, it is unusual to have significant improvement if permanent sutures are used to stabilize the areolar diameter and the doctor is talented at doing the procedure.The reason the areola stretches back out is tension.  The lift removed excess skin and the breast was closed with the nipple in a higher position using a circular closure.  Even if a permanent suture is used, the breast weight and skin tension can often pull the areola back out to some degree.Check with the doctor that the sutures used were permanent.  If so, based on your photos, you will likely achieve an uplifted look and smaller areola with a vertical type lift.Best wishes!

The reason the areola stretch is there is too much tension on the skin. Skin has the property to respond to stress by stretch (reason why when people get pregnant or gain weight the skin stretches). In order to avoid the tension on the skin of the areola, you may consider a breast lift to spread the tension over a larger area decreasing the overall stress on the areola. I wouldn't continue performing the same procedure which has failed several times. If you are otherwise happy with your breasts, consider leaving the areola alone. Most women have asymmetric breasts and the risk of surgery and scars may not justify your quest for perfection.  

I appreciate your question.I have done many Nipple procedures and am a Breast Specialist.   I would use a permanent suture to control the size of the areola .  I've had a lot of success with this long term.The best way to assess and give true advice would be an in-person exam.Please see a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in aesthetic and restorative breast surgery.Best of luck!Dr. Schwartz

I think you will have to consider a full mastopexy (or even modified) to achieve the results you wish.  If your breast size doesn't grow then your areola size should maintain its size.  Seek in person consultation with Board Certified Plastic Surgeons who perform a lot of lifts.

usually do not have issues with areola stretching out... as that problem appears to be unique to the Benelli lift.  If you have been having repeated circumareolar lifts, its time to  have the lollipop lift and accept the vertical scar that comes with it.  In our training, when plan A doesn't work, make sure plan B is not plan A again.

Hello Lavieenrose4 and thank you for your question. Two lifting techniques that are very good ones in the right
patient and I use are based on the following:1) if it is mainly the nipple position that needs lifting, I like the
circumareolar approach (also called a donut lift)
vs
2) if a large portion of the breast tissue/weight needs to be lifted, a
circumvertical (lollipop lift) and sometimes a full anchor incision is needed. The
circumareolar approach in my mind is not strong enough to hold the weight of
the breast and results in stretching of the areola and drooping over time.
In your case, looking at your photos, your right breast (the one on the left of the picture) appears to have not just an enlarged areola and lower position, but greater than 30% of your breast volume is also saggy; when you do a lift going just around the areola, there is too much weight for the areola to handle when you have this much breast tissue for it to hold up. This will cause stretching of the areola over time, and if plan A fails and you do plan A again, you can expect the same results.  The shaping and longevity with a lollipop lift (which is probably what you need) usually outweighs the risk of extra scarring.  There are some people who may recommend acellular dermal matrices and
other fancy products to help with your lift, but in my experience,
proper shaping and control of the breast tissue is sufficient to get you
the results you desire, and will save you significant money. I would make sure to go to a board certified plastic surgeon with expertise in aesthetic breast surgery who is not afraid to do a more aggressive lift when it is needed.  I hope this helps you and please don't hesitate
to contact us if we can further answer any questions or concerns that
you may have.Sincerely, Dr. Sean Kelishadi@sskplasticsurg on Instagram

Reducing the size of an areola is a relatively simple procedure, but controlling its size and keeping the areola from stretching out over time can be very difficult. This is affected by a number of factors including the procedure performed, suture material, suture technique, breast size and shape, post-op dressing/care, and skin quality. The most important thing is tension. By minimalizing tension on the edges of the areola, there is less tendency for the tissue to stretch over time. This can be done by using non-absorbable sutures, wearing post-op dressings/support for longer periods of time, and by making the areola even smaller in the anticipation that there will be some stretching. Regardless, it is difficult to predict exactly how much you will naturally stretch over time. Kind in mind, no two breasts are exactly alike and it is natural for one areola to be different than the other.