Breast augmentations and breast lifts are among the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures in the nation; but many women don’t realize how much the nipple and surrounding dark area (the areola) around the nipple can affect the look of the overall breast. Thus more and more people are opting for nipple or areola correction surgery (also known as Areola mastopexy), a reconstructive surgery to correct aesthetic problems by changing the shape and size of the nipple.
Nipple correction can give your breasts a whole new look, without having to undergo extensive surgery. In fact, the procedure is an in-office procedure, only requires local anesthesia, and no downtime. Nipple correction is most often done in conjunction with other breast enhancement procedures.
Patients who seek reconstructive surgery on their nipples are often unsatisfied with an areola that is too large, of unusual shape, or one that protrudes out. For patients such as these, nipple reduction or nipple prominence reduction would be recommended. This is a procedure that involves telescoping the nipple to make it look less prominent in clothing, without affecting nipple sensation or the ability to breastfeed.
Some women wish to correct the “stretched” look of their nipples caused by a condition known as ptosis, or the stretching of breast skin, loss of breast fullness, and the subsequent downward projection of the nipple. This can often be corrected by a donut mastoplexy, which involves the removal of a donut-shaped piece of tissue around the areola, resulting in a flatter, rounder breast and nipple shape.
Others opt for a lifting surgical technique, also called a crescent mastoplexy, where the nipple is elevated on the breast to make breasts appear perkier or more lifted without undergoing a breast lift procedure. This procedure involves excising a crescent-shaped piece of excess skin from above the nipple, allowing the nipple to be lifted and repositioned.
Others come in to correct a fairly common condition called an inverted nipple or a cosmetic deformity in which the nipple is retracted into the breast tissue instead of pointing outward. There are three grades of inverted nipples, rising in severity, and the inversion can be present in one or both breasts.
Whatever aesthetic feature you wish to correct, it is important to acknowledge the variety of options available to cosmetic surgery patients. While breast lift and breast augmentation procedures are the still the most realistic options for enhancing the look of the breasts, nipple revision surgery may be a viable option for a select few.
Consult with Dr. Whiteman at Southern Plastic Surgery to discover which option will be the best for your breast enhancement needs.