Nipples and Areola Correction During Breast Reduction Surgery:
While much of the focus during breast reduction surgery is on the breast size and shape itself, the area of the nipple and areola are also affected by the surgery. Further, any dissatisfaction with nipple and areola shape or size can be corrected during breast reduction surgery, so it is important for patients to consider how surgery can affect that area of the breast, as well. Board certified breast specialists like Dr. Edward Kole pay special attention to how breast reduction surgery will impact the nipple and areola, and is skilled at fixing problems with the nipples and areola, which might include asymmetry of size, shape, and position, enlarged nipples, inverted nipples and the malposition and size discrepancy of the areolas. If the nipples are too large, uneven or inverted, the corrective nipple surgery adds little time to the overall surgical procedural time and should be performed at the same time as a breast reduction.
Correcting Large Nipples After A breast Reduction:
Often after a breast reduction, the size of the nipple appears disproportionately large compared to the newly-sized breast and the smaller areola. Additionally, the nipple may be positioned in a less-than-desirable placement. In order to correct the nipple’s position, Dr. Kole can carefully reposition the nipple and areola complex without severing connection to the body and can move it to a more aesthetically pleasing location preserving the nerves and blood vessels thereby preserving sensation. This malposition of the nipple and areola is much easier to prevent with careful pre-operative planning rather than to try to “fix” it later.
If the nipple and areola complex is properly sized and placed and the nipples themselves are still too large, there are several different nipple reduction techniques as well as corrective procedures when one nipple is too small as compared to a normal sized one, as well as inverted nipple surgical techniques that can be used to correct the asymmetry of the nipples themselves.
Breastfeeding:
Because the nipple serves an important function in female biology, namely the function of breast-feeding, patients should be aware of all the risks and benefits associated with the procedure before going forward with nipple surgery during or after breast reduction surgery. Risks may include bruising, bleeding, infection, and nerve damage to the nipple and surrounding area. Also, there is a risk that the nipple may become partially disconnected from the milk ducts, no longer making it feasible to breast feed exclusively after a breast reduction. If you plan to breast feed in the future, discuss this with Dr. Kole before undergoing the breast reduction procedure so he can discuss with you the best and safest options limiting the effects of the surgery to limit the disruption of the milk ducts. Nipple procedures themselves for correction of large, inverted or asymmetry correction should not affect the production of milk as the underlying breast tissue is not affected by the surgery.
After breast reduction surgery, some women may be dissatisfied with the size and position of their original nipples. Dr. Kole understands how important it is for women to feel confident and satisfied with the results of their procedure, so he regularly performs nipple and areola correction during breast reductions to ensure that every part of the breast looks proportionate, natural, and symmetrical after surgery and fits on the frame of your body.
For more information about adding nipple or areola corrective surgery to your breast procedure or if you just have inverted, malpositioned, or a size discrepancy of your nipples, please contact the Kole Plastic Surgery Center for a private complimentary consultation with Dr. Edward Kole. We can be reached at 215-315-7655 .
