Nipple correction

Retracted nipples occur in 10% of the population and can be experienced as very bothersome. The condition arises when a shortening of the milk ducts pulls the nipple into the breast, as it were. They can be congenital or develop later as a result of breastfeeding, breast sagging or infections.

If nipple retraction occurs later in life, the breast must always be checked first for malignant conditions.

Mild cases of nipple inversion can be treated with certain suction devices, especially for women who would still like to breastfeed. Moderate and severe forms of nipple inversion can only be corrected with surgery. This procedure can be done under local anaesthetic and therefore does not require hospitalisation. The corrective surgery takes about 15-20 minutes per side and leaves virtually no visible scars. Nipple correction is an aesthetic surgery, and breastfeeding is not possible after the procedure.

Some consider an excessively large areola unattractive. This is often accompanied by breast hypertrophy (breasts that are too large) or breast ptosis (sagging of the breasts). In these cases, during the surgical breast correction, the areola will also be reduced simultaneously.

If the breast is normal and only the areola is abnormally large, corrective surgery can be performed under local anaesthesia. Removing a strip of coloured skin from the outer edge reduces the areola to normal size. The resulting scar is a fine line around the areola.

Nipples that are too large can trigger feelings of embarrassment in both men and women. Nipple reduction under local anaesthetic is a relatively simple way to resolve this. Usually, breastfeeding is not possible afterwards.

Latest publication date: 13/08/2024
Supervising author: Dr Vertriest Rudolf