Nipple inversion is also commonly referred to as inverted nipples or innie nipples. This issue can be present from birth, occur during puberty, present following pregnancy and breastfeeding, be part of normal aging, occur with weight loss, or be related to trauma or other inflammatory problems of the breast.
In America, 2% to 3% of women have at least one inverted nipple. An inverted nipple can look flatter, often with a crease in the center, or it may project into the breast instead of out. An inverted nipple can be irritating physically and damaging emotionally; particularly if the other nipple is normal or over projecting and becomes difficult to disguise in clothing. Athletic clothing and swimwear cannot hide inverted nipples.
Some women have inverted nipples that look flat on the breast mound; some that are nearly fully inverted and effectively pointing into the breast. Nipple stimulation, gentle pressure around the nipple base, temperature changes and physical or sexual stimulation all affect inverted nipples of the breast.
Many women suffer much of their lifetime with inverted nipple problems. Because it is not understood, people who should be supportive are often critical and unsupportive of the one who is suffering.
How Women Benefit from Inverted Nipple Correction
- Inverted nipple surgery achieves normal nipple projection
- Nipple surgery keeps a nipple from sinking into the breast
- Inverted nipple treatment corrects contour and symmetry
- This surgery eliminates embarrassment
- This surgery allows for wearing clothing you like
- Inverted nipple correction also achieves a more normal, healthy look
Dr. Rudderman is one of Atlanta’s top plastic surgeons for the treatment and correction of inverted nipples. He is specialized in many complicated problems of the breast and he employs delicate, advanced techniques to achieve the most natural-looking results possible.
Good Candidates for Inverted Nipple Surgery
Do you have one or more of the following concerns?
- Nipple(s) that sink into the areolar area of your breast
- Skin irritation resulting from sunken nipples
- Lack of stimulation with one or both nipples
- One nipple looks significantly different from the other
- Nipples remain flat or pointed even with stimulation
- You feel your nipples just do not look normal
- You’re self-conscious or embarrassed by your breast appearance
- Nipple contour and asymmetry make clothing selection difficult
If you answered yes to one or more of these concerns, you could be an ideal candidate for Dr. Rudderman’s Nipple Inversion procedure. Good candidates should be in otherwise good health, with no untreated history of breast disease and no untreated illness or medical condition that can impair normal healing.
Your Consultation With Dr. Rudderman
Dr. Rudderman believes the consultation is critical for you and him. The consultation includes the following:
- Thorough education of your condition
- Your options, desires, realistic expectations
- And a personalized treatment plan
All of your questions will be answered and your concerns addressed. Dr. Rudderman has done hundreds of breast surgeries and can project your likely outcomes. This is done in an embracing, relaxing environment. From the consultation evolves a sense of trust, respect, mutual understanding, and a personalized treatment plan.
Nipple Inversion Correction Surgery
Surgery first involves careful evaluation of your condition:
- Nipples that most easily every either manually or with stimulation may be most successfully treated.
- Those with long term inversion without the ability to evert are less predictable and may require additional treatments.
- The most severe cases require more separation of the ducts and tissue that keep the nipple inverted.
- If the nipple itself is very small, there is a limit to how much projection can be achieved.
- And those with significant inversion when corrected should not expect to be able to breastfeed in the future.
- There are cases that will benefit from injectable fillers or fat transfers to add volume, and some patients will require additional surgery in the future if the inversion recurs.
The surgery carries little risk with the exception of some lack of predictability for long term outcome and expectations for long term results will be reviewed in detail during consultation before and surgery is considered.
The results of this procedure are long-lasting. Additional surgery to further improve the appearance is unlikely. All breast need good long term follow-up for evaluation of breast disease by your practitioner of choice.
Contact us at 678.566.7200 to meet with Dr. Rudderman in our Alpharetta or Midtown Atlanta offices.
Written and reviewed by:
This article was written by Dr. Randy Rudderman, who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (1994). He practices medicine at his offices in Alpharetta and Atlanta.
Learn more about Dr. Rudderman, his medical training, and credentials.
Post-Surgery Expecations
- You will wake up with a small dressing over the treated area and a surgical bra –
- Mild swelling and some discomfort is normal and to be expected – these resolves on its own and often requires only acetaminophen
- You will be seen in the office 24 hours post-surgery and given a more comfortable bra
- Swelling generally is mild and resolves in 1-2 weeks
- Small sutures may be removed in 1 week. Some sutures are absorbable and do not need to be removed.
- Most patients who have surgery can return to work the following day.
- Avoid strenuous activity for 3 weeks. Dr. Rudderman will tell you when you can start to exercise again
- Measurable results are typically visible immediately, but be patient, healing and stabilizing takes time. It can take months for the “new you” to be clearly seen.
Nipple Inversion Correction Frequently Asked Questions
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