subject: Inverted Nipple Correction / Plastic Surgery for the Treatment of Inverted Nipples [print this page] What are inverted nipples? What are inverted nipples?
Inverted nipples are a common occurrence among women, and can be the source of both physical issues as well as self consciousness. Inverted nipples may be present in 10% of women. There are widely varying degrees of nipple inversion; inverted nipples are divided into three levels of severity. Stage I inverted nipples may be inverted at rest, but the nipples will become projected with cold or stimulation. Stage II inverted nipples are inverted at rest, and can be everted or projected physically with manual traction. Stage III inverted nipples are always inverted, and never come out. Inverted nipples may affect one nipple (unilateral nipple inversion) or both nipples (bilateral nipple inversion). The degree of inverted nipples may be the same on both sides (symmetric nipple inversion) commonly differs from one side to the other (asymmetric nipple inversion).
Most often, inverted nipples are familial or congenital. The inverted nipples are caused by a shortened, thickened lactiferous duct (milk duct).
Treatment of Inverted Nipples
Occasionally, inverted nipples can be corrected by nonsurgical means. Anything that promotes traction on the nipples may bring them out; nursing a baby is of course the most natural method. The creation of the vacuum effect by a suckling infant may bring out the inverted nipples. Similarly, a device that creates suction or negative pressure, called a NipletteTM, has been shown to successfully correct inverted nipples in selected cases. The more mild the inverted nipples are, the more likely they are to respond to nonsurgical methods.
Plastic Surgery for Inverted Nipples
The varieties of surgery for inverted nipples are numerous. Historically, incisions have be made on the nipple area or areola, creating flaps of tissue to correct inverted nipples, or the areola has been opened and the nipple inversion corrected with tissue division and internal suturing. More recently, minimally invasive and virtually scarless procedures for the correction of inverted nipples have been described. The techniques that most reliably fix inverted nipples involve the division of the main lactiferous duct, or milk duct.
Plastic surgery for inverted nipples is most often performed under local anesthesia. Compression should be avoided for one week.
What are the risks of inverted nipple surgery?
Inverted nipple surgery most often requires division of the milk duct. Inability to breast feed is the most pressing and ponderous consideration when deciding whether or not to undergo surgery to correct inverted nipples. Although there are rare reports of breastfeeding after inverted nipple corrective surgery, it must be assumed that you will not be able to do so should you choose to undergo inverted nipple surgery that divides the ducts. The other potential downside of inverted nipple correction is the possibility of recurrence. In this scenario, which may occur in up to 25% of inverted nipple corrections, the solution is most often a very simple revision surgery performed under local anesthesia.
Am I a candidate to have plastic surgery for inverted nipples?
A complete evaluation with a board certified plastic surgeon is recommended to determine if you are a candidate for inverted nipple corrective surgery. For many women, a simple, comfortable procedure is an incredibly effective solution to the physical and emotional impact of inverted nipples.
Inverted Nipple Correction / Plastic Surgery for the Treatment of Inverted Nipples
By: Adolph Paul
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