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Nipple Reduction Surgery

Nipple reduction surgery shortens the length of the nipples themselves. Long nipples can be a consequence of breastfeeding your children or a genetic predisposition. They can be very obvious in tight fitting shirts or thin, Lycra bras, and may be considered an embarrassment by some women. The typical patient desires smaller, more natural and youthful appearing nipples.

Women with smaller breasts, smaller areolae complexes (diameter of the colored part which surrounds the nipple itself) and those who regularly breastfed their children can opt for nipple reduction to reduce the projection by surgical means.

This surgery can be carried out under local anesthesia or local and an oral sedative in-office. The incision is very inconspicuous and located only on the nipple. The reduction procedure can be performed by either removing a disc of tissue from the center point of the over-projecting nipple or simply by excising a segment from the end of the nipple. Either way, sensation and the ability to breastfeed can be maintained. Nipple reduction can be combined with other plastic surgical procedures, including breast surgery.

Dressings are light and worn for only several days. You can go home and resume normal activities immediately. You can shower on the next day after surgery. There is only minimal pain that usually does not require any medication and is mostly gone by the next day. Swelling is mild to moderate, peaking at two to three days and then disappearing rapidly over the next three weeks. Minimal or no bruising is the usual. The stitches are removed at seven days. There is usually no need to be off work.

Before and After Nipple Reduction Examples

Patient underwent bilateral augmentation mammoplasty with nipple reduction