Surgery Center of North Florida
6520 NW 9th Blvd ~ Gainesville, Fl 32605
352-331-7987 or 800-428-8419
Nipple Correction Some women are born with the genetics to develop perfect breasts, while others might need some professional help to achieve their breast related body image goals. Many women develop nipples which they perceive as too large or too small. Some women love their nipples, but suffer degenerative effects as a result of age or breastfeeding, leading to ptosis, laxity of skin, and a generally less youthful appearance. Women can also develop nipple asymmetry, troublesome areola coloration, large areolas, damage to the nipple or loss of a nipple due to abnormal development, injury or disease. Women suffering with the physical and emotional effects of all of these conditions might be good candidates to undergo corrective nipple surgery. As the most prominent features of the breasts, nipples contribute dramatically to breast beauty. They deserve as much care and concern as any other aspect of your breasts. We treat the following conditions: Nipple Inversion: Nipple inversion is a condition that causes the nipples to collapse inward instead of projecting away from the areola. Others can be drawn out, or "everted," but rapidly turn inward again. And a few women have densely inverted nipples that are fixed in their inward position. Breastfeeding can be both a cause and a casualty of inverted nipples. Women who develop inverted nipples in adulthood most often do so after breastfeeding as scar tissue builds up around the milk ducts. Women who have inverted nipples from birth—as well as those whose first breastfeeding experiences contributed to the condition—sometimes find themselves unable to breastfeed successfully. Because the nipple is important in appearance, sexuality and breastfeeding, and because densely inverted nipples can become irritated by trapped secretions, many women choose to have their inverted nipples corrected. Areola / Nipple Reduction: Some women are bothered by areolas, the darkened area surrounding the nipple itself, that are overly large, asymmetrical or both. Other people, men as well as women, find their areolas to be "puffy" and unattractive. Changing the appearance of your areolas or nipples is common and the procedure carries very few risks. It also poses minimal disruption to your schedule and almost no pain. The same applies to large, protruding nipples than can be a major cause of embarrassment. If you're considering breast augmentation or another breast enhancement procedure, your nipples can very likely be reduced at the same time. Even if large nipples are the only aspect of your breasts that troubles you, there's every reason to do something about it right away. Consultation: A personal consultation is the first step for every patient considering nipple correction surgery. During this meeting, Dr. Brill will discuss the changes you want to make in your appearance, the different options available to you, the procedure itself, and its risks and limitations. He will get a complete medical history, give you specific instructions preparing for surgery, including guidelines for eating and drinking, and taking or avoiding vitamins, supplements and medications. As with any surgery, please be sure to inform us:
About all medications you are taking (both prescription and non-prescription). Dr. Brill will assess your physical and emotional health and discuss your specific cosmetic goals for the procedure. The quality of your skin as well as amount of excess fat will be assessed at your consultation. Dr. Brill, in some cases, orders routine laboratory tests prior to surgery. During your consult, take this time to ask all the questions you have about the surgery you are considering. He will be happy to address any concerns you may have. The ideal candidate for a nipple enhancement is a man or woman of any age who is otherwise in good health and is unsatisfied with the look of their breasts. Procedure Details / Expectations: Nipple Inversion: The procedure consists of holding the nipple in the everted position, dissecting the small fibers that were pulling and causing the inversion, and making small stitches to fix the nipple in place. The scars are nearly invisible. Nipple Reduction: Creating more appealing areolas is a simple outpatient procedure done in our state of the art surgery center. To reduce the size of an areola, Dr. Brill makes an incision around the edge of the areola or around the base of the nipple. Very large areolas may require a more extensive incision. He then removes some of the pigmented area and place small sutures under the skin surface to close the incision. Recovery: After the procedure you will feel groggy. You will be placed in a special compression garment to control swelling and help the newly-sculpted skin adhere to the tissue underneath. Some of the stitches will be absorbable, and some may have to be removed during a follow-up visit. After a brief stay in the recovery room, you will be allowed to go home. For the first week following surgery, we advise our patients to avoid sitting to avoid stressing the area, and when seated, to use a cushion or inflatable ring. You will need to sleep on your stomach during this time as well. Returning to regular activities takes about two to four weeks, provided your work does not involve extensive sitting and avoid strenuous activity. Initial healing usually occurs in 10-14 days. Sutures are usually removed within the first 1-2 weeks. Swelling and bruising gradually disappear over 2-3 weeks. You may experience moderate pain after this procedure. Pain medication, prescribed by Dr. Brill can help make you comfortable. After a few days acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen may be all that you require. But avoid aspirin as it can increase the risk of bleeding and bruising. The swelling is mild to moderate, and peaks at two to three days. Any stitches that are not absorbed will be removed after about a week. While each person’s recovery is unique, the recovery period after a buttocks or thigh lift generally lasts one to two weeks. You'll probably be able to return to work in a week, and resume exercise within 4-6 weeks. Strenuous workouts and contact sports can be engaged in after about six weeks. All swelling is gone in 3-6 months. The scars fade in 6-12 months depending on your skin. Other Options: An additional procedure that may enhance the result is Liposuction of the area. Many people suffer from both surplus fat and surplus skin. In these cases one option is to treat by liposuction alone. The healing process causes some tightening of the skin, but patients need to be aware that this tightening is only enough to compensate for the amount of fat removed. Cost / Insurance: These procedures are considered cosmetic and therefore not covered by insurance. Approximate Cost Range: $2,000-$5,000 per procedure. This price is only an average as fees vary according to patient needs. At your consultation, you will be given exact fees, which include but are not limited to surgery, operating room, anesthesia related fees, and follow up visits. ** This is only an Average. Fees vary according to patient needs.** Risks / Complications: The most common risks associated with this type of surgery include, but are not limited to, a reaction to the anesthesia used, excessive bleeding, infection, visible scarring, possible asymmetry or irregularities, and possible changes in nerve sensation. The scars from an arm lift are permanent and may be visible in any position other than when the arms are hanging at the sides. The specific risks and the suitability of this procedure for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are unusual. 352-331-7987 or 1-800-428-8419 The information on this web site is only intended as an introduction to this procedure and should not be used to determine whether you will have the procedure performed nor as a guarantee of the result. The best method of determining your options is to consult with Dr. Brill to answer specific questions related to your situation. View our Disclaimer Page and Privacy Policy.
A Good Candidate: