Nipple Reduction

Surgery to improve the appearance of large, long, or droopy nipples and overly large or puffy areolas can enhance the size and shape of your breasts. Our doctors at Skin arts aesthetics of board certified plastic surgeons specialize cosmetic breast enhancement procedures such as nipple or areola reduction. Our surgeons work with you to get excellent results that achieve your cosmetic goals.

If you’re insecure about the size of your nipples, the dark area surrounding them, or both, request a consultation online  to discuss whether nipple or areola reduction surgery is appropriate for you.

Candidates for Nipple or Areola Reduction
If you are in general good health and have a clear understanding of the limitations and potential results of your nipple or areola reduction, you are an ideal candidate for the procedure.

Nipple & Areola Reduction Surgery
Your nipple or areola revision procedure is performed  under local anesthesia and generally takes about an hour to complete. You go home shortly after your surgery.

For nipple reduction, the doctor makes a small incision on the nipple itself. For areola reduction, the surgeon makes an incision around the perimeter of the areola. In both cases, the incisions heal very quickly.

Once the incision is complete, the doctor removes excess tissue from the area of the incision. Stitches are then used to close the incision, and gauze dressings are placed over the breasts. A special surgical bra is placed over your breasts after the surgery to ensure that your breasts are held in the best position for healing.

How Long Will the Results of Your Nipple or Areola Reduction Last?
Results of your nipple or areola reduction are permanent; however, keep in mind that your breasts may droop or sag over time as a natural result of the aging process.

Meeting With Your Surgeon
At your consultation with your surgeon, they provide a clear understanding of the procedure, as well as an accurate picture of how your breasts will look after the surgery.

The First 24 to 48 Hours After Your Surgery
During the first 24 to 48 hours after your procedure, you may feel tired from the anesthesia and sore from the surgery. Your surgeon will prescribe pain medication to alleviate most of the discomfort. Your discomfort level will improve rapidly after the first 2 days.

The First 2 Weeks After Surgery
You will notice a marked improvement in your discomfort level during the first few weeks after your surgery. Other things to be aware of:

Any bruising you experience will usually disappear in about 2 weeks.
You may experience some numbness in the area of the surgery. This numbness is caused by the swelling of your breasts after surgery and usually disappears within 6 weeks.
You may experience some tingling in the nipple-areola complex after surgery. This is a normal result of the healing process and will go away within 6 weeks of the surgery.
Your stitches will be removed within 5 to 7 days after surgery.
You should sleep on your back for the first week after surgery to help with the healing process. You should wear the special surgical bra placed over your breasts after surgery at all times for the first few days. A softer sports bra should be worn at all times for the first 2 weeks after surgery. The bra should be worn even while sleeping to help hold your breasts in the correct position. You may take the bra off to shower or bathe but must put it back on immediately after drying off. If the bra feels too tight, call the staff at West End Plastic Surgery immediately — bras that are too tight can cause skin problems.

You May Have
Are there other procedures that could be done along with nipple or areola reduction to enhance the size and shape of my breasts?
Depending on the size and condition of your breasts, a breast augmentation, breast lift, or breast reduction, could be performed to enhance the size and shape of your breasts. All of these options will be discussed with you when you meet with our doctors at Skin arts aesthetics or one of our surgeons and their staff at West End Plastic Surgery.

Are there alternatives to nipple or areola reduction surgery?
There are no non-surgical alternatives that reliably reduce nipple size or projection or areola size.