The shape and size of the nipple contribute to the appearance of the breast. They are usually congenital but can change through pregnancy, breastfeeding or major weight fluctuations. Two findings can be corrected with a small procedure: inverted nipples and overly large nipples.
If your concern is an overly large areola, you will find the relevant information on the page about areola reduction.
Correction of inverted nipples
With an inverted nipple the nipple is drawn inwards instead of pointing outwards. The cause is shortened, scarred strands beneath the nipple that pull it inwards. This can be congenital or occur after breastfeeding.
Through a small incision these strands are divided so that the nipple can rise outwards.
Nipple reduction
Nipples that are too long or too thick can not only be perceived as bothersome but can also rub against clothing and thereby encourage inflammation. During the reduction, excess tissue is removed and the nipple brought to an appropriate size.
Ability to breastfeed: an honest note in advance
With both procedures, the ability to breastfeed is most likely no longer possible. This applies in particular to the correction of inverted nipples: the scarred strands that pull the nipple inwards have to be divided completely, and the milk ducts run precisely within these strands. Without this division, an inverted nipple cannot be corrected permanently.
If you still wish to breastfeed, please mention this during the consultation. In some cases it makes sense to postpone the procedure.
Procedure
As a rule a local anaesthetic is sufficient for both variants. The procedure nevertheless takes place in a fully equipped operating theatre and takes about one hour. You go home the same day.
After the procedure
The follow-up appointments are two weeks after the operation and once more after one year.
Most patients are fit for work after one to two weeks. Avoid sport for two weeks. Compression is not required after this procedure.
What are the risks of a nipple correction?
The procedure is small, but it is an operation. Dr. Özdemir sees no point in playing that down.
Sensation in the nipple. The nipple is densely supplied with nerves. After the procedure, sensation is often temporarily altered — numb, oversensitive or tingling. This usually settles over weeks to months. In rare cases, a reduced sensation remains permanent.
Ability to breastfeed. With an inverted nipple, it is the shortened milk ducts that create the inward pull. Dividing them makes the result more stable — but breastfeeding afterwards may be limited or no longer possible. If you still wish to breastfeed, please mention this during the consultation.
Recurrence of the inversion. The nipple can draw inwards again over time, particularly with tissue-sparing techniques. A follow-up correction is then possible.
Wound healing. Post-operative bleeding, bruising and infections are rare but possible. Very rarely, an impaired blood supply to the nipple occurs, leading to tissue necrosis.
Scars and symmetry. The incisions lie at the edge of the areola, where they are barely noticeable. Even so, every skin heals differently. Small differences between the two sides cannot always be fully evened out — the two nipples are rarely exactly alike even beforehand.
Which of these points actually apply to you depends on your findings. Dr. Özdemir goes through them individually with you during the consultation.
Are there alternatives to surgery?
Waiting. An inverted nipple is not a disease. If it does not bother you and causes no discomfort, there is no reason to operate.
Suction devices. For mildly inverted nipples that still evert with cold or touch, a suction device worn regularly can stretch the tissue. This does not work with severely shortened milk ducts.
Important beforehand: If a nipple newly draws inwards, having previously been normal, this needs to be investigated before any correction is discussed. Another cause may be behind it.
Why there are no before-and-after pictures
You will not find before-and-after photos on this page, and Dr Özdemir does not show any during the consultation either. Every finding is different; another person's result says nothing about what to expect in your case. Instead, after the examination you receive an honest assessment of your own findings.
