Reconstruction Of The Nipple And Areola
Specialized techniques are used to recreate or improve on the nipple and areola. This is done using local flaps from the skin to form the protuberant part of the nipple and a skin graft or medical tattoo to recreate the areola that surround the nipple.
This surgery is done mostly to recreate a nipple when a patient has undergone a mastectomy and reconstruction. Some patients are born without nipples and require reconstruction.
The procedure is usually done as a day surgery under general anaesthesia or intravenous sedation. It takes 1-2.5 hours depending on the method used. Downtime varies from 7 days to 3 weeks depending on whether a skin graft has been used.
Surgery for Inverted Nipples
This is a condition where the nipple becomes retracted into the surface of the breast. This can occur from birth or could be from previous infection and scarring in the breast.
Inverted nipples can be corrected with a minor surgery to the nipple and areola area to tighten the support of the nipple and return it to its natural protuberant position.
This surgery can be done as a day surgery in the clinic using local anaesthesia or under intravenous sedation in the day surgery centre. It takes 30-45 minutes and downtime is 7 days.
Surgery to Reduce Nipple Size
Patients are sometimes born with overly large nipples or develop overly large nipples after breast feeding. This is not only unattractive but also, in severe cases, can cause discomfort to the patient.
Nipple reduction surgery can be done to correct this. There are various wedge excision or sleeve excision procedures that can be done. These are done as a day surgery under local anaesthesia or intravenous sedation and take 30-45 minutes. The downtime is 7 days.
