What happens to your Nipples During Breast Surgery?

What happens to your Nipples when you have a breast lift (mastopexy) or reduction?

First, be sure you’ve read the procedure pages for the surgery you’re considering.

This will give you details of your surgical procedure. In general, however, what happens to your NIPPLES during reshaping and UPLIFT types of breast surgery is:

• you’ll discuss your preferences for nipple shape and location (position) with your Surgeon
  • In a lift (mastopexy), the breasts are about the same size (volume) after surgery and may seem slightly smaller due to uplifted skin
  • In a reduction, breasts are smaller and lighter in weight and volume
  • Nipples in BOTH surgeries are moved to become elevated and centralised on the breast mound

You can also CHANGE YOUR NIPPLE size through NIPPLE SURGERY procedures during these breast procedures

• The SHAPE can also be more rounded rather than oblong and you can also have surgery to correct for an INVERTED NIPPLE
• Get PDF downloadable GUIDES to your surgery option(s) by clicking here to download the ebooks (no charge).

During nipple surgery, your Surgeon surgically re-shapes your nipples, often to a smaller or more rounded appearance; inverted nipples can also be corrected. These are then repositioned to a different location on the newly shaped breast mound.

Does nipple surgery mean I won’t feel my nipples again or be able to breastfeed?

• Temporary disruption and sensation changes are expected; for most but not all patients, these are transient
• Because your Surgeon is careful to avoid functional disruption to your nipple(s) and NAC
• He or she will position your EXISTING nipples, newly reshaped and/or smaller nipples if desired, on your uplifted breast mounds (smaller if reduced, roughly the same size if just a lift, or larger and uplifted if a Mastopexy-Augmentation with implants

Remember, there ARE risks to all breast surgery AND results can vary significantly from patient to patient.

Nipple Surgery

The main objective of most nipple surgery, performed on its own OR as part of your Breast Reduction or Uplift or Mastopexy-Aug, is to:

• Reshape the nipples to reduce asymmetry or elongation (optional)
• Resize the nipples to address the balance on the breast tissues (optional)
• REPOSITION the nipples more centrally on the breast mound
• The sutures around your nipples tend to fade into the outer ridge of the nipple, but this can vary from patient to patient
• You’ll also have a scar down the front of your breast, if using a le jour reduction technique, and it’s important to wear the post-op garments as instructed to keep your scars as minimal as possible

Get the Guide to Nipple Surgery and Breast Shaping!

We have several surgery guides to help you learn about your procedure.

Where are your nipples positioned on the breast tissues now?

• The primary concerns women have with their nipple appearance is typically related to ptosis (position and laxity) NOT size or shape
• Some women have concerns about both but you DO have options to reshape and resize the nipple as it’s being adjusted

Pregnancy and breastfeeding or weight changes OFTEN elongates the nipples and they may become more uneven in appearance

Breast Ptosis (meaning skin sagging or drooping tissues) is a benign condition that may be treated surgically.

Does MEDICARE pay for nipple surgery?

If you have inverted nipples, contact us for information. If your surgery is breast VOLUME related and you have a medically warranted procedure and referral, read the next blog: Read: Will Medicare cover a breast reduction?

Not all breast surgery is cosmetic; but most are considered to be elective, and if so, insurance and medicare will NOT pay for most breast/nipple surgery. In very few cases, a small rebate might apply. Phone (03) 8849 1400 and ask for Lyshai for information.

How nipples appear AFTER surgery will depend on your preferences for size and shape and how much the skin envelope has stretched. There may be skin-laxity related limitations to what can be achieved.

Communication with your Selected Breast Surgeon is a recommended way to start the discovery process. Find out what YOUR breasts and nipples can look like after surgery by arranging a consultation today – phone (03) 8849 1400 and ask to see one of our Melbourne Breast Surgery Surgeons.

This blog is best read in conjunction with our Breast Reduction procedure page or Breast lift page.

Nipple Reshaping Surgery RISKS

Does having breast reduction risk the Nipple Area or breastfeeding?

• Nipple surgery and breast reduction IS complex
• All invasive surgery has risks you should be aware of (visit the cosmetic surgery risks page)
• Surgery MAY impact on nipple function, but risks of this occurring CAN be reduced (not fully prevented) by choosing the most qualified Plastic Surgeon for your procedure (a general practitioner is NOT a plastic surgeon so be sure you know the difference).

Although no guarantee nipple function will remain intact, a Plastic Surgeon will aim to minimise changes to your nipple function during Breast Reduction or Breast Lift (Mastopexy) Surgery.

• But if you choose a cheap surgeon who has less experience or isn’t a FRACS qualified specialist, you could end up with some serious nipple problems – and not everything can be fixed.

So choose your Surgeon wisely (our team are widely regarded Specialists in Breast Reduction Procedures including nipple reshaping) AND do your research. Be sure you read the Breast Surgery GUIDES.

Good communication with your Plastic Surgeon is required to get the nipple appearance or reshaping you seek through breast surgery.

The existing shape, size, colour AND nipple-areolar complex or “NAC” position – along with your overall chest anatomy and skin – will impact your ultimate nipple surgery results.

• Be sure you keep your expectations realistic
• Read up on the procedure and understand the risks
• Ensure honest communication with your Surgeon about your preferences for nipple shape, placement, size and/or appearance.
• Be honest about your medical history and smoking status

You should let your Surgeon know your preferences for nipple size, location and shape to get a result you desire.

• If you LIKE the existing shape and size of your nipples, be sure to tell your Surgeon.
• If YES, and you want no size or shape changes, these CAN remain the same for some patients, but they will be repositioned
• Be sure you discuss this in detail with your Plastic Surgeon
• Once located higher on the chest wall, they may have a different appearance as well as position

NAC Incisions: suturing around the nipple after surgery

• Incisions around the nipples can vary depending on the type of surgery you’re having.
• Ask your Surgeon which methods they use – the Le Jour incision technique or “Le Jour Lollipop” Breast lift (Mastopexy) and Breast Reduction incision strategy is a technique to minimise scars after Breast Reduction and may get desired results for most patients.
• The nipple area will have a scar after surgery. However, for many women, the scar around the nipple fades or blends into the outer edge of the NAC.

What SCARS will I have around my nipples?

• Scars after nipple repositioning surgery are aimed to blend around the outer edge of your nipple-areola complex.
• Remember, your results and scars may vary.

But be sure you take advantage of the RAPID RECOVERY PACK and healing aids, and the right post-op garments are imperative to reduce breast and nipple scars after uplift types of breast surgery.

Our Team’s top Specialist Plastic Surgeons for Breast Lift (Mastopexy) and Breast Reduction Surgery include:

Dr Craig Rubinstein

Visit our Breast Reduction pages for details.

Further Reading about Breast Surgery

• Find out more about:
  • A Breast Surgery Melbourne by Dr Craig Rubinstein,