Nipple Surgery

Nipple surgery is a collection of procedures designed to help improve the shape, size, and overall appearance of a patient’s nipples and areolas. Nipple surgery can help address a variety of concerns, including general aesthetics and specific conditions. Two of the most common procedures are areola reduction and correcting inverted nipples.

The appearance of the nipples can impact one’s confidence, potentially playing a significant role in body image and self-esteem. If you are ready to take the first step toward improving your confidence, our team of experts at Austin Plastic Surgeon can help!

To meet with one of our expertly trained specialists, please contact us online or reach out to one of our many Central Texas locations.

About Nipple Surgery

Nipple surgery is a set of procedures designed to help correct and enhance various conditions that can impact the nipples and areolas. There are many reasons why someone may be interested in nipple or areola surgery, such as factors relating to significant changes in weight, fluctuations in hormones, pregnancy, and age. ⁽¹⁾

Nipple Surgery Techniques

There are many strategies and techniques our surgeons can use to help refresh the appearance of one’s breasts. The surgeon will choose the most effective technique based on each patient’s anatomy and desired procedure outcome. The most commonly performed techniques include:

The Circumcision Technique: The circumcision technique involves a large circular incision around the areola. This technique is used primarily for reshaping and reducing the size of the areola while maintaining the natural structure and sensation of the nipple itself. ⁽¹⁾

Wedge Resectioning: The wedge resectioning technique removes a triangular section of skin and tissue from the nipple and areola, reducing the overall height of the nipple. This technique is most often used in mild to moderate nipple reductions while still maintaining the natural ductal system and projection of the nipple.

Grafting: The grafting technique uses a skin graft to help reshape and reconstruct the nipple and areola. The skin graft is often taken from another area of the body and is most commonly used to restore the nipple after another procedure, like a mastectomy. ⁽²⁾

The Flaps Technique: The flaps technique is a very versatile technique that uses flaps of local breast tissue to help reshape and reposition the nipple. This technique is ideal for patients who are interested in preserving the function and sensitivity of their nipples and breasts.

Benefits

There are many benefits to undergoing nipple and areola surgery besides aesthetics. Benefits include:

Candidates

The ideal candidates for nipple surgery are adults who may be dissatisfied with the shape or size of their nipple-areolar complex. Those experiencing stretched or elongated nipples due to factors such as genetics, aging, or breastfeeding may find this procedure highly beneficial, in addition to those who may be experiencing inverted or flat nipples. ⁽³⁾ Individuals who may be embarrassed or uncomfortable due to the size of their areolas may also benefit from this procedure, as well as women interested in areola reconstruction after undergoing a mastectomy or physical trauma.

All candidates interested in nipple surgery should be in overall good health and free of any underlying medical conditions that may impair the healing process. If applicable, candidates should be prepared to quit smoking several weeks before their treatment.

Personal Consultation

Before scheduling nipple surgery, patients are asked to attend a personal consultation at one of our conveniently located Central Texas offices. At the consultation, a member of our team will meet with each individual to discuss their medical history before learning more about their current concerns and ideal treatment goals. Our surgeons will perform a medical examination of the treatment area before crafting each patient’s custom treatment plan.

After devising each treatment plan, our team will prepare preoperative and postoperative instructions for each patient alongside a price quote for their procedure. Patients are recommended to prepare questions and voice any potential concerns, as our team wants each patient to feel completely comfortable regarding each detail of their operation.

For out-of-state patients, we do offer virtual consultations through Skype. To learn more about how we help accommodate our non-local candidates, please read about our Fly in Program.

To schedule your personal consultation, please fill out our contact form or call to schedule an appointment at our Austin, San Antonio, or West Lake Hills locations.

Preparation

Patients will receive a set of preoperative instructions at their personal consultation to best prepare themselves for nipple surgery. For the most ideal recovery and outcome, it is strongly recommended that patients follow each instruction provided by the Austin Plastic Surgery team.

Patients should refrain from using medications or supplements with blood-thinning properties, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Patients should also pre-arrange any time away from work or other social commitments they may need, in addition to arranging transportation home from their procedure. If applicable, patients should cease smoking several weeks before their appointment, fully refraining from the use of nicotine and tobacco products until fully healed. Alcohol consumption should also be avoided for a period of time.

Procedure

The two most commonly performed nipple surgeries are the correction of inverted nipples and the reduction of areola size. At the beginning of both procedures, the patient will receive anesthesia. After each patient is comfortable, the surgeon will make an incision at a predesignated location to address the aesthetic concern.

Inverted Nipple Correction

Patients undergoing an inverted nipple correction will likely receive incisions near the base of their nipple. This serves to release the structure from the surrounding tissue, allowing it to protrude outwards. The surgeon may place internal sutures to help the nipple maintain its new structure and prevent any retraction. They may use the flaps technique to help maintain projection. ⁽¹⁾

Areola Reduction Procedure

Individuals receiving an areola reduction typically receive a circumferential incision around the areola or nipple. ⁽¹⁾ After making the incision, the surgeon will carefully remove excess skin and tissue surrounding the nipple-areola complex, reducing its overall diameter. If necessary, they may also reshape or reposition the nipple to help create a more proportional look before closing the incisions.

Recovery and Results

Following their procedure, patients should take time away from work and other social commitments to focus on their recovery. Most patients can return to work within a week, but the exact timeframe will vary from patient to patient. Mild bruising or swelling can be expected following nipple surgery, with side effects gradually subsiding on their own. Any discomfort can be managed through the use of over-the-counter pain medications as recommended by your surgeon.

Cost of Nipple Surgery in Austin

The cost of nipple and areola surgery can vary between patients depending on several factors. Every aspect of the surgery is customized to each patient, maximizing each potential benefit to create the most optimal results. We will provide a price quote at each personal consultation after our surgeon performs a medical examination and establishes a treatment plan. Schedule a consultation today to explore your treatment options. If you have any questions, please call any of our locations in the Austin area to gather extra information.

FAQ

References

1. Trøstrup H, Saltvig I, Matzen SH. Current surgical techniques for nipple reduction: A literature review. JPRAS Open. 2019;21:48-55. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpra.2019.06.002
2. Laeken NV, Genoway K. Nipple reconstruction using a two-step purse-string suture technique. The Canadian Journal of Plastic Surgery. 2025;19(2):56. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3328115/
3. Mangialardi ML, Baldelli I, Salgarello M, Raposio E. Surgical Correction of Inverted Nipples. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. 2020;8(7):e2971. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000002971