About Surgery for Nipples and Areolas
Inverted nipples can be corrected with a specialized technique we offer to achieve a lasting and reliable improvement. Using precise surgical methods, we release the tight fibrous tissue and shortened milk ducts that cause the inversion, allowing the nipple to project naturally outward.
Some women experience the opposite concern, where large nipples or oversized areolas cause discomfort. This can also be addressed with surgery, known as a “nipple reduction,” where we carefully shorten or reduce the size of the nipple or perform an areola reduction for a more balanced appearance.
Quick facts about the procedure
Surgery Time: One hour.
Time at the Clinic: Patients are discharged the same day.
Price: from 10,000 SEK.
Back to work: After one week.
Before surgery
During a personal consultation with a plastic surgeon, we will discuss and explain the different ways to achieve the best results based on your natural anatomy.
The plastic surgeon will assess your nipples based on their appearance and individual characteristics. We explain the different techniques and walk you through the procedure.
During the surgery
Through a small 3 mm incision at the base of the nipple, we carefully divide the milk ducts and surrounding fibrous tissue, allowing the nipple to project outward. To maintain its everted position, a discreet, absorbable suture is placed.
This method is particularly effective for more pronounced cases of inverted nipples. However, since the milk ducts are affected, the procedure is not suitable for younger women who plan to breastfeed in the future. For patients with breastfeeding goals, we recommend first attempting improvement with options such as Niplette™.
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, and you can go home the same day. It can also be combined with other procedures, such as breast augmentation, breast lift, or breast reduction.
After the surgery
The first few days, you may experience some tightness and pulling around the incisions, but any discomfort can be easily managed with mild pain relievers. We provide all the necessary medications for your recovery. Follow-up appointments are usually scheduled after one week.
Results
The final result will not be visible immediately. You will experience swelling during the first 72 hours, After a few weeks, your sutures will begin to dissolve. Between three to six months after the procedure, the final shape will become visible. After two years, your scar tissue will have softened, and your nipples will achieve the smooth appearance you desire.
Satisfied Patients
“I have had a breast augmentation, and it went well. I was very nervous at first but was well taken care of. I had many questions both before and after the surgery, but you answered everything. It has been easy to reach you when I had something I was wondering about. All the staff I have met at Victoriakliniken have been very friendly, and I felt calm in their presence. Only positive experiences.”
Mia femtech?
Many patients undergoing nipple procedures, such as correction of inverted nipples or nipple reduction, choose to complement their treatment with Mia Femtech—a subtle breast augmentation option. This procedure can be performed under local anesthesia, leaves only a small scar in the armpit, and allows you to return to work the very next day.
These procedures can be combined to achieve a harmonious, natural result that aligns with your desires.
Complications
Loss of sensation
All breast surgeries can result in the breast and/or nipple becoming either overly sensitive or not sensitive enough. This change can vary in degree and may be temporary or permanent. It can affect sensation during breastfeeding or sexual response.
During the healing process, you may experience numbness or hypersensitivity—or sometimes both. This typically subsides over time. It’s important to remember that it can take up to a year, sometimes two, to fully regain sensation after the procedure.
Scar formation
After a surgical incision, the body produces collagen to repair the “damage.” Collagen acts like cement, filling the space between two bricks. Always too much collagen is produced, which is why we also produce an enzyme called collagenase that “melts” away the excess collagen. This molding process lasts for months. Collagen is produced, and the surplus is removed to restore the skin’s original shape. If there is an excess of collagen left, a more prominent scar will form.
A perfect balance between collagen and collagenase leaves the least noticeable scars. However, we often heal too well! After the skin has regenerated, we continue to heal, and the scar becomes, so to speak, larger than necessary. If we could force extra collagenase into our cells, we could dissolve this excess scar tissue.
Plastic surgeons and dermatologists have known for decades that there are ways to reduce the size of scars. However, until now, no method has been particularly comfortable. For example, it has been found that pressure bandages help increase the production of collagenase, and this has been used for burn treatment for over a century. Cortisone creams not only soothe irritated skin but also stimulate natural collagenase production. In extreme cases, doctors may use cortisone injections.
For decades, doctors have prescribed silicone sheets. Taping silicone film over a scar will reduce it. This was discovered in the early 1980s when a doctor attempted to apply even pressure to a scar using a silicone sheet. Scars treated with silicone appeared to diminish much more quickly. Vitamin E helps by working on the collagen fibers, making scars softer and more pliable.
Closing the skin after breast augmentation
The first step to achieving the best possible scar is to close the skin without tension. The skin may appear wrinkled initially, but it will smooth out over time.
After the skin is properly closed, what else can be done to minimize scarring?
What we do at Victoriakliniken is tape the breasts with silicone for 6 months after surgery. If you wish to continue treating the scar, vitamin E or a vitamin E-rich oil massaged into the skin can help. Massaging with oil by “folding macaroni” along the scar, upward and downward, often helps soften the scar and make it more flexible (this also works well for other scars, such as those from a cesarean section).
Breastfeeding
If you are planning a future pregnancy and breastfeeding, it is important to discuss this thoroughly with your surgeon before undergoing the procedure. In some cases, it may be best to wait, as this surgery severs the milk ducts. This also means there is a risk of developing milk abscesses.
FAQ About Nipple Surgery
What Types of Nipple Correction Procedures Do You Offer?
We perform various types of nipple correction procedures, including:
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Correction of Inverted Nipples: A procedure designed for nipples that are turned inward.
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Nipple Reduction: A procedure to reduce the size of the nipples.
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Areola Reduction: A procedure to reduce the size of the pigmented area surrounding the nipple.
What Causes Inverted Nipples?
Inverted nipples can be present from birth or develop after breastfeeding or an infection.
Can You Breastfeed After Correcting Inverted Nipples?
Yes, however, it’s important to note that correcting inverted nipples can make breastfeeding more difficult, as the milk ducts are almost always severed during the procedure.
How Is a Nipple Reduction Performed?
When reducing the size of the nipples, the surgeon removes a portion of the nipple tissue to achieve a smaller, more proportionate appearance.
How Is an Areola Reduction Performed?
During an areola reduction, the surgeon removes a portion of the pigmented skin around the nipple to reduce its diameter, creating a more balanced and proportionate appearance.
How Long Does a Nipple Correction Procedure Take?
The procedure typically takes about one hour.
Is Nipple Correction Performed Under General Anesthesia?
Is General Anesthesia Required for Nipple Correction?
How Long Is the Recovery Time After Nipple Correction?
Most patients can return to work after about a week. However, it’s important to avoid rubbing or bumping the nipples during the first few weeks to ensure proper healing.
What Kind of Scars Can Be Expected After Nipple Correction?
The scars from a nipple correction are usually very small and discreet, carefully placed along the edge of the nipple or areola to blend naturally with the surrounding skin.
How Much Does a Nipple Correction Cost?
The price for a nipple correction at Victoriakliniken varies depending on the type of procedure performed.
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Areola reduction: from 25,000 SEK
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Nipple reduction: from 15,000 SEK per nipple
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Inverted nipple correction: from 10,000 SEK per nipple
Can Nipple Correction Be Combined with Other Breast Surgeries?
Yes, nipple correction procedures can often be combined with other breast surgeries, such as breast augmentation, breast lift, or breast reduction.
Price
We have chosen not to have a fixed price list, as each patient is unique with individual needs. In most cases, it’s only during the consultation that we can determine, together with you, which procedure(s) will be best to achieve a beautiful final result. With us, in addition to the surgery cost, anesthesia, medications, follow-up visits, compression garments, and bras are included, as well as, in most cases, at least one overnight stay after the surgery.
In general, all prices are shown including VAT, as all procedures and treatments, except those performed for medical reasons, have been subject to VAT since the turn of the year 2014/2015. In cases where the price is listed excluding VAT, it is because these procedures are always performed on a medical basis. (Prices below include VAT)
Price per Nipple/Areola
Price per Nipple/Areola