The nipples and areolas serve as a focal point of the breasts, which can cause many people to feel self-conscious about concerns such as nipples that point downward or areolas that are asymmetrical. As you are weighing the reasons to get breast surgery, consider that surgical procedures can often considerably improve the appearance of this sensitive area. Here’s a closer look at how procedures such as a breast augmentation lift or reduction can affect your nipples and areolas.
Lift Lowered Nipples
One of women’s chief cosmetic concerns about their breasts is when sagging causes their nipples to be positioned lower, or even point down instead of straight ahead. This phenomenon is common among women with larger breasts, which may begin to droop due to gravity or after breastfeeding a child. As the weight of the breast tissue pulls the nipples downward, they gradually aim toward the floor.
During a procedure such as a breast lift or breast reduction, an experienced breast surgery specialist such as San Francisco-based Dr. Michael Kulick can reposition nipples so they sit at a higher and more youthful-looking spot on the breasts.
For smaller-breasted women who have less sagging, increasing breast volume with a breast augmentation often produces the desired amount of nipple lift,
creating younger and perkier-looking nipples on its own without the need for a surgical repositioning.
Patients often choose to combine a breast augmentation with a breast lift, or a lift with a reduction, for even better results. Most women report satisfaction with the results of these procedures and enjoy having a more aesthetically pleasing nipple location, in addition to the improved appearance of their breasts.
Provide Greater Areola Symmetry
Some degree of breast and areola asymmetry is completely natural. * In fact, movie stars such as Keira Knightley and Jennifer Lawrence have recently made headlines ** for being very public about their asymmetrical breasts.
Many women have minor differences in the diameter or shape of their areolas,
such as an oval shape rather than being perfectly round. However, as you are considering the reasons to get breast surgery, be aware it is possible for a surgeon to resolve your concerns about the size or symmetry of your areolas while performing your breast procedure.
Surgical correction of the areola involves removing some excess skin from around the area to provide the desired amount of symmetry and aesthetic results. Women who undergo breast augmentation, lift or reduction surgery may benefit from adding an areolar reduction and repositioning to the surgical procedure. In these operations, the same incision that lifts the nipples may also improve the circumference and shape of the areola.
Reduce the Size of Enlarged Nipples
Women with unusually large or conspicuous nipples may be embarrassed by the prominence of their nipples, even under clothing. If this is the case for you, ask your surgeon about reducing the size of your nipples during a cosmetic procedure such as a breast augmentation, lift or reduction. It is also possible to surgically correct irregularly shaped nipples to make them more symmetrical.
Male Breast Reduction
About 2.5 percent of U.S. men *** develop a condition called body dysmorphic disorder, which may manifest as a fixation on muscle mass or definition.
Many of these men are self-conscious about a medical condition called gynecomastia, which causes unwanted breast tissue development overlying the pectoral muscles. Along with the excess breast tissue, the nipple/areola complex may be malformed or in an unattractive position on one or both sides of the chest. Gynecomastia often occurs in adolescent boys, but can also begin in middle age.
Male breast reduction by a skilled surgeon can reduce men’s breast tissue and create a more defined pectoral area, while correcting deformities of the breast, nipple or areola and reducing the size of the areola. This procedure can dramatically impact both a man’s physical appearance and emotional well-being. After a male breast reduction, men who were formerly self-conscious about removing their shirts in a public setting can do so with greater confidence.
Take the Next Step in Your Breasty Surgery Goals
As you are learning more about the reasons to get breast surgery, it’s important to be aware that it’s possible for a qualified doctor to correct many common concerns about the look of your nipples and areolas at the same time as your augmentation, lift or reduction. Choosing these procedures can help improve your self-esteem by giving you the breasts you have always dreamed of having.
Board-certified cosmetic surgeon Dr. Michael Kulick has helped hundreds of women and men feel better about the overall appearance of their breasts in his two decades of experience. If you are considering breast procedures, contact his San Francisco office at 415-956-2550 or reach out online to book your confidential consultation.
* Source: healthywomen.org
** Source: theimproper.com
** Source: theimproper.com
Dr. Michael Kulick, MD is a leading board certified plastic surgeon in San Francisco, California. During an initial consultation, he’ll examine your individual anatomy, discuss all your options, and create a unique treatment plan along with any other necessary procedures. If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of plastic surgery and are looking for a qualified cosmetic surgeon, use this online form to request a consultation with Dr. Kulick or call 415-956-2550.
