Can my nipple size be reduced in breast reduction?

While many women seek to enhance the size of their breasts through the use of implants or fat transfer, plenty of other women are looking to achieve just the opposite. Large or pendulous breasts can cause a multitude of problems for patients, including chronic neck and back pain, discomfort while exercising, difficulty finding clothing that fits, and negative impact on a woman’s confidence and self-esteem. These issues can have a significant impact on quality of life, and unfortunately for many women, recommendations like weight loss and wearing a supportive bra just don’t cut it! For this population, breast reduction surgery offers a safe and effective way to decrease the size of the breasts to a size the patient is comfortable with, correcting many of the issues associated with very large breasts. When considering breast reduction, many women have concerns about how their breasts will look after the procedure. One common question that arises is if the size of the nipple areola complex can be altered for those who wish to decrease the size of their areolas or correct asymmetry. This blog post will give an overview of breast reduction as well as answer this common question.

Breast reduction is a highly effective procedure for reducing the size of the breasts to decrease excess weight and create a proportional, balanced bust line. The first step towards any surgical procedure is having a thorough in-person conversation with your plastic surgeon. Experienced board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Traci Temmen takes her time with each patient to ensure a thorough review of their anatomy and goals, as well as to address all questions. Patients may also raise any concerns they have at this time about undesired asymmetry between the breasts or areolas, as well as the desired size and position of the nipple areola complex. Dr. Temmen understands the importance of this open communication and makes every effort to make each patient feel cared for and listened to while forming a personalized surgical plan to get them the best possible results.

During the procedure itself, a circular incision is made around the perimeter of the nipple areola complex (the junction where the skin color becomes darker). Depending on the scale of the reduction and patient anatomy, sometimes a second vertical incision is made on the breast that connects to the bottom of the peri-areolar incision. While many women have concerns about these scars, most find that they fade significantly with time, and are well worth the overall positive change in their quality of life that comes from this life-altering procedure. After these incisions are made, excess breast tissue is removed while preserving the blood and nerve supply to the nipple. This accomplishes the reduction in breast size, and also allows for correction of any sagging by lifting the breasts to a more youthful position. If the breasts are naturally different sizes, different amounts of tissue can be excised from each breast to restore symmetry. During this procedure, the nipple areola complex is also lifted to a higher position on the breast mound to match the breasts and create a perky appearance. Many patients also desire the size of their areolas to be reduced to match the proportions of their new breasts. This can be accomplished by removing skin from the perimeter of the incision that was made around the areola. Afterwards, the incision is closed to ensure a seamless, proportional, and symmetric look. To correct asymmetry in areola size, more tissue can be taken from the larger areola.

Dr. Traci Temmen recognizes that oversized breasts can have a profound effect on quality of life. She is a meticulous perfectionist with every patient, and is committed to helping women finally feel comfortable and confident in their bodies. For women who are impacted by the negative effects of their large breasts, breast reduction offers a safe and highly effective surgical solution. Dr. Temmen frequently performs areola reduction as part of this procedure to correct enlarged or asymmetrical areolas and create a proportional and balanced appearance. Patients are thrilled with their results, and love being free of the burden of overly cumbersome breasts. To view real examples of patient results, click on the Gallery tab of this website. To learn more about if you may be a good candidate for this procedure, call 813-771-6393 to book your one-on-one consultation with Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Traci Temmen, MD, today!