Inverted Nipple Correction in Korea
“What Is Inverted Nipple Surgery?”
An inverted nipple is when the nipple is retracted into the breast instead of pointing outward. One of the most common concerns among patients with inverted nipples is whether the condition will return after surgery and whether breastfeeding will still be possible. These outcomes largely depend on the severity of nipple inversion and the surgical technique used. At VIP Plastic Surgery, the procedure is carefully selected to balance both functional preservation and long-term aesthetic stability.
It occurs because the fibrous band beneath the nipple continues to pull the nipple, and the tissue supporting the nipple is insufficient. An inverted nipple causes not only an aesthetic problem but may also hinder the ability to breastfeed, leading to breast cancer in severe cases. Both women and men can have inverted nipples.
It is congenital and may recur even after surgery.
The method to correct an inverted nipple is to cut the fibrous band and support a stout structure beneath the nipple. The inverted nipple is drawn outward through an incision around the areola and sutured in various ways to prevent recurrence.
An inverted nipple does not protrude compared to the surrounding tissues and is flat and dented, whereas an ideal nipple points outward in an appropriate size and height in an Ω shape.
Operation Information
- Surgery Time: ~60 Minutes
- Anesthesia Type: IV sedation
- Hospitalization: None
- Stitch Removal: 7-10 Days
- Recovery Time: 7 Days
Causes of Inverted Nipples
The causes are classified mainly as congenital and acquired, and in most cases, it is congenital and bilateral. When acquired, it can occur by wound, an aftereffect of breast cancer, or complications after macromastia surgery.
If, due to the congenital cause, a mammary gland is formed in the ectoderm during the sixth to seventh week of fetal life, this mammary gland grows in the mesenchymal tissue and forms a lactiferous duct. During the final stage of fetal life, a nipple is formed by a protuberance due to the proliferation of mesenchymal tissue. When the lactiferous duct is short due to undergrowth or the proliferation of mesenchymal tissue, an inverted nipple is formed. Thus, it occurs due to the decreased amount of connective tissue in the inverted nipple.
Inverted Nipples Surgery Method
The objective of the surgery is to restore normality in function, shape, sensing, and more. However, based on the level of severity, it may be difficult to meet all the goals. As for the correction, the short lactiferous duct should be lengthened, and the fibrous tissue (which restricts the protrusion of the nipple) should be cut. Moreover, the insufficient tissue beneath the nipple should be supplemented.
Among various areola reduction methods, the most appropriate method should be opted for to minimize scars and effectively reduce the areola.
The basic principle is to incise a part of the nipple skin in the center and suture it. In the case of a large nipple, the upper part of the nipple is excised, and the rest remains in an appropriate size and then sutured. Regardless of the method, scars are inconspicuous, and a satisfactory result can be obtained.
CASE 01: Lactiferous Duct Preserving Method
STEP 01 Incise both sides of nipples
STEP 02 While preserving the nipples, remove the hardened fibrous tissues that pull the nipples downwards.
STEP 03 Place the nipples in the center and suture the surrounding tissues.
02 PURSE-STRING SUTURE METHOD
STEP 01 Make an incision around the inverted nipples.
STEP 02 Make an incision in the lactiferous duct and pull out the nipples hidden inside.
STEP 03 Make a purse-string suture around the nipples.
03 LACTIFEROUS DUCT INCISION METHOD – CANNOT BREASTFEED SURGERY
STEP 01 Make an incision in the center of the nipples and find the inverted fibrous and muscular tissues.
STEP 02 Remove the hardened fibrous and muscular tissues that pull the nipples inverted.
STEP 03 To prevent the further inverted nipples again, improve and create the nipples structure using the surrounding tissues.
Areola Reduction
Nipple hypertrophy is more common in Asians than in Caucasians. It not only looks aesthetically unpleasant but also causes problems in breastfeeding.
The symptom occurs generally during pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation, but may also occur in young women who have unusually big nipples, requiring surgery.
For Korean women, the average nipple size is less than 1 cm in diameter and 7-9 mm in height. The size is not important, but should be in relative size to the shape and size of the breast, forming a balance. An excessively big nipple breaks the harmonious balance of the overall breast shape and may appear saggy. Therefore, in such a case, areola reduction is necessary to reshape the nipple to an appropriate size.
