Inverted Nipple Correction

Correcting inverted, or inward-turned,
nipples to protrude outwards

It is important to understand that inverted nipples are primarily a cosmetic problem. Other than potentially being harder to clean, inverted nipples usually function as well as everted nipples.

Inverted nipple correction is generally a very simple in-office procedure performed under local anesthesia.

Am I a Good Candidate for Inverted Nipple Correction?

If your nipples are incapable of everting, or turning outward, you could be a good candidate for this surgery.

Inverted nipples are classified into three grades:

  • Grade 1 inverted nipples are typically inverted but will evert easily in response to touch or cold, and will remain everted with mild stimulation. Sometimes they are called “shy nipples.”
  • Grade 2 inverted nipples are harder to evert and will tend to turn inward quickly, often despite continued stimulation.
  • Grade 3 inverted nipples cannot be everted. These can cause hygiene problems because they are hard to clean and may tend to become infected.

All three grades of inverted nipples can be corrected through surgery. No matter the degree of the inverted nipple, most often women are still able to breastfeed. A baby will latch onto the breast, creating a good seal and then suction will stimulate the secretion of milk. Sometimes milk ducts are blocked, but this is a distinct problem from inverted nipples, though they may share a common cause.

Benefits of Inverted Nipple Correction

Inverted and everted nipples are the same shape, just reversed, so correction generally does not involve much alteration of the nipple itself. Most often, the problem is behind the nipple, such as scar tissue or the smooth muscle behind the nipple. Unless the problem is the milk ducts themselves, it is generally possible to maintain the function of the nipple so women who were previously able to breastfeed should still be capable following surgery. However, it is possible that a woman may lose sensation or the function of the milk glands after surgery. Correction of the inverted nipple can often be combined with other breast surgery, such as a breast lift or breast augmentation (especially when utilizing the periareolar incision).

Body Experts

Both Dr. Gawley and Dr. Geoghegan are cosmetic and reconstructive experts when it comes to body contouring. They are passionate about helping patients achieve both the look they desire and long-lasting, natural results. During your consultation, your surgeon will take a unique approach and work with you to select the right combination of procedures for your body and desired outcome.

Complimentary Procedures

Breast lift

breast lift does not add volume to your breasts, but it can make your breasts appear larger by bringing the breast tissue together. Shape, firmness, and placement can be improved. The benefits of a breast lift include:

  • Removing excess skin
  • Lifting sagging breasts
  • Firmer breasts
  • Improved shape
  • Reduce areola size

When removing implants, a patient can opt for a lift in combination with fat grafting to achieve natural fullness if desired.

Breast lift with implants

A breast lift can also be combined with breast implants to achieve your desired results. For many women, this produces the ultimate combination of increased size with desirable placement, shape, and tone. Please read our Breast Lift plus Breast Augmentation page to learn more.

Breast Augmentation

A breast augmentation is a procedure that will change the shape and fullness of your breasts using implants.

Breast enlargement is one of our most popular procedures at our practice. Our surgeons can help you achieve the size and shape you have always wanted or restore your pre-childbirth breast size.

At Gawley Plastic Surgery, it is our goal for breast augmentation patients to achieve a size that is natural and proportionate to their body.

Causes of Inverted Nipples

Most inverted nipples are congenital, just a normal variation on the nipple, and are genetic. Sometimes, though, inverted nipples can be caused by some medical conditions such as:

  • Milk duct infection
  • Injury to the breast
  • Breast diseases such as mastitis, abscesses, or breast cancer
  • Changes to the breast caused by pregnancy or breastfeeding

Women with congenital inverted nipples, especially shy nipples, often learn to cope with them, but acquired inverted nipples, especially when accompanied by other perceived negative changes in the appearance of a woman’s breasts, are more likely to make you feel self-conscious.

Recovery & Results From Inverted Nipple Surgery

After your in-office procedure, you will be sent home with bandages around your incision sites to help reduce swelling and minimize bleeding. Your surgeon will give you specific instructions for what you can and cannot do immediately after surgery and in the weeks to come.

You can see what our surgeons have achieved for other inverted nipple patients by browsing our before-and-after photos to get an idea of what this procedure could mean for you.

Recovery & Results From Inverted Nipple Surgery

After your in-office procedure, you will be sent home with bandages around your incision sites to help reduce swelling and minimize bleeding. Your surgeon will give you specific instructions for what you can and cannot do immediately after surgery and in the weeks to come.

You can see what our surgeons have achieved for other inverted nipple patients by browsing our before-and-after photos to get an idea of what this procedure could mean for you.

Envision Your
Natural Results

Gynecomastia (Male Breast Reduction) FAQs

Gynecomastia surgery permanently removes excess glandular breast tissue. However, it is possible for the tissue to grow back depending on the cause of your gynecomastia. it’s important to discuss your full medical history for your surgeon so they can make the best surgical recommendation for realistic results.

The only treatment for gynecomastia is surgery. While fat responds to diet and exercise, glandular tissue does not.