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Las Vegas Nipple Reduction & Reshaping

Why consider nipple reshaping?

A well-proportioned, nicely shaped nipple is an important element of a beautiful breast. But just like any part of the body, aging, pregnancy, weight changes, and genetics can result in a nipple and areola appearance that doesn’t fit with your preferences. As one of Las Vegas’ most renowned cosmetic breast surgeons, Dr. Pancholi understands the impact that subtle changes to the position, shape, size, and color of the nipple can make towards rounding out beautiful, natural breast contours.

  • Improved Nipple Symmetry: The procedure can correct asymmetry in the nipples, making them more uniform in size and shape.
  • Enhanced Aesthetic Appearance: Nipple repair and reshaping can improve the overall aesthetic appearance of the nipples, making them more proportionate to the rest of the breast.
  • Correction of Inverted Nipples: The procedure can effectively correct inverted nipples, which can be a source of self-consciousness for many individuals.
  • Restoration After Injury or Surgery: Nipple repair can restore the appearance of nipples that have been altered or damaged due to injury, surgery, or medical treatments like mastectomy.
  • Increased Confidence and Comfort: Improving the appearance of the nipples can boost self-esteem and body confidence, particularly in intimate situations or when wearing certain types of clothing.
  • Personalized Results: The procedure can be tailored to meet individual preferences regarding size, projection, and shape, providing personalized results.
  • Reduced Nipple Size: For those with overly large nipples, the procedure can reduce their size, creating a more balanced look with the rest of the breast.
  • Improvement in Clothing Fit: With reshaped or resized nipples, individuals may find that clothing, especially tighter-fitting garments, fits more comfortably and looks better.
  • Potential for Better Breastfeeding: In some cases, nipple repair, particularly in the case of inverted nipples, can improve the ability to breastfeed.
  • Quick Recovery: Compared to other breast surgeries, nipple repair and reshaping generally have a quicker recovery time and less postoperative discomfort.
  • Areola: The pigmented area surrounding the nipple, often involved in reshaping and resizing procedures.
  • Areola Reconstruction: A surgical procedure to reconstruct or reshape the areola, usually performed after breast reconstruction or as part of nipple repair.
  • Areolar Reduction: A cosmetic procedure to reduce the size of the areola, often performed in conjunction with nipple repair or breast surgeries.
  • Breast Reconstruction: A surgical procedure to rebuild a breast, often after mastectomy due to breast cancer. This may include nipple and areola reconstruction.
  • Gynecomastia: A condition in men where the breast tissue is enlarged, sometimes necessitating nipple repair or reshaping as part of treatment.
  • Inverted Nipple: A condition where the nipple, instead of pointing outward, is retracted into the breast.
  • Local Anesthesia: A type of anesthesia used to numb a specific area of the body during minor surgical procedures, such as nipple repair.
  • Mastopexy: Also known as a breast lift, a procedure that may involve nipple repair or reshaping to achieve a more aesthetic breast appearance.
  • Milk Ducts: Tubular structures in the breast that transport milk from the lobules, where milk is produced, to the nipple. They can be affected during certain types of nipple surgery.
  • Nipple-Areola Complex (NAC): Refers to the combined structure of the nipple and the surrounding areola, often the focus in nipple repair and reshaping surgeries.
  • Nipple Correction: Surgical techniques used to correct or modify the shape, size, or position of the nipple.
  • Nipple Reconstruction: A surgical procedure to rebuild a nipple, often after mastectomy.
  • Nipple Reduction: A surgical procedure to decrease the size of the nipples, often sought by patients with overly prominent nipples.
  • Nipple Repair: Surgical procedures focused on correcting and improving the appearance and/or function of the nipple.
  • Nipple Surgery: General term for any surgical procedure involving the nipple, which may include repair, reconstruction, reduction, or correction.
  • Projection: In the context of nipple repair, refers to the extent to which the nipple protrudes from the areola and breast.
  • Ptosis: A medical term for drooping, often used in reference to breasts or nipples that sag, which may require repair or reshaping.

What are my options for nipple surgery?

Nipple surgery encompasses a range of procedure options focused on improving the shape, position, and appearance of the nipple. Dr. Pancholi is experienced in a variety of surgical techniques to create or restore a more aesthetically pleasing appearance to the nipple/areola complex. Options include:

  • Nipple reduction for overly large, long, or prominent nipples
  • Correction of flat or inverted nipples
  • Nipple reshaping and repositioning (for droopy nipples)
  • Repair of nipples damaged by piercing
  • Flattening puffy nipples
  • Male nipple reduction

Choosing a cosmetic surgeon: experience, artistry, and skill are key

Nipple surgery involves relatively small changes compared to many cosmetic procedures—this is all the more reason to choose a cosmetic surgeon with extensive experience, skill, and artistic ability. A surgeon must make very detailed adjustments to the nipple with very little room for error, and the most minor adjustments will have a big impact on your overall breast and chest appearance.

Dr. Pancholi understands this and takes into account not only your breast size, but also your chest and rib cage dimensions, your skin tone, and the natural slope, shape, and apex of your breast to create an aesthetically pleasing, naturally proportioned nipple and areola. He is experienced in techniques that camouflage scars so they are difficult to detect once healed. He also takes great care to minimize impact to nerves to help preserve nipple sensation to the greatest extent possible.

How is nipple surgery performed?

Dr. Pancholi varies his approach based on a patient’s individual goals. For most women, nipple surgery is done for one of four reasons:

  • Make the nipple and/or areola more symmetrical
  • Make the nipple and/or areola smaller
  • Make the nipples larger
  • Correct inverted nipples

In most cases, nipple reshaping alone takes less than 1 hour and can be performed using local anesthesia. For inverted nipple correction, Dr. Pancholi uses a suspension device, which allows him to bring the nipple tissue outward with only a minuscule piercing and surgical thread. This tiny, ring-like device sits around the nipple for several months, and the thread is periodically tightened to gradually draw the nipple outward until it is permanently everted. This technique offers many benefits, including nearly undetectable scarring, reduced risk of nipple sensation loss, and reduced impact on milk ducts.

Nipple reshaping can also be performed at the same time as breast augmentation, breast lift, or another breast enhancement procedure. Dr. Pancholi will discuss the details and procedure steps of the procedure(s) that you are considering during your consultation.

What is the recovery after nipple surgery?

You will be able to go home shortly after surgery, and resume most light normal activity that same day. Your nipples and breasts will be sore for several days, and Dr. Pancholi may instruct you to wear a surgical bra, sports bra, or compression garment for several weeks while you heal. Many patients return to desk work the very next day, and exercise can be resumed gradually after 2 to 3 weeks. Contact sports should be avoided for at least 3 to 4 weeks.

One important consideration of nipple surgery to understand is that nipple sensation is usually altered in some respect. While Dr. Pancholi takes care to use techniques that minimize loss of sensation, many patients have some reduced sensation. During your consultation, Dr. Pancholi will discuss with you the risks and benefits of nipple reshaping to help you make the right decision for yourself.

Breastfeeding after nipple surgery

Most nipple procedures, including inverted nipple repair, or a nipple/areola reduction, will interfere with the milk ducts, reducing the likelihood that you will be able to breastfeed successfully after surgery. Keep in mind that pregnancy and breastfeeding will also affect the shape and size of the nipple and areola, which could negatively affect the results of nipple reshaping. If you are concerned about being able to breastfeed after nipple surgery, tell this to Dr. Pancholi. He will discuss your options with you and help you decide how best to move forward.

Learn more about nipple reduction and reshaping at a personal consultation

If you are unhappy with the appearance of your nipples, Dr. Pancholi and our experienced, caring team at Pancholi Cosmetic Surgery of Las Vegas can help you make the changes you want to feel more confident about your body. Call 702-363-0240 or contact us below to request your consultation.

References »

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van Wingerden JJ. Nummular nipple hypertrophy and repair as part of an aesthetic nipple-areola unit. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 1997 Nov-Dec;21(6):408-11. doi: 10.1007/s002669900146. 

Gould DJ, Nadeau MH, Macias LH, Stevens WG. Inverted nipple repair revisited: a 7-year experience. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2015 Feb;35(2):156-64. doi: 10.1093/asj/sju113. 

Boccola MA, Savage J, Rozen WM, Ashton MW, Milner C, Rahdon R, Whitaker IS. Surgical correction and reconstruction of the nipple-areola complex: current review of techniques. Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery. 2010 Nov;26(9):589-600. doi: 10.1055/s-0030-1263290. 

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