Areola reduction surgery: what is it?
Your nipples’ surrounding pigmented patches are known as areolas. Areolas differ greatly in size, colour, and shape much like breasts do. It’s entirely common to have areolas that are huge or varied sizes. There is a chance of decrease if you’re uncomfortable with the size of your areolas. Your areolas’ diameters can be decreased by an easy process called areola reduction surgery. It can be done independently or in conjunction with breast augmentation, breast reduction, or a breast lift.
Continue reading to find out more about the process, rehabilitation, and other topics.
Who can receive this treatment?
Any man or woman who is dissatisfied with the size of their areolas has the option to undergo areola reduction. If you’ve lost a lot of weight and have stretched areolas as a result, this surgery works well for you. It also functions well if your areolas changed as a result of breastfeeding or pregnancy. Additionally, those with puffed-out or projecting areolas make for excellent candidates. When an areola is asymmetrical, some people elect to have it reduced to match the other. Areola reduction surgery for women should wait until the breasts have finished growing, typically by the late teen or early 20s. Male adolescents may be eligible for this treatment at a younger age.
What is the price?
The price of areola reduction surgery is influenced by a number of variables, including your location. The type of procedure you receive has the most impact on pricing. The price will go up if you decide to combine it with a breast lift or reduction. Areola reduction surgery alone might cost between $2,000 and $5,000. Surgery to reduce the areola is a cosmetic technique that is not insured. It will be paid for out of pocket by you. You might be able to afford treatment if a facility offers payment arrangements.
Selecting the right plastic surgeon for you
It’s critical to select the best surgeon for your areola reduction procedure. Choose a plastic surgeon who has earned American Board of Plastic Surgery certification. Cosmetic surgeons are not held to the same standards as board-certified plastic surgeons. Plastic surgeons with board certification have completed at least six years of surgical training, including at least three years of plastic surgery-specific training. Make sure to request to see the surgeon’s portfolio before choosing one. This might assist you in identifying the outcomes you’re aiming for as well as the work the surgeon is capable of.
How to get ready
After choosing a surgeon, you’ll schedule a consultation appointment to go over the following steps. You should anticipate the following from your doctor during the visit:
Check your breasts.
Pay attention to your aesthetic worries.
review your available surgical alternatives.
Request your whole medical history, together with a list of your current medications.
Your doctor will explain the procedure to you if they decide you are healthy enough for surgery. They can also show you where scarring is likely to occur. After your operation, they’ll give you a general concept of how your breasts will look and make sure your expectations are reasonable. You’ll be offered a date for your procedure after your consultation. You will receive detailed preparation instructions from the doctor’s office.
This might comprise:
Refraining from taking certain medications for a week previous to your operation date, such as aspirin and ibuprofen
Setting aside time off for your surgery and recovery
Scheduling transportation to and from your procedure
Abstaining from food the day before surgery if general anesthesia is being utilized.
Taking a surgical soap-infused shower the day before surgery
Refraining from wearing makeup or other cosmetics the day before surgery.
Remove all jewelry from the body the day before surgery.
Dressing comfortably and loosely the day before surgery.
What to anticipate throughout the treatment?
Areola reduction surgery is a relatively easy procedure that takes around an hour to accomplish. A nearby hospital or your doctor’s surgical clinic may host your procedure.
Your nurse will: when you arrive;
Request that you put in a hospital gown. You can maintain wearing your underpants while being ordered to take off your bra.
Do a blood pressure check.
Set up a line for intravenous fluids. One medicine may be used to help you unwind, while another may be used to help you fall asleep.
Use electrodes to track your heart rate while having surgery.
Verify your fasting, if necessary.
You’ll meet with your surgeon ahead of time to discuss any last-minute queries or worries. You will either receive a local antiesthetic from your anesthesiologist or be made ready for general anesthesia.
Throughout the process:
Your doctor will remove a portion of tissue in the form of a doughnut from your areola.
To help the scar blend in better, this circular incision will be created along the edge of your existing areola.
A permanent suture placed deep within your breast will hold your new areola in place. The areola won’t stretch thanks to this suture.
To close the location of your incision, they’ll use dissolvable or repositionable stitches.
Your doctor might apply surgical dressings or equip you with a special postsurgical bra.
If a local anesthetic was used, you’ll be allowed to leave the hospital very quickly. If you underwent general anesthesia, your physician will keep an eye on you for a while before releasing you.
Potential dangers and issues
Although areola reduction surgery is very safe, there are dangers involved with any operations.
This comprises:
Sensation loss. To lessen the chance of sensation loss during areola reduction surgery, the center of your nipple is left in situ. During the healing process, you might have a little lack of sensation, although this is rarely permanent.
Scarring. Your areola will have a scar around the outside of it, and this scarring can range in severity. The scar can be highly prominent at times, and at other times it can fade to the point where it is almost unnoticeable. Scars can differ in colour from the skin around them. Areola tattooing can help some scars appear less noticeable.
Being unable to breastfeed. The milk ducts may sustain damage if your doctor removes a portion of your areola. There is a potential that you won’t be able to breastfeed your baby in the future, even though this is uncommon.
Infection. If you carefully follow your aftercare recommendations, you can significantly lower your risk of infection.
What to anticipate during recovering?
Surgery for areola reduction has a rather rapid recovery time. You can typically return to work in one or two days, despite the possibility of some swelling and bruising.
Your physician might advise that you:
During the first several days following surgery, you should anticipate more pain.
Utilize over-the-counter painkillers, such as ibuprofen (Advil)
For a few weeks, put on a soft sports bra or surgical bra.
Skip sexual activity for the first week.
Avoid touching your chest physically for three to four weeks.
For the first several weeks, avoid performing any rigors exercise or carrying heavy objects.
What is the prognosis?
Before you can fully appreciate the outcomes of your areola reduction surgery, it can take a few weeks. Results are frequently obscured by an initial stage of swelling and bruising. Your breasts will fall into their final place when the swelling goes down. Your areolas will seem more focused and smaller as a result. A ring-shaped scar will also be seen around your new areola. The recovery time for this is up to a year.
One to two weeks after your operation, you will have another appointment with your doctor. Your doctor will assess your healing and, if necessary, remove the stitches. Additionally, your doctor might prescribe topical drugs to assist lessen the visibility of scars.
Immediately call your doctor if you suffer any of the following:
Fever
Significant erythema or inflammation
An abrupt increase in discomfort
Pus oozing from the site of your incision
Exceptionally slow healing