Areola Reduction
Areola Reduction
Areola reduction surgery can help if you are unhappy with either the size or shape of your areolas (the brown or pink area around the nipple). The procedure is quick, simple and can be performed on both men and women.
Considering an Areola Reduction?
The benefits you can expect to see following an areola reduction are a decrease in the size of your areola with scarring limited to the junction of the brown skin and the surrounding normal skin of the nipple. The procedure can be performed under either local or general anaesthetic, has very little down time and also has the other advantage of tightening up your breast skin and elevating the nipple to a slightly higher position. An areola reduction can be performed by itself or in conjunction with other breast surgeries such as a breast uplift. You may be thinking of having areola reduction surgery if you have any of the following characteristics:
Enlarged, widened areolas :
- Medical studies have shown that the ideal diameter of the areola should be in the region of 4.7 cm (for an average height woman)
- In many people the areola can be wider than this. If this is the case, you may be suitable for an areola reduction, aimed at reducing the diameter back to in the region of 4.7 cm
- The ideal diameter of the areola does vary according to the appearance of your underlying bust and needs to look in proportion
Domed or raised areolas :
- Some people develop a raised or domed areola due to forward movement of the breast tissue pushing the areola forwards
- This can be associated with conditions such as tuberous or tubular breast abnormality
- This condition is normally treated with reduction of the underlying breast tissue and reduction in the size of the areola
Non-circular areolas :
- Ideally the areola should be circular in shape but in some cases it can be slightly oval
- Areola reduction is often performed to reduce the diameter of the areola and also make it more circular
Abnormalities in the surface of the areola :
- Some people notice a variation in colour of the areola or possibly small nodules which can appear on the areola surface as small glands.
- These small glands can be reduced by further surgery to remove them
If you feel your areolas have any of the above characteristics and are of concern to you then you can arrange a free no obligation consultation with one of our experienced plastic surgeons who can talk you through your suitability for surgery and your expected results.
How will it impact on your life?
Having irregular sized or shaped areolas can have a significant impact on your self esteem, particularly in the bedroom. By undergoing this simple procedure, your areolas will be more in proportion to your breasts which can lead to a boost in your self-confidence.
Is Areola Reduction surgery right for you?
Areola reduction surgery is performed by removing a circular segment of the outer brown area of the areola. The skin surrounding this is then brought inwards in a purse string fashion to surround the areola. Absorbable stitches inside the areola are used to reduce the diameter and, in most cases, our surgeons will use a permanent stitch placed deeply in the tissues to prevent widening of the areola occurring following surgery. By using the permanent stitch it is very unlikely that you would get further widening of the areola and your nipples and they should stay in a smaller position.
After your surgery and beyond…
An areola reduction is a relatively small surgery, and is performed under local anaesthetic, which means your recovery time will not be as long as a more invasive procedure. Despite this, we still advise that you take it easy during your first week following surgery. You should keep moving, and keep the blood circulating, but ideally you should keep your heart rate low to avoid any extra swelling and bruising of your areola region. After the first week you will have a follow up appointment which will allow your surgeon to inspect your areolas and ensure you are healing as you should be. At this point your surgeon will be able to tailor advice for your specific situation, based on your job, and exercise routines.