For millennium, the youthful female breast has always been considered the quintessential symbol of female beauty, fertility and sexual attractiveness – and more.
This is true from the perspectives of both men and women.
Of course, a breast wouldn’t be what it is without the vitally important nipple firmly, and often proudly, projecting out above the areola at the apex of the breast.
It is quite understandable that for many women with inverted nipples, their breasts are just not quite the same.
For them, this can be a very embarrassing situation. Having inverted nipples can also negatively impact one’s self-esteem and confidence, lead to anxiety and depression and significantly affect dating and romantic relationships.
These are not desirable impacts for an issue that can easily be corrected.
Incidence of Inverted Nipples
In the medical literature, the incidence of inverted nipples in women has been stated as between 2% and 10%. From experience, the “true” incidence is likely less than 10% but it is still common enough.
Close to 90% of women affected by inverted nipples have it on both sides. Interestingly, around 50% of women with inverted nipples have someone else in the family with the same situation.
Inverted Nipples are Rarely Associated with a Medical Issue
Inverted nipples are generally congenital in nature and benign with no medical implications. They can also develop as a result of such issues such as massive weight changes, trauma, inflammation or infection of the breast. Only in rare circumstances – where this develops after the nipples have previous projected – is this of concern as it could be a consequence of breast cancer.
Grades of Inverted Nipples
Believe it or not, there actually is a grading system that can be applied to inverted nipples. It is generally not of any medical consequence though when it comes to breast feeding, this can be relevant.
Besides, you have inverted nipples and don’t like them so who cares academically what grade they are!
You just want them fixed.
The following are the grades of nipple inversion:
Grade 1 – The nipple can be easily pulled out and will stay that way for a period of time.
Grade 2 – The nipple can be pulled out, to some extent, but goes back in when not being held.
Grade 3 – The nipple can’t be pulled out above the areola, staying in its retracted position.
With this grading system, breast feeding would be easier and more likely to be successful with Grade 1 as opposed to Grades 2 and 3.
Non-Surgical Treatment of Inverted Nipples
Some inverted nipples can be “treated” non-surgically if you will accept a very temporary, transient solution. A Grade 1 inverted nipple can manually be pulled out and will stay out usually for only a short while.
If something puts pressure on it, like clothes or a bra, it will lose its projection. The same is true when a suction device is employed.
Nipple piercing is another non-surgical method that has been used to treat inverted nipples. It is possible that this approach may allow for enough scarring to keep the nipple projecting – at least while the piercing is still in place. This best works for Grade 1 inverted nipples.
Surgical Treatment of Inverted Nipples
The gold standard and definitive treatment of inverted nipples is with surgery. The procedure, which is performed in the office under local anesthesia, entails making around a ¼ inch incision at the base of the ultimately projecting nipple through which the restraining ducts and ligaments are divided.
Discomfort post procedure is minimal as is down time. The success rate approaches 100% over the long term.
Patient satisfaction for the treatment of inverted nipples in my practice has been 100%. No one has ever regretted having it done.
Patient Treated for Inverted Nipples
This is a 22-year-old female who has been stressed out and embarrassed for years due to her inverted nipples (photo A). They have never projected.
Here she is just two weeks following the surgical treatment of her inverted nipples. The dressing including sutures were just removed (photo B). She experienced no discomfort after the procedure.
A) Inverted nipples before surgery
B) Two weeks after surgery
Your Consultation for the Treatment of Inverted Nipples
If you are interested in pursuing the surgical treatment of your inverted nipples, you can schedule a complimentary consultation by contacting the Arizona Center for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery either by telephone at (480) 451-3000 or by email.
Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona