Nipple Reconstruction in Pasadena and Los Angeles Area
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Inverted Nipples
As many as 2% of American women have at least one inverted nipple, and still the subject of nipple inversion is seldom discussed among friends or in the media.
Clearly nipples are an integral part of the breast, playing a role in appearance, in sexuality, and in motherhood. For women who have inverted nipples, inversion may affect their self-esteem and body image. While several different surgical techniques have existed for inverted nipples, now there is a treatment that has been successful with long-term results.
Most cases of inverted nipples are congenital — some people are just born that way. However, some nipples become inverted after breastfeeding when scar tissue builds in the milk ducts. Nipples that become inverted after birth are usually caused by one of three things: not enough skin at the base of the nipple, constricted milk ducts, or scarring of the milk ducts due to breastfeeding.
Surgical Correction of Inverted Nipples
The surgery consists of a small incision at the base of the nipple while the nipple is in a protected projected state. Then a gentle spreading of the fibers is performed within the nipple (these fibers are what pulls the nipple inward). Special care is taken: the spreading happens parallel to the milk ducts in order to increase the chances of preserving the ability to breast feed.
Once the fibers are spread and the nipple is free and in an outward, normal position, special sutures (stitches) are placed inside the nipple. If you think of a clock, the sutures go from the 12 o'clock position to the 6 o'clock position. Another set of sutures go from the 3 o'clock position to the 9 o'clock position. A third suture goes around the base of the nipple. This adds stability and strength to the base of the nipple and helps retain its outward projection. All sutures are dissolving so you won't be required to come into the office to have any stitches removed.
The sutures dissolve within 10 to 14 days, and the initial incision will not be noticeable.