Inverted nipple: There are different surgical techniques for correction

One of the concerns of women with inverted nipples is the fear of not being able to breastfeed. There are different surgical techniques for correction, one of which involves local anesthesia, where a small incision is made at the base of the nipple, the bands and fibrous tissues are released, and then a stitch is placed to support and prevent the nipple inversion from recurring. Another option is augmentation mammoplasty with an implant, which can indirectly correct this deformity.

Plastic surgery, in some cases, can hinder the flow of milk through the main duct due to fibrosis and scarring, but, on the other hand, it can facilitate the baby's latch during breastfeeding.

The surgery can be performed before getting pregnant. I do not recommend nipple correction during pregnancy. This is because, in some cases, the act of breastfeeding can naturally cause the nipple to revert.

An inverted nipple can be considered a malformation; however, other conditions acquired throughout life can cause it, such as those related to breast cancer, for example.

*Dr. Fernando Amato is a plastic surgeon, a full member of the Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica, a member of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).