Inverted Nipple: There Are Different Surgical Techniques for Correction

One of the concerns for 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 fibrous bands and adhesions are released, and then a suture 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.

Surgery can be performed before pregnancy. I do not recommend correcting the nipple during gestation. This is because, in some cases, the act of breastfeeding can naturally cause the nipple to evert.

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 Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery (SBCP), a member of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), and of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).