Areola Reduction

Before a consultation with your plastic surgeon about areola reduction and nipple reduction surgery:

• Share your health information with your plastic surgeon, remember to mention if you have allergies, any current illness, pre-existent health conditions, health risk factors, previous surgeries, use of medications, vitamins or supplements and any other relevant medical information
• Your surgeon will ask you questions about what you would like to improve with this procedure, what your expectations are and will inform you of what can realistically be achieved.
• You will be physically examined, taking into account factors such as bone structure, skin quality and measurements will be taken of the areola-nipple complex.
• Photos at different angles will be requested in order to carry out a complete evaluation
• Pre-surgery blood tests will be ordered
• You’ll need to quit smoking completely
• Make sure to follow the pre-op recommendations your surgeon gives you
• Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, garlic and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding.
• Ask your surgeon if you can take arnica tea one or two weeks before the procedure, this will help to dim the swelling and bruising.

Anesthesia

The areola and nipple reduction surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that is normally performed in the doctor’s office, under local anesthesia. Sometimes a relaxing medication is given to help with anxiety.

The procedure takes 1 hour. The surgeon will first clean and sterilize the area, and proceed to numb the areola with a very fine needle.

Incision and Sutures

 The desired diameter of the areola is drawn that will form the new areola complex, a second circle is marked on the outer edge of the areola, that is the excess skin that will be removed to reduce the diameter. As for the nipple, the area will be also marked measuring in millimeters the amount of the nipple skin that will be also removed.

Once the procedure is finished, the incision is closed with very fine sutures (stitches), some of them will be removed 7 days after the procedure, while others will be reabsorbed after a couple of weeks.

Right After Surgery

After the procedure has been completed, a dressing will be placed to protect the area. The doctor will provide instructions on how to clean the wounds. You will also be given a prescription with antibiotic medications, analgesics and those that the surgeon deems necessary for your recovery. The date of your next appointment for a check up will be indicated.

During the after care of an areola and nipple reduction, your plastic surgeon will prescribe painkillers, anti-inflammatories and antibiotics.

He will also indicate the following care:

• You must take your medications as prescribed on your post-operative care papers that you will receive before you leave the office.
• First follow-up post-surgical appointment between the 3rd and 5th day
• Relative rest 7 to 10 days
• No sexual activity for 4 weeks
• You should not exercise in the next 4 weeks
• You will be able to shower after your first office check-up with your doctor
• You should not sunbathe for the next 4 weeks
• No swimming or soaking in baths, jacuzzi, saunas for 4 weeks
• You shouldn’t be touching your wounds
• You will need to keep your breasts with minimal pressure, sleep in a face-up and semi-sitting position for the first few days after the procedure
• You should not smoke

It is important that you follow your surgeon’s recommendations to get a good result.

What happens during the recovery process after an areola reduction?

It is important that you understand that after the procedure you will experience swelling, bruising and tenderness, this will subside with time and proper medication given to you by your surgeon.

After a few weeks you will feel a little hard area around where the incisions where made, this is normal.

Good results are expected but you must remember that there is no guarantee and in some cases it may require more than one surgical procedure to do so.

It is suggested to sleep on your back with a few pillows to avoid direct pressure for the next 7 days.

The results are immediate, however to see the final result you will have to wait an average of 3 to 6 months for the inflammation to subside, and for the internal scars to soften.

Always chose an experienced board certified plastic surgeon .

It is very important that you are willing and collaborate with your surgeon, who will be monitoring your progress. Following your surgeon’s instructions is the most important part at this moment.

The surgical recovery is not difficult, although you have to be prepared to feel a little soreness after the surgery. It is normal that you might also feel little electric shocks during the first months of recovery.

Make sure to take all your medication as it has been prescribed by your surgeon. Take the time to rest and sleep well, drink water and eat healthy food with good quality proteins. Avoid high sodium foods, they will make you retain liquids.

Attend to all of your post surgery follow-up appointments.

Risks after areola and nipple reductions are low when a good surgical preparation is done, if patients follow the post surgical recommendations, complications rarely occur , but can include:

• Anesthesia complications
• Bruising
• Swelling
• Infection
• Numbness
• Asymmetries
• Necrosis

In order to decrease the risks your surgeon will ask for a series of blood tests to ensure you are in good health for your procedure.

Following your surgeon’s recommendations will favor a good outcome.