Inverted Nipple Surgery

Inverted nipple surgery corrects the nipples’ projection from the surface of the breast to restore normal outward projection. Dr. Zuckerman employs an effective surgical technique that divides the milk ducts and therefore affects a woman’s future ability to breastfeed. Consequently, if you plan to breastfeed in the future, please let Dr. Zuckerman know at your initial consultation, so he can discuss your options.

Dr. Zuckerman performs inverted nipple surgery using a local anesthetic in combination with a sedative. He will make a small incision at the base of the nipple of length approximately one quarter of the nipple’s circumference. In medical terms, the nipple is the small structure at the center of the darkly pigmented areola, not entire the entire nipple-areolar complex as it is commonly referred to informally. Consequently, the incision for this procedure is extremely small, less than five millimeters in width and typically heals so as to be virtually imperceptible. After the initial incision, Dr. Zuckerman will divide the milk ducts and modify the nipple’s projection. Finally, Dr. Zuckerman will place 1-2 dissolvable stitches to close the incision.

With his experience in performing this correction, each breast typically takes Dr. Zuckerman 15mins and can be performed in an office setting. If combined with another procedure, Dr. Zuckerman may recommend undergoing surgery in his in-office AAAASF-accredited operating room facility, which maintains the highest standard of patient care similar to that of a hospital.

Inverted nipple correction surgery requires little recovery time, and it is one of the least extensive surgical procedures that Dr. Zuckerman performs. Some patients experience mild discomfort or swelling after the procedure. This typically resolves within a few days and be managed with medication prescribed by Dr. Zuckerman. Because he uses dissolvable stitches, no follow-up to remove stitches is required, but Dr. Zuckerman does like to see patients back in office about one week after surgery. Patients can typically resume normal activities within a day after the procedure, but that strenuous activity stressing the breasts should be avoided for approximately two weeks.

Dr. Zuckerman is highly experienced in cosmetic breast surgery, and takes the utmost care to ensure your safety and comfort. This is low-risk procedure with relatively minor, and rare, complications limited for the most part to infection and/or wound healing problems at the incision site. However, as discussed, patients do need to be aware that they will not be able to breastfeed after undergoing this procedure.

Below are the answers to some questions Dr. Zuckerman most frequently receives from prospective patients. If you don’t see your question below, feel free to contact Dr. Zuckerman’s office, and a member of his staff will be glad to reach out to you.

Can I combine this procedure with a breast augmentation?

Yes, inverted nipple correction can certainly be done during the breast augmentation procedure. However, this combination should be performed in the in-office accredited operating room, not in an exam room under local anesthesia.

Are you ready for your inverted nipple surgery consultation with Dr. Zuckerman? He will perform a thorough evaluation of your desired outcome and needs based on your anatomy and medical history. Dr. Zuckerman will also address any questions or concerns you may have about the surgery and discuss with you the details of his approach: incision location(s), procedure length and techniques, likely operative outcome, etc. Contact his office by clicking the button below or by calling (212) 231-9897. Dr. Zuckerman also offers consultations via Skype and a process for out-of-town patients to visit New York City to have surgery with him.