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| Inverted Nipple Problem | Inverted nipple is the disorder, when nipple is pointed inward, rather than being pointed outward. As a rule inverted nipples are seen as a slit or as a hole in the breast at the place of the nipple. It is possible that either one or both nipples would be inverted. It is usually considered that the problem is of a congenital character, though, sometimes the reason of it may be scarring from breast feeding or some infection, present in the ducts or some kind of breast surgery, which was conducted before. The nipple inversion can become the reason of rash, irritation, feeling of discomfort, and it may even prevent a woman from being able to breast feed.
There are three “grades” of nipples’ inversion, they are the following:
Grade 1. Nipples are inverted, though they can become everted in a manual manner – it usually occurs in the result of stimulation or in response to cold temperature. The nipples can even remain normal for some time. In case of grade 1 nipple inversion, milk ducts are mostly not get compromised and a woman’s ability to breast feed remains.
Grade 2. Nipples are inverted, and they are difficult to evert. In case if it becomes possible, the eversion practically never lasts long, the nipple returns to its inverted state immediately. If a woman suffers from this grade of nipple inversion, she can possibly breast feed, though, not always.
Grade 3. Nipples are severely inverted and they never become everted. As for milk ducs, they are usually constricted and a woman, suffering from this disorder is not able to breast feed. In addition, people with Grade 3 nipple inversion may be suffering form rashes, infections and other problems, connected with nipple hygiene.
As for the inverted nipples correction, it is a minimally invasive procedure, which can be performed in conjunction with such surgeries as breast augmentation, breast lifting, and breast reduction. There exist two techniques, which can be used for the inverted nipples correction: one of them leave the milk ducts intact, and in case of another the milk ducts are to be divided.
Milk Ducts Intact. This procedure can possibly be conducted under local anesthesia. During it an incision is made around the base of the nipple on the areola, after that the nipple is lifted from the breast along with the areola tissue, and they are stitched into a new, projecting shape with the help of a purse – string style of stitching. It should be pointed out, that because the scar is located around the nipple, the scar contracture would actually increase, rather than decrease nipple projection.
Milk Ducts Divided. This procedure is conducted much more often, and it is necessary to be done in somewhat more difficult cases of the nipple inversion. During it local anesthesia is usually applied. An incision is made at the nipple base, and the shortened milk ducts get detached, which lets the nipple projection look more naturally. At the end of this surgery, the incision is sutured closed and medicated gauze is used to the site.
However, no matter what kind of an inverted nipple repair technique a person prefers, the aim is to reshape the nipple and the areola in such a way, that the nipple would get projected out from the breast, thus enhancing the appearance of the breast while preserving the nipple’s sensitivity.
In either case the recovery is rapid enough, and a person is capable to be active and to lead normal way of life within hours after the operation. Showers are allowed to be taken the next day, and sutures are usually removed in 4 to 7 days after the procedure.
There are several things, which may occur with the person after the Inverted Nipple Repair Procedure. It is possible that the skin of the breasts may look somewhat shiny because of swelling. However, this swelling should disappear within a few weeks, and then the skin will return to its normal appearance. In addition, it is quite possible to experience some kind of numbness in the area of the surgery, though this also goes away within a month and a half of the surgery. In case if the correction was applied to both nipples, the two breasts may heal at different rates: one breast may be swelling, while the other may feel less comfortable, or the shapes of two breasts may seem to be different. This is considered to be quite normal, and there is nothing to get scared of, because both breasts will look very natural and become similar as well as the body gets fully recovered.
And, of course, there are some risks, associated with the Inverted Nipple Repair Surgery (just like with all other surgical procedures). Thus, to possible side effects and complications belong:
- Inability to breastfeed;
- Loss of nipple sensation;
- Recurrence of nipple inversion;
- Scarring.
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