Nipple Problems

Inverted nipples and other nipple problems are conditions we frequently see in women, and it is possible to correct them with surgical intervention. The main cause of nipple inversion is the shortness of the milk ducts. This shortness can be congenital, can develop over time, or can occur due to infection, because infections that form in the milk ducts cause the ducts to shorten, which in turn pulls the nipple inward. Rarely, tumors in the milk ducts can also cause the nipple to become inverted.

Diagram comparing normal, flat, and inverted nipple positions

Nipple Inversion Treatments

Treatment for nipple inversion becomes clear after the patient's examination. Evaluation is carried out according to the degree of inversion; in mild cases, the nipple can be drawn out using vacuum devices. This vacuum method is generally the one preferred by mothers who are breastfeeding, since the same vacuum devices used to express milk from the breast during breastfeeding can also be used for this treatment. However, when these vacuum devices cannot draw the nipple out, the area around the nipple is numbed with local anesthesia, the milk ducts are firmed up slightly, and small adjustments are made to hold the inner part of the milk ducts toward the outer part of the nipple, making it possible to correct the condition permanently. Since the patient's milk ducts are not damaged during the healing process, there is no issue with breastfeeding afterward. In some cases, when the nipple is too deeply inverted and cannot be drawn out with vacuum devices, surgical intervention is required: the milk ducts are cut surgically to treat the problem, and the cut area is treated using flaps by shifting tissue from neighboring areas; when the inversion is at this level, some breastfeeding difficulties may arise as a result of the treatment. For this reason, the patient's age and social circumstances are important criteria affecting the choice of treatment. Surgeons performing the operation must pay attention to minimizing risk to the patient's future breastfeeding while achieving a permanent, satisfactory aesthetic outcome. Nipple inversion or inverted nipple deformity is corrected through surgical intervention.

Illustration of the manual technique for correcting an inverted nipple

We have come to the end of our article on nipple problems; we hope it has been informative for you. For more information and questions, you can contact us at (+905320563693).