Many women associate breast or nipple augmentation with an improvement in their visual appeal.Meanwhile, correction of the inverted nipple is more aimed at solving the functional defects of the mammary gland.An inverted nipple prevents the baby from latching on normally, and solving the problem of how to stretch the nipples is the solution to the problem of breastfeeding for many women.
A woman's nipple that becomes smaller or flatter than average can be a sign that her milk ducts have shortened.In this case, the nipple may not come out on the skin at all, but with mechanical irritation it is pulled;such nipples react poorly to temperature changes.But, in most cases, this does not interfere with feeding the baby.
It is worse if the inverted nipple is combined with its reduction in size so much that the child cannot grasp it with his lips.It is necessary for the baby to be able to latch onto the nipple properly during feeding, which may require surgical nipple augmentation.
The main causes of a small or inverted nipple are heredity, shortened or underdeveloped milk ducts, general underdevelopment or hypofunction of the genitals, constant wearing of a tight bra, especially in adolescence, and breast tumors.
Methods for correcting inverted nipples
There are several methods used to correct a small or inverted nipple:
- surgical methods for correcting the shape of the nipple (with and without crossing the milk ducts);
- vacuum nipple retraction using attachments;
- nipple massage;
- tattoo (cosmetic correction to visually increase the size of the nipple).
Surgical techniques differ for women who do and do not plan to breastfeed.If a woman does not plan to breastfeed her child, then only nipple plastic surgery is performed, in which the very short milk ducts that held the nipple under the skin are completely crossed;after such an operation, breastfeeding is impossible in the future.
But if the operation is performed to improve the possibility of breastfeeding, then the integrity of the ducts is preserved and through an incision at the base of the areola, only the connective tissues that hold the inverted nipple under the skin are cut;these tissues connect the milk ducts to the nipple.The difference between the interventions is also in the price - plastic surgery with the crossing of the canals is simpler and cheaper.And the choice of anesthesia - local or general - in any case depends on the doctor.
Vacuum nipple retraction is a relatively new method that involves wearing special bandages that stretch the nipple using a vacuum.The nozzle is placed on the nipple and air is inhaled from the other side using a syringe.The device - the cap is small in size and is invisible under clothing, but when worn continuously for at least 8 hours a day for 2-3 months, you can get a stable nipple retraction result.But before you start wearing it, you should consult a mammologist, and if discomfort or pain appears, use should be stopped.
A woman can perform nipple massage herself, even at home, after learning the basic techniques of the technique from a specialist.But such correction should begin in adolescence, when the mammary gland is growing and is quite sensitive to any influence.
Tattooing is not a medical correction, but a cosmetic one, in which a pigment is injected under the skin, visually increasing the size of the nipple.The procedure is very painful, but the high-quality tattoo allows you to achieve complete similarity in the appearance of the nipple after correction with a regular nipple.