Many women associate breast or nipple augmentation with an improvement in their visual appeal.Meanwhile, the correction of an inverted nipple is aimed more at solving functional defects of the mammary gland.An inverted nipple prevents the baby from latching normally, and solving the problem of nipple stretching is the solution to the breastfeeding problem for many women.
A woman's nipple that becomes smaller or flatter than average may be a sign that her milk ducts are shortened.In this case, the nipple may not protrude above the skin at all, but with mechanical irritation it retracts;these nipples react poorly to temperature changes.But in most cases, it does not interfere with the baby's feeding.
It is worse if the inverted nipple is combined with a reduction in size such that the child cannot grasp it with his lips.It is so that the baby can latch on well during feeding that surgical nipple enlargement may be necessary.
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 during 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 intersection of the milk ducts);
- vacuum nipple traction using accessories;
- nipple massage;
- tattoo (cosmetic correction to visually increase the size of the nipple).
Surgical techniques differ depending on women who plan to breastfeed or not.If a woman does not plan to feed her child with breast milk, only nipple plastic surgery is performed, in which the too 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 breastfeeding possibilities, the integrity of the ducts is maintained 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 attach the milk ducts to the nipple.The difference between the interventions also lies in the price: plastic surgery with intersection of the ducts is simpler and cheaper.And the choice of anesthesia - local or general - in any case depends on the doctor.
Vacuum nipple traction is a relatively new method that involves wearing special accessories that stretch the nipple using vacuum.The nozzle is placed on the nipple and air is drawn 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 achieve a stable result of nipple traction.But before you start wearing it, you should consult a mammologist and, if discomfort or pain occurs, stop using it.
A woman can perform nipple massage on her own, even at home, having learned the basic techniques of the technique from a specialist.But such correction should begin in adolescence, when the mammary gland develops and is quite sensitive to any influence.
Tattooing is not a medical, but cosmetic correction, in which a pigment is injected under the skin, visually increasing the size of the nipple.The procedure is very painful, but a high-quality tattoo allows you to achieve complete similarity of appearance of the nipple after correction with a regular nipple.