Many women associate breast or nipple enlargement with an improvement in their visual appeal.Meanwhile, the 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 protruding nipples is the solution to the problem of breastfeeding for many women.
A woman's nipples that are smaller or flatter than average can be a sign that her milk ducts have shortened.In this case, it may happen that the nipple does not protrude above the skin at all, but retracts due to mechanical irritation;such nipples react poorly to changes in temperature.But in most cases, this does not interfere with feeding the baby.
It is worse if the inverted nipple is combined with a decrease in size to the point that the child cannot grasp it with his lips.In order for the baby to be able to properly attach to the nipple during feeding, surgical nipple augmentation may be necessary.
The main causes of small or inverted nipples are heredity, shortened or underdeveloped milk ducts, general underdevelopment or underfunctioning of the genitals, constant wearing of tight bras, especially during adolescence, and breast tumors.
Corrective methods of inverted nipples
There are several ways to correct small or inverted nipples:
- surgical methods for correcting the shape of the nipple (with and without the 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 are different for women who are breastfeeding and those who are not planning to breastfeed.If a woman does not plan to breastfeed her child, then only mastoplasty surgery is performed, during which the nipple is completely crossed by the too short milk ducts that hold the nipple under the skin;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 only the connective tissues that hold the inverted nipple under the skin are cut through the incision at the bottom of the areola;these tissues attach 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 - depends on the doctor in each case.
Vacuum nipple traction is a relatively new method that involves wearing special attachments that stretch the nipple using a vacuum.Place the nozzle on the nipple and suck out the air from the other side with a syringe.The device - the cap is small and invisible under clothes, but you can get stable nipple adhesion results by wearing it continuously for at least 8 hours a day for 2-3 months.But before you start wearing it, you should consult a mammologist, and if you experience discomfort or pain, you should stop using it.
A woman can perform nipple massage independently, even at home, after learning the basic techniques of the technique from a professional.But such correction should be started in adolescence, when the mammary gland is growing and is quite sensitive to any influence.
Tattooing is not a medical, but a cosmetic correction, during which pigment is injected under the skin, visually increasing the size of the nipple.The procedure is very painful, but the high-quality tattoo allows for complete similarity of the appearance of the nipple after correction with a normal nipple.