Both surgeries are done in an accredited hospital under a light anaesthetic and usually have very minimal downtime.

Preparation

Smoking and being overweight have been shown to cause significant complications after areola or nipple surgery. Dr Safvat will insist that you stop smoking a minimum of 3 weeks before your surgery and lose as much excess weight as possible. Ideally you should be in the normal BMI range before your surgery.

Complications

While all care and diligence is taken by Dr Safvat to minimise or avoid complications, any surgical procedure can be associated with some general complications and/or specific complications related to the surgery you are having. Choosing a Specialist Plastic Surgeon such as Dr Safvat and having your procedure done in an accredited hospital minimises risks as does using an accredited Anaesthetist.

Some general surgical potential complications are:

•  Infection that may require antibiotics (Dr Safvat prescribes all patients antibiotics after surgery to minimise this risk).

•  Fluid build-up under the skin (seroma).

•  Allergic reaction to dressings and other items used during the procedure.

•  The formation of blood collection (haematoma) which could require additional surgery.

•  Scars heal differently in different people. Some people are genetically prone to develop keloid scars. Hypertrophic scars develop when there is a complication in the healing process. Whilst not ideal, there is no threat to your health if you develop these.

•  Anyone can have a heart attack or stroke from a clot. This risk is slightly increased with anaesthetics.

Areola Reshaping:

•  Loss of nipple sensation and numbness may occur during the first few months. In most cases this is temporary, but occasionally numbness may be permanent.

•  Nipples may become overly sensitive, again this is usually temporary.

•  Potential problems with breastfeeding, this is rare but as the areola is being cut there is the small chance that there can be damage to the milk ducts.

•  Asymmetrical results.

•  Scar may widen depending especially if significant reduction in the size of the areolas is done.

Nipple Correction:

•  Swelling and sensitivity of the nipples is common initially but should subside over the first few months after surgery.

•  In a very small number of the cases the correction may be partially successful and patients may need revision surgery.

•  There is a chance that you might lose some nipple sensation. This may recover over the course of several months.

•  To correct the inverted nipple the tethered ducts are cut. This will cause problems with breastfeeding. However, a patient will have difficulty breastfeeding with an inverted nipple anyway. But it is recommended that if you are planning to have children and breast feed to postpone the correction of your inverted nipple surgery until after you finish breast feeding.

Dr Safvat will go through the specific risks associated with Areola and Nipple surgery with his patients, at their consultation in his Sydney and Bowral rooms.

Cost

Inverted nipple correction surgery

Inverted nipple correction surgery a Medicare item number in some cases only meaning those  patients that qualify should get a rebate from Medicare and their health fund (where applicable). The hospital costs are usually covered by private health funds depending on the patient’s level and type of coverage. Alternatively, you can have the procedure done in a Private Hospital as a Self-Funded patient. If the surgery is classified as cosmetic, no rebates will be available and there will be private hospital fees involved.

Areola reduction surgery

This is considered a fully cosmetic procedure and therefore there will be no rebates available and you will required to pay for all of the costs.

Detailed information regarding costs will be provided to you after your initial consultation.

Areola Reduction Surgery FAQs

Nipple Correction Surgery FAQs