Inverted nipples and inverted nipples

A well-shaped nipple is an essential feature of the breast. Often, however, the shape of the nipple does not correspond to one’s own ideal image. For example, a retracted nipple, which is usually called an inverted nipple or inverted nipple, can be perceived as very stressful.

What are the causes of inverted nipples?

There is a muscle in the nipple that contracts in the cold or when stimulated, causing the nipple to protrude. This exerts a protruding (every) and straightening (erecting) force on the nipple. The milk ducts that run from the mammary gland tissue into the nipples exert an inward pull, i.e. an inverting force, on the nipples. If the inward pull of the milk ducts is greater than the force of the muscle that erects the nipple, inverted nipples are formed. The pull of the milk ducts is decisive here. This imbalance of forces can vary depending on the nipple. Thus, the severity of inverted nipples also varies considerably, sometimes even between the left and right nipples. The type of treatment depends on the severity of the inverted nipples. Therefore, a consultation is necessary to determine the degree of retraction of the nipples and to be able to give a therapy recommendation. The topic of costs is also discussed in detail.

Do I need surgery to have the retracted nipples corrected? Is there an alternative without surgery?

Before you decide to have your inverted nipples surgically corrected, we advise you to consider non-surgical, so-called conservative treatment methods for inverted nipples in order to “protrude” the nipples. In this context, the Niplette suction device could help. For example, while you sleep, it exerts a slight suction on your inverted nipples via a vacuum, thus gently stretching the shortened milk ducts that are the main cause of your inverted nipples. If the inverted nipples are only mildly pronounced, the result can be satisfactory. Flat nipples or grade 1 inverted nipples benefit significantly more often from the Niplette suction device than inverted nipples of the 2nd or 3rd degree.

Surgical correction of the inverted nipple

If the Niplette suction device does not produce satisfactory results, or if these are not to be expected in the case of higher-grade inverted nipples, then surgical nipple correction can lead to a permanent solution.

What result can I expect?

In most cases, the correction of the inverted nipple is permanently successful. Slipping back into the initial state of “inverted nipple” is very rare.

Correction of the inverted nipple and breastfeeding

The biggest disadvantage of the procedure is that after correcting the inverted nipple, you will no longer be able to breastfeed. This is because the milk ducts that transport milk from the mammary gland to the nipple are severed during the correction of the inverted nipple. Therefore, before correcting your nipple, you should carefully consider how important it is for you to be able to breastfeed. You should also test in advance whether you are likely to be able to breastfeed, because breastfeeding is often possible even in the presence of inverted nipples. The Niplette suction device can provide an important indication of your ability to breastfeed. If you can normalize your inverted nipples with this, then it is very likely that your baby will also be able to do so by sucking.

Costs

Inverted nipple correction 800,- one-sided 1.400,- both sides