Inverted nipples at a glance
- Duration30 min
- AnaesthesiaLocal or general
- Hospital stayDay surgery
- Time off work0 to 2 days
- Final result3 months
- Price€300 to €1,500
An inverted (or umbilicated) nipple is drawn back inside the areola, most often because the milk ducts are too short. Surgical correction releases these ducts so that the nipple comes out, through an incision of about 1 cm below the nipple. The procedure takes 30 minutes, under local anaesthesia, local anaesthesia with sedation or general anaesthesia, as day surgery at the Clinique Oxford in Cannes. It causes little pain and involves no social downtime, with 0 to 2 days off work; the stitches are removed on day 12 and the final result is seen at 3 months.
Price: additional fees of €300 to €1,500, on a written quote after the consultation (€100); the procedure is reimbursed by French national health insurance (Assurance Maladie).
What is an inverted nipple?
A nipple is described as inverted when it is drawn back inside the areola: it takes on an umbilicated appearance (it is also called an inverted or umbilicated nipple). The inversion may be permanent or temporary: in temporary forms, the nipple comes out with stimulation, during pregnancy or when breastfeeding. It affects one side or both.
What causes it?
Inverted nipples are caused by short or retracted milk ducts, which hold the nipple inwards towards the breast.
- Most often, no cause is found: this is the primary form, present since puberty.
- Sometimes a cause is found: breast ptosis (sagging), injury, breastfeeding, breast infection or breast cancer.
A nipple that has recently started to turn inwards, especially on one side only, should be seen by a doctor: a breast examination and breast imaging (mammogram, ultrasound) are then needed before any surgery.
What are the grades of inversion?
| Grade | Appearance | Usual treatment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The nipple comes out easily with stimulation and stays out for a while | Partial release of the ducts; breastfeeding is usually preserved |
| 2 | The nipple comes out with difficulty and quickly goes back in | Partial or total release, depending on the retraction |
| 3 | The nipple does not come out | Total release of the ducts; breastfeeding is no longer possible |
Cross-section, side view
Grade 3: the nipple does not come out; fibrous bands hold it at the bottom of the areola.
- 1Nipple
- 2Areola
- 3Milk ducts
- 4Breast gland
How is an inverted nipple corrected?
Treatment is surgical. Through a small incision of about 1 cm below the nipple, the surgeon partially or totally releases the milk ducts holding the nipple back, so that it comes out. The nipple is deliberately overcorrected, because slight retraction occurs over the following weeks.
| Partial release of the ducts | Total release of the ducts | |
|---|---|---|
| Suitable for | Moderate inversion (grade 1, sometimes 2) | Marked inversion (grade 3, sometimes 2) |
| Breastfeeding after surgery | Possible, depending on the ducts preserved | No longer possible |
| Recurrence | More frequent | Less frequent |
| Scar | About 1 cm below the nipple, almost invisible | About 1 cm below the nipple, almost invisible |
| Result | Final at 3 months | Final at 3 months |
Partial release
Only the ducts holding the nipple back are divided; the others are preserved, which may preserve breastfeeding.
Blue-green lines: divided ducts and stitch at the base of the nipple. Dotted line: the nipple before surgery.
An incision of about 1 cm
Before: the nipple is drawn back into the areola; the incision is planned below the nipple (dotted line).
The stitches are removed on day 12; the scar becomes almost invisible.
Before and after photos
Inverted nipples
Inverted nipples
Inverted nipple surgery
Inverted nipples
See the before and after photos of inverted nipple surgery
Dr Médard de Chardon’s experience in breast surgery
- Qualified plastic surgeon in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, former Chef de Clinique (university hospital senior registrar), Nice Faculty of Medicine; in practice in Cannes since 2011.
- More than 300 inverted nipple corrections performed.
- More than 1,500 breast lifts (mastopexies) and breast reductions and more than 3,000 breast implants placed; MD thesis on breast augmentation.
- Member of SOFCEP (French Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery), SOFCPRE (French Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery) and ISAPS (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery).
Inverted nipples and breastfeeding
Without surgery, the increase in breast size during pregnancy and breastfeeding sometimes brings the nipples out, temporarily and intermittently. Inverted nipples can, however, make breastfeeding difficult; it is sometimes still possible, with the baby then feeding directly from the areola.
After surgery, whether you can breastfeed depends on how far the ducts have been released: when they are totally released, breastfeeding is no longer possible. This is discussed at the consultation, particularly if you are planning a pregnancy.
How does the procedure with Dr Médard de Chardon work?
- ConsultationAt the practice, 101 rue d’Antibes, Cannes (€100): examination of the nipples and breasts, grade of inversion, breastfeeding plans, photographs; detailed written quote. If the nipple has only recently turned inwards, breast imaging is requested before the procedure is scheduled.
- ProcedureAt the Clinique Oxford in Cannes, as day surgery: 30 minutes, under local anaesthesia, local anaesthesia with sedation or general anaesthesia.
- Follow-upStitches removed on day 12, then check-ups until the final result at 3 months.
The correction can be combined with other breast surgery (augmentation, lift, reduction) during the same operation.
What is the recovery like?
- Pain: little pain.
- Social downtime: none.
- Time off work: 0 to 2 days.
- Stitches: removed on day 12.
- Result: deliberately overcorrected at first, because slight retraction occurs over the following weeks; final at 3 months.
- Scar: about 1 cm below the nipple, almost invisible.
Where will you be?
14 days after the procedure
What are the risks?
Complications are rare:
- recurrence of the inversion, more frequent when the ducts are partially released;
- altered nipple sensation, usually temporary;
- small haematoma or infection;
- inability to breastfeed if the ducts are totally released.
Choosing a qualified, experienced and reputable surgeon reduces these risks, and can even eliminate some of them.
How much does it cost, and is it reimbursed?
€300 to €1,500
Inverted nipple correction is reimbursed by Assurance Maladie. The additional fees are €300 to €1,500, on a written quote after the consultation (€100); they may be partly covered by your mutuelle (top-up health insurance).
Book an appointment: +33 (0)4 93 68 86 68 or Doctolib.
Frequently asked questions about inverted nipples
Is an inverted nipple serious?
Usually not: the primary form, present since puberty, is harmless. A nipple that has recently started to turn inwards, especially on one side only, should however be seen by a doctor, as it may reveal a breast condition.
Is the scar from inverted nipple correction visible?
Very little: the incision is about 1 cm long below the nipple and the scar becomes almost invisible.
Can I breastfeed after inverted nipple correction?
It depends on how far the milk ducts are released. If the release is partial, breastfeeding may remain possible; if it is total, it is no longer possible.
Can a corrected inverted nipple turn inwards again?
Slight retraction is normal in the weeks after surgery: that is why the nipple is overcorrected. The result is final at 3 months; recurrence remains possible, more often after a partial release of the ducts.
Do I need time off work after inverted nipple correction?
Not always: time off work is 0 to 2 days and there is no social downtime.
Can an inverted nipple be corrected without surgery?
Suction devices worn for several hours a day can bring out a mildly inverted nipple, often with a temporary result. Surgery is the only lasting treatment for marked forms.
Can men have surgery for an inverted nipple?
Yes, the technique is the same. The examination also looks for gynaecomastia, which can be corrected during the same operation.
How much does inverted nipple correction cost?
The procedure is reimbursed by Assurance Maladie; the additional fees are €300 to €1,500, on a written quote after the consultation (€100). Your mutuelle may cover part of them.