Modification Options
Correction of inverted nipples may be done in several ways depending on the degree of retraction. However, recovery is specific to each procedure.
Although surgery is normally performed as outpatient procedures and patients are able to go home after few hours following the surgery, some women may be asked to remain in the hospital overnight. However, the patients are advised to avoid driving immediately after the procedure because they will be still under the effect of anesthesia; therefore it is best to be driven home by a friend or relative. The main side effects of surgery are pain, swelling and sensitivity in the nipple area which can last for up to two weeks after the procedure has been performed.
Recovery time is however different with each patient. Patients are encouraged to move around immediately after surgery and after they get home they are recommended to stay in bed for 2 days following the procedure. Patients can generally go back to work in a week after the surgery.
Immediately after the procedure the nipples will more likely feel sore. The soreness should diminish however within few days. Most of the time, patients are prescribed pain killers to help them cope with the discomfort.
Medicated gauze is used following the surgical procedure to cover the nipples. They have the aim to protect the small stitched incisions on the nipple. Patients may feel a little groggy as a side effect of the surgery, but this feeling is expected to subside within a day or so. Patients are recommended not to shower the same day when the surgery was performed, but the next day.
Patients normally experience mild to moderate swelling which peaks two or three days after the procedure, and then disappears rapidly over the following three weeks. Bruising is rare. The sutures are removed four days after the procedure.
Risks that are carried by this type of surgery include infection, unsatisfactory results, excessive bleeding, adverse reaction to anesthesia, and the need for second or sometimes third procedures. The ability to breastfeed cannot be guaranteed after any surgery to correct inverted nipples. Therefore, the patient should clearly specify if she takes into consideration having babies in the future and breastfeeding them.
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