Areolae reduction is a procedure by which the size of the skin surrounding the nipple is made smaller and/or more circular. You may be considering an areola reduction for one or both breasts if you have any of the following attributes:
I perform this surgery by removing a circular rim of the outer areola, bringing in the surrounding skin using a permanent purse string suture. A finer line of absorbable suture is then used to make the scar as neat as possible. At first the scar looks corrugated, where a larger circumference of skin has been worked into a smaller circumference of areola, but this settles over the first couple of months. By using the permanent stitch, it is very unlikely that you would get further widening of the areolae.
Areola reduction surgery can be performed under either local or general anaesthetic as a day case, has very little down time and also has the other advantage of tightening up the breast skin. You will be able to return to sedentary activities (i.e. an office job or light duties) after a couple of days.
General or Local Anaesthetic
Reasonably mobile: Immediately
Bras and garments: sports bra worn for 8 weeks.
Wired bra after 2 months
Hospital stay: 1 night
Washing: Shower after Day 1,
bath after 2 weeks
Full recovery: 1-2 weeks
Surgery time: 60 – 90 minutes
Driving: 1 week
Time off work: None
Exercise: 6-8 weeks
Sleeping: On your back for 4 weeks
Price: £2000