After 14 years with a whisper-thin frame, my hips expanded beyond my double-zero waistband seemingly overnight.
To this day, I (happily) remain an A cup.
In my experience, most people are surprised to learn that nipple inversion is even possible.
Bella Geraci / Getty Images
Well, I have inverted nipples.
Or Ihadthem, before I underwent not one, but two corrective surgeries.
But how could a cartoon be an exact match anyway?
A patient before (left) and after an inverted nipple correction performed by Dr. Adam Kolker, MD.
For some people [the nipple] is just flat.
For some, it’s really retracted inward.
A patient before (left) and after an inverted nipple correction performed by Dr. Adam Kolker, MD.
Another one of Dr. Kolker’s patients before (left) and after inverted nipple correction.
Manipulation, stimulation, or temperature will usually allow a grade 1 inversion to evert on its own.
But what causes the nipple to become inverted in the first place?
Certain tissues in the body, like the nipple, have a coil effect, he explains.
Another one of Dr. Kolker’s patients before (left) and after inverted nipple correction.
Other than my sister and sister-in-law, I didnt tell anyone what was happening at that time.
I was too self-conscious to admit having the procedure, much less an unsuccessful one.
What Happens During Inverted Nipple Correction?
That can be an aid with holding the nipple in the future.
Unfortunately, he cautions, this scar tissue can also enhance a pulling effect and make recurrence more likely.
There are several sutures used, but the main is a purse-string suture around the base of the nipple.
When tying it, you establish a degree of tautness to support the nipple.
I was in and out of the OR within 40 minutes.
What Are the Risks of Inverted Nipple Surgery?
If you do, there’s always a possibility of blood supply-related issues.
There are significant sensory changes to the nipple too, such as hypoesthesia, or increased sensitivity.
The procedure can also affect the appearance of your areola, a.k.a.
the pigmented skin surrounding the nipple, especially if its on the smaller side.
