What is inverted nipple correction?
Inverted nipple correction is a minor operation that releases the fibrous bands and shortened milk ducts pulling the nipple inward, so that it sits projected in a stable way. It is almost always done under local anaesthesia and as a day case, on one or both nipples.
Inversion is graded, and the grade guides the technique. In grade I the nipple comes out easily with stimulation or cold and stays out for a while; the ducts are usually little affected. In grade II the nipple everts with difficulty and sinks back; there is already some fibrosis and duct shortening. In grade III the nipple cannot be everted, fibrosis is marked and the ducts are retracted.
Two situations must be kept apart, because they are not the same. Congenital inversion has been present since puberty and is an anatomical variant: it is corrected for appearance, hygiene or function. Acquired inversion —a nipple that was normal and sinks for the first time in adulthood— is different: it may be due to duct ectasia, an infection, previous surgery or, less often, a tumour. So before any cosmetic correction of a new inversion, the breast is investigated. Fixing the appearance without studying the cause would be hiding a symptom.
Techniques used by Dr. Arístides Arellano
The technique is chosen at the consultation, according to the grade of inversion and —a point to be discussed before surgery— according to whether the patient wishes to keep the possibility of breastfeeding:
- Duct-preserving technique: through a small incision at the base of the nipple, the fibrous bands are released while trying to spare the milk ducts. It is reserved for mild grades and for anyone wanting to keep breastfeeding potential. In exchange for that preservation, the chance of the nipple sinking again is somewhat higher.
- Duct-dividing technique: when the retraction is firm (grades II–III), the shortened ducts are divided to release the pull completely. It is more definitive and recurs less, but it ends the ability to breastfeed from that nipple. It is an informed decision, not one made on the operating table.
- Internal support sutures and dermal flaps: once the nipple is released, internal stitches —a purse-string at the base or small dermal flaps— are placed to hold the projection and reduce the likelihood of re-inversion.
- Unilateral or bilateral correction: only the affected nipple or both in the same operation, as the case requires; symmetry with the healthy side is looked after in the design.
- Why non-surgical methods are not enough: suction devices and stretching manoeuvres can help in very mild inversions and only temporarily, but they do not cut the bands or ducts causing the pull, so the nipple tends to sink again. Surgery is the option when a stable result is wanted.
How is it done?
The procedure is usually performed under local anaesthesia and as a day case; in selected cases, or when combined with other breast surgery, sedation may be used. It takes roughly 30 to 60 minutes per nipple.
Through a discreet incision at the base of the nipple, the fibrous bands are released and —depending on the chosen technique— the ducts are preserved or divided. Internal support sutures are then placed to hold the projection, and the nipple is protected with a dressing that keeps pressure from pushing it back in while it heals. External stitches, where present, are removed around the first week.
All surgery carries risk and requires a prior medical assessment. Results may vary according to each patient, their anatomy and their individual healing process.
Who is a good candidate?
A candidate for this correction is someone with an inverted nipple that bothers them and who is in good general health. In particular, those who benefit have:
- A congenitally inverted nipple (present since puberty) that bothers them by its appearance.
- Repeated episodes of irritation, odour, trapped secretions or infection inside the sunken nipple —that is, a hygienic reason and not only a cosmetic one.
- Difficulty or inability to breastfeed because of the inversion, when correction is sought.
- An acquired inversion that has already been investigated and whose cause has been clarified; studying the breast first is part of being a good candidate, not an optional formality.
- Realistic expectations: understanding the grade, the difference between preserving and dividing ducts, and the possibility of recurrence, all reviewed in detail at the consultation.
Recommended post-surgical care
As this is a minor operation, the main task is protecting the nipple projection during the first weeks: avoiding direct pressure, following the prescribed dressings and not removing the support dressing early. Depending on the case, Dr. Arístides may advise measures to reduce swelling and aid healing. See the full guide: Post-surgical recovery and care.
Before and after
Most patients want to see before-and-after photographs before deciding. Out of respect for each person’s privacy, Dr. Arístides Arellano shows real cases —always with documented consent— during your in-person consultation, where you can review results from patients with a starting point similar to yours. Results may vary from patient to patient.
Approximate price
Inverted nipple correction is surgery whose cost is defined at the consultation, because it depends on the grade of inversion, on whether one or both nipples are operated on, on the chosen technique and on whether it is done alone or combined with other breast surgery. Approximate price — the definitive cost is set at your private consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano. See the price list.
About Dr. Arístides Arellano
Dr. Arístides Arellano is a plastic surgeon holding a specialty licence: he practises under a Mexican medical licence (D.G.P. 1125959) and a specialty licence in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (0002008), both issued by the Directorate General of Professions (DGP), which reissued his certificate of professional standing in 2025. His career began before Mexico’s present-day specialty-board system existed: he belongs to the founding generation of plastic surgery in Puebla, the second generation of a surgical tradition started in 1971 by Dr. Francisco Arellano Ocampo. Trust is verified, not promised: both licences are public and anyone can look them up in the DGP’s National Registry of Professionals.
Related patient guide
Before deciding who should operate on you: How to choose a plastic surgeon in Puebla: the checklist, including how to verify a specialty licence with the DGP.
Trust is verified, not promised. All 210 scanned documents —degree, licences, diplomas, publications and certificates, from 1977 to 2025— are open in Dr. Arístides Arellano’s credential archive, alongside an explanation of the difference between a specialty licence and a board certification.
Recovery · step by step
- Day 0Day-case surgery under local anaesthesia, 30 to 60 minutes per nipple. You walk out. The nipple is protected with a dressing that holds its projection.
- Days 1–7Mild discomfort, swelling and sometimes a small bruise around the nipple. Any direct pressure on the area is avoided, and the support dressing is not removed earlier than instructed.
- Week 1–2External stitches, where present, are removed. The nipple already looks projected, though still swollen.
- Weeks 2–6Sleeping face down and clothing or bras that press on the nipple are avoided. The scar at the base begins to mature.
- Months 1–3Projection stabilises and the scar fades. This is when the result is judged, not before. Results may vary from patient to patient.
Frequently asked questions
Does inverted nipple correction leave a visible scar?
The scar is small and placed at the base of the nipple, where it tends to blend with the natural edge of the areola. This is a minor operation, not extensive breast surgery. Over time the scar usually fades, although everyone heals differently and results may vary.
Will I be able to breastfeed afterwards?
It depends on the technique. If the milk ducts are preserved, the possibility of breastfeeding is kept, though it can never be guaranteed. If the ducts are divided —usual in grades II and III— the ability to breastfeed from that nipple ends. That is why it is a decision discussed before surgery, not on the operating table.
Can the nipple sink back in?
Yes, recurrence is the main risk of this procedure. It is more likely with duct-preserving techniques and less likely when the ducts are divided and internal support sutures are placed. Protecting the projection during the first weeks of healing lowers that chance.
My nipple inverted recently and used to be normal. Is it the same thing?
No, and this matters. A nipple that was normal and sinks for the first time in adulthood must be investigated before any cosmetic correction, because it can be due to duct ectasia, an infection or, less often, a tumour. The cause is clarified first; fixing only the appearance without investigating would be hiding a symptom.
Is it done under general anaesthesia?
Almost always no. Inverted nipple correction is usually performed under local anaesthesia and as a day case, taking 30 to 60 minutes per nipple. Sedation is only considered in selected cases or when it is combined with other breast surgery.
Will I lose sensation in the nipple?
There can be temporary changes in sensation after surgery, and less often a more lasting change, particularly when the ducts are divided. In most cases sensation recovers over time. It is one of the risks explained at the consultation.
Is the correction only cosmetic, or is there a medical reason?
It can be both. Many patients consult for appearance, but a sunken nipple also traps secretions and dead cells, which can cause odour, irritation and repeated infections. Correcting the inversion resolves that hygienic problem as well as the cosmetic one.
How long is the recovery?
Recovery is short. The main discomfort lasts a few days, and external stitches, where present, come out around the first week. Pressure on the nipple is avoided for the first weeks, and the projection stabilises over the first months. Results may vary.
Every case is different. Discuss yours in a personal consultation.
Book a consultation on WhatsAppEvery figure published on this site is approximate and is not a quote. Any procedure or treatment first requires a private assessment consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano —$800 MXN, charged separately— and it is at that consultation that the definitive cost of your case is determined.
Educational content; it does not replace a medical consultation. Results may vary from person to person.