Seattle Plastic Surgeon assures her breast lift patients that the nipple never leaves the breast.  It would be impossible to drop it on the floor.

I saw a patient today who was worried about what could happen to her nipple during a breast lift.  She thought we actually removed the nipple from the breast and then sutured it back into a higher position.  This is a very common misunderstanding of how a breast lift works.  Take a look at these illustrations that show how the nipple (actually the nipple areaola complex or NAC) stays attached to the breast tissue.

Preoperative markings for a vertical breast lift.

The outer layer of skin around and below the NAC (nipple areolar complex) is removed.

The breast tissue is loosened up from the overlying skin. The NAC stays attached to the breast tissue.

This is the "Stuff" step in what I call my "Stuff and Tuck" breast lift. The NAC is still happily attached to the breast.

This is the tuck part of the "Stuff and Tuck" Vertical Breast Lift

The incisions are closed and the nipple is inset with stitches. The skin has shifted and the breast tissue has shifted carrying the NAC with it. The NAC has stayed attached to the breast tissue the entire time. Most of the nerves and blood vessels to the NAC are undisturbed.

 So there you have it; the “Stuff and Tuck” Vertical Breast Lift.  So no more worries about the nipple being dropped, thrown away by mistake, mixed up with the other nipple, etc.  It never leaves the breast just like my fingers never leave my hands.  I know these illustrations make it look kind of easy but I don’t advise that you try this procedure at home.

Kudos to Dr. Michael J. Brown of Virginia for these awesome illustrations.  They are the best I have seen.

Thanks for reading!  Dr. Lisa Lynn Sowder

Seattle Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Lisa Lynn Sowder has good news for you and your nipples.

I did a breast lift today on a lady who had waited years and years before having the procedure because she was afraid to have her “nipples cut off” and then “put back on”. This is a rather common misunderstanding about breast lift (and breast reduction) and I want to set the record straight.

Repeat after me:  “Your nipples never leave your breasts”.  The nipples are shifted up into a higher position with breast lifts and reductions but they stay attached to the underlying breast tissue and in most cases, sensation is preserved.

It is only in a rare, gigantic breast reduction that I do a procedure called a “free nipple graft” breast reduction.  In those cases, the nipple has to be raised so much that it is not possible to keep it attached.

Sooooooo, unless you are having a ginormous breast reduction, fear not your nipples falling off.

Thanks for reading!   Dr. Lisa Lynn Sowder