Retracted/Inverted Nipple – Patient 104

A mother of 2 in her mid 30’s who was bothered by a deflated appearance of her breasts after pregnancies as well as by an inverted nipple (retracted nipple) on her left. Nipple inversion is caused by tight breast ducts that pull the nipple in like a parachute cord. Nipple retraction has been classified by authors Han and Hong into three groups, I, II and III based on the severity of the inversion and fibrosis. A grade I nipple can be pulled out easily and maintains its projection without traction. A grade II nipple can also be pulled out manually but not as easily as the grade i and has difficulty maintaining its position, having a tendency to retract. A grade III nipple is difficult to pull out manually and usually requires a traction suture to resist the forces of fibrosis pulling it back in. This patient had a grade II to III nipple on the left. She is shown before and again, 8 months after bilateral breast augmentation and a closed inverted nipple correction using a micro incision technique. A tattoo has been blurred for her privacy. The photos are otherwise untouched.