Areola Reduction Surgery

Both men and women choose to undergo areola reduction surgery for a variety of reasons. Eligibility for the treatment can depend on your case and what your expectations are going into it. Most commonly, a nipple reduction is undertaken to correct:

• Large or wide areolae

• Asymmetrical areolae

• Stretched areolae following significant weight loss, pregnancy, or breastfeeding

It’s important to note too that areola reduction surgery is only suitable for women whose breasts are fully developed, usually when they’re around their late teens or early twenties. For men, the procedure can be performed slightly earlier, but this is something that should be discussed with your doctor beforehand.

Nipple Reduction Surgery: How Does It Work?

An areola reduction involves resizing or reshaping the pigmented area of skin around the nipple. While the process for this can vary depending on your situation, there are a few common steps involved in all areola reduction surgeries.

1. Initial Consultation

Your doctor will assess your general health and examine the precise size and shape of your areolae. This is the chance for you to discuss the surgery with your doctor, going over the different options and what you hope the treatment will achieve.  

2. Anaesthesia

Most areola reductions are performed using local anaesthesia. This means you’ll be awake for the procedure but you shouldn’t feel any pain or discomfort. Depending on your circumstances, your doctor may prefer to use a general anaesthetic and this is something that can be discussed during the pre-op consultation.

3. The Areola Reduction Procedure

The technique that your doctor will use will depend on the size of your areola and what the goals of the treatment are. But, there are common steps involved in all nipple reductions. Your doctor will: 

• Make a circular, doughnut-shaped shaped incision around the edge of the areola to ensure that any scarring is discreet.

• Remove this circular piece of tissue from the edge of the areola.

• Close the wound with surgical sutures that are hidden beneath the skin to prevent distortion and minimise scarring.

In most cases, dissolvable stitches are used to close the wound and your doctor may apply some surgical dressings or a post-surgical bra.

Areola Reduction Surgery: Recovery and Results

Areola reduction is a relatively straightforward procedure that has high rates of success. But, it’s important to have realistic expectations before undergoing treatment and understanding all surgery implications is an important step towards a successful recovery.

Nipple Reduction Surgery: Abroad or at Home?

Choosing between undergoing areola reduction surgery in the UK or abroad can be tricky. Travelling to a clinic overseas has become a lot more common in recent years. But, why is this?

Patients choose to travel abroad for a nipple reduction because:

1. Areola reduction surgery costs overseas are much cheaper than in the UK.

2. Some of the best doctors are based abroad.

3. Areola reduction clinics abroad offer care that is just as good — if not better — than what you’d get at home.

4. Access to treatment overseas is easier, with shorter waiting lists and more doctors.

5. Undergoing the procedure abroad allows you to rest and recover in a quiet, private space.

Although travelling abroad for nipple reduction surgery is becoming increasingly popular, there are a few common questions that patients ask before booking their treatment.

Why Choose Qunomedical?

At Qunomedical, we’re on a mission to tackle the one-size-fits-all attitude that’s all too common in healthcare. By taking a patient first approach, we’re working hard to try to ensure that high-quality treatment is easily and readily accessible to everyone, regardless of their background.

✔ 100% free, non-binding assessment: Regardless of whether you’re booking a treatment or not, we offer a 100% free, non-binding assessment to every patient that approaches Qunomedical. 

✔ World-renowned doctors: Our proprietary scoring system, Qunoscore, assesses doctors on more than 20 data points. These include qualifications, experience, accreditations, number of treatments performed, services offered, and reviews from past patients.

✔ 24/7 support: Your Qunomedical Patient Manager will be at your side throughout your entire treatment journey, from the initial consultations through to your successful recovery. In case of an emergency when you’re abroad, you can reach us on our 24/7 hotline.

✔ Price match: We work hard to match some of the best doctors with some of the most competitive prices. Found areola reduction surgery offered at the same clinic cheaper somewhere else? We’ll match the price.