Areola Reduction Procedure

Some women may be displeased with the size of their areolae which may be enlarged due to genetic predisposition, previously having had large breasts and then undergoing tissue loss, stretching of the areola due to implants, or for other reasons. Female areola reduction surgery is designed to remove redundant areola tissue to improve the overall cosmetic appearance of enlarged areolae. Areola reduction surgery may result in a slight lift and may also produce slight irregularities at the incision line if the reduction was significant.

  1. Larger than desired areola.

  2. Incisions around areola.

  3. Excess areola tissue is removed, and a pedicle left.

  4. Internal purse string sutures are made to help keep the areola and scar from stretching.

  5. The incision is sutured.

  6. The scar after areola reduction; may have raised tissue around areola which may or may not flatten in time.

If a larger doughnut of skin is removed from the flesh-colored area, the result is often called a periareolar reduction mastopexy, or Benelli lift with reduction.

Many reduction breast reduction surgery patients seek areola reduction because the areola can stretch out with volume gain. Puckering can occur around the incisions. Usually significant volume removal may be contraindicated with the periareolar incision.

More info can be found in our Techniques and Incisions Section.

Areola reduction surgery is usually performed under light sleep sedation or general anesthesia. For more information, please read the section below.

Areola reduction takes about 2 hours and involves an incision around the areolar edge and a smaller incision with removal of the excess tissue in between, like a doughnut. The incision is very inconspicuous and located around the final edge of the areolae. Dressings and a light gauze bandage are worn for several days after surgery. Areola reduction can be combined with other plastic surgical procedures, including nipple reduction and breast reduction surgery.

You can go home after several hours following areola reduction surgery. You can shower the next day. There is only minimal pain that is easily controlled by medications and is mostly gone by the second or third day. Minimal or no swelling or bruising is usual. You can resume most activities in less than a week. The stitches are removed after seven days. Expect to be off from work two days or less.