post surgery early puffy nipples

[jinr0h]

Hi doctors , i've had pretty puffy nipples pre surgery--i am now 4 days post surgery and since day 1 the puffiness is reduced by around 60% but theres still some left as of now. Is there a possibility this will go away in time ? im a little worried since usually they are flat right after surgery(so ive read).. there is also some minor swelling as well ; does this push them out by chance?Basicaly what i would like to know ,the nipple appearance 1 day post is as good as it gets? or may it improve?  Im seeing my PS in a week but would appreciate to hear about your insights for now
 Sorry for my bad english and thanks for time!

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

I can only speak for my patients.  Their puffy nipples are immediately flat and flush with the surrounding skin from day one -- and they remain that way during the majority of the healing period.  On occasion, there may be some scar tissue which develops under the areola -- but this takes at least several weeks to get started.

Bottom line, it may be that your surgeon deliberately left some tissue under the areola to prevent cratering.  Speak to him about this.  This is why we urge patients to seek a gyne specialist -- it is tricky to remove enough tissue so that the nipples lie flat and not take too much so that there is a crater.  It takes lots of experience.

Dr Jacobs

[Litlriki]

As you've noted, typically the nipple is pretty flat early on.  Sometimes patients will notice a little swelling after they discontinue their compression, and that's common.  If scar tissue forms, it may require management to resolve prominence related to the scar tissue (Kenalog injection, for example), but this is not something that's immediately apparent.  It's too early to predict your final result, so it won't do you much good to get anxious about it, but you can ask at your appointment.

Rick Silverman