What causes creasing/cratering?

[DS]

Would this be the result of too much gland excision?..Or possibly too much liposuction around the nipple? Thanks

[DS]

Anyone?

[George Pope, M.D.]

These are two different situations with two different causes. 

Cratering is an abnormal, concave contour of the nipple/areola complex after surgery that is usually caused by excessive tissue excision, leaving inadequate support of the nipple/areola skin.  Sufficient breast tissue needs to be left for support, and unfortunately that breast tissue can sometimes grow, creating recurrence of the original problem. The surgeon walks a fine line between not taking out enough tissue and taking out too much.

A crease in the nipple/areola skin after gynecomastia surgery is not uncommon, and it's usually caused by a redundancy of skin since gland tissue beneath it has been removed.  Fortunately this is usually a temporary problem, as the skin contracts after the surgery over time.  The crease usually disappears in a few weeks/months.

Dr. Pope, MD

[DS]

Thank you, Dr.

I think I may have a minor case of a crease that has developed as a result of my procedure. I had surgery in February and shortly after I removed the compression vest, I noticed a crease under my left nipple when I flexed.

Are there any ways to have this corrected?

Thanks

[Litlriki]

As Dr. Pope pointed out, frequently, the creases in the areola resolve over time.  If not, options would depend on the overall appearance and the nature of the areola.  If it's due to a paucity of underlying fat, fat grafting (or use of an alternative filler agent) could be tried, and this could solve the problem.  If the skin of the areola is particularly redundant and large as well, consideration could be given to peri-areolar skin reduction, which would likely also tighten the skin of the areola and eliminate the crease.  You should speak to your surgeon about what's going on, and he or she should be able to address the issue better, with the advantage of a physical exam.

Good luck,

Rick Silverman

[DS]

Thank you, Dr. Silverman. I will be speaking with my surgeon on Monday