Inverted Nipple Repair in San Diego

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Dr. Mark Mofid performs inverted nipple repair for patients seeking to correct the appearance of one or both inverted nipples. This brief outpatient procedure is performed under local anesthesia and typically takes around 15 minutes. Dr. Mofid’s practice is located in La Jolla and serves patients throughout the greater San Diego area.

What Is Inverted Nipple Repair?

An inverted nipple occurs when the nipple retracts inward rather than projecting outward. It can affect one or both nipples and may be present from birth or develop over time. The condition affects both women and men and is more common than many patients realize.

Dr. Mofid classifies inverted nipples using the Han and Hong Classification System. Grade One nipples evert with gentle pressure. Grade Two nipples are more resistant and retract quickly after release. Grade Three nipples are severely retracted and difficult to evert manually. All three grades can be corrected surgically.

Most cases result from short lactiferous ducts that tether the nipple inward. The repair involves releasing these attachments and securing the nipple in its corrected position.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Ideal candidates are in overall good health and have realistic expectations for the outcome. The procedure is appropriate for adults of any age experiencing Grade One, Two, or Three inversion — whether the condition has been present since puberty or developed later in life.

Patients who plan to breastfeed in the future should discuss this with Dr. Mofid prior to surgery. The procedure involves releasing the lactiferous ducts, which may affect breastfeeding ability. This is not a contraindication to surgery, but it is an important consideration addressed during consultation.

The procedure can also be performed concurrently with breast augmentation for patients seeking both corrections at the same time.

What to Expect During the Procedure

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia as an outpatient. Dr. Mofid makes four small incisions at the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions around the nipple at the junction with the areola. The tethering attachments are carefully released, and a purse-string suture is placed to secure the nipple in its everted position. The incisions are then closed with fine sutures.

The procedure takes approximately 15 minutes. Patients go home the same day with dressings applied to protect the newly corrected nipple from pressure.

Recovery

Sutures are removed at a one-week follow-up appointment. Some bruising, crusting, and minor scaling are expected as the nipple adjusts to its new environment. Dr. Mofid recommends Aquaphor for one to two weeks to manage dryness. Within three weeks, the nipple typically begins to look and feel normal.

Recurrence is the most common risk associated with this procedure. In Dr. Mofid’s practice, approximately 10 to 15 percent of patients experience re-inversion on one or both sides, which can be addressed by repeating the procedure.

Benefits of Expert Inverted Nipple Repair

This procedure offers patients a brief, low-downtime solution with meaningful aesthetic results. Key benefits include more natural nipple projection, improved breast symmetry, and restored confidence. The procedure requires no general anesthesia, takes about 15 minutes, and yields visible results almost immediately.

How Much Is Inverted Nipple Repair?

Cost depends on the severity of the inversion, whether one or both nipples are being treated, and whether the procedure is combined with another surgery. A personalized estimate is provided following your consultation with Dr. Mofid.

Financing options are available for eligible patients. Contact our La Jolla office for details.

The Ins and Outs of Inverted Nipple Repair

Why Choose Dr. Mark Mofid

Dr. Mark Mofid is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a clinical assistant professor of plastic surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

He earned his undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Harvard University and completed his medical training, including an advanced craniofacial research fellowship, at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Mofid is a staff surgeon at Scripps Memorial La Jolla, Sharp Memorial Hospital, and Palomar Medical Center, and has published research in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, a leading peer-reviewed journal in the specialty.

Dr. Mofid performs inverted nipple repair regularly in his La Jolla practice and brings a level of technical precision and individualized care that his patients consistently recognize. All procedures are performed at his AAAASF-certified on-site surgery center.

FAQs About Inverted Nipple Repair

What grades of inverted nipple can be corrected?

All three grades of inverted nipple — as classified by the Han and Hong Classification System — can be treated surgically. Grade Three inversions, the most severe, carry a slightly higher risk of recurrence but remain fully correctable.

Can inverted nipple repair affect breastfeeding?

The procedure involves releasing the lactiferous ducts, which may potentially affect the ability to breastfeed. Patients who plan to breastfeed in the future should raise this during their consultation so the decision can be made with complete information.

Can the procedure be combined with breast augmentation?

Yes. Inverted nipple repair can be performed at the same time as breast augmentation. Patients requesting concurrent correction are seen regularly in Dr. Mofid's practice.

What is the recurrence rate?

Recurrence is the primary risk of this procedure. In Dr. Mofid's experience, approximately 10 to 15 percent of patients experience re-inversion, most often on one side. In these cases, the procedure can be repeated.

Is the procedure painful?

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, so discomfort during surgery is minimal. Post-operative soreness is mild and manageable, and most patients return to normal activity within a few days.

Schedule Your Consultation

If you are considering inverted nipple repair, Dr. Mark Mofid offers thorough, individualized consultations at his La Jolla office. Call 858.909.9000 or contact us online to schedule your appointment.