Why Are My Nipples So Big After Breast Augmentation

Your nipples may be bigger after breast augmentation and breast implants because of many reasons. You might want to know why your areola are so big after breast implants or how areola gets bigger before period. Having a small or large size nipple can be embarrassing as it affects your overall appearance. In fact, any changes in the shape, size or color of your nipples should be taken seriously and checked by your doctor right away.

In this guide, we find out answers to the following: Why Are My Nipples So Big After Breast Augmentation, signs of breast implant problems, does your areola get bigger before your period, and Do your nipples go back to normal after breast augmentation?

I get it. I’ve been there. It’s hard to be a woman who wants her breasts to look just right, but it’s also hard for me as a surgeon because there are so many things about this particular part of the female anatomy that can be changed in order to make them more like what you want them to look like. In this blog post, we’ll talk about why nipples are so big after breast augmentation surgery and what options exist for changing them if they’re too big (or too small).

Big nipples are not a bad thing (unless you don’t want them to be)

Big nipples are not a bad thing.

In fact, they’re just another part of the breast. You can have them reduced if you want to; or you can have them augmented if that’s what floats your boat. In either case, the procedure is relatively straightforward: just go in and make your nipples smaller (or larger) by removing (or adding) tissue from around them. The only difference between reducing and augmenting is how much extra tissue needs to be removed or added–and whether it’s possible for someone who has had one surgery already to undergo another one later on down the line should their feelings change again later on down the road.

You can decrease nipple size after breast augmentation

You can decrease nipple size after breast augmentation. There are a number of ways to reduce nipple size, including surgery and nonsurgical procedures. If you choose to have surgery, it will be a minor procedure that takes about an hour and has minimal downtime. If you don’t want to go under the knife, there are medications or creams that might do the trick for you–but keep in mind that these options may not work for everyone.

In some cases, breast augmentation surgery will be performed to increase nipple size. Implants are placed in the breast pocket and may also be used to increase breast size. This procedure is often done at the same time as other procedures such as breast lifts or reductions because it involves making an incision around each nipple so that they can be moved up towards the center of your breasts (and closer to where they will eventually end up). If you’re interested in learning more about these options, talk with your surgeon about what might work best for you!

Whether it’s better to have nipple reduction or augmentation is up to you

Whether or not it’s better to have nipple reduction or augmentation is up to you. Some women prefer to have a smaller nipple, while others want them to be larger. For example, if you had a small B cup and wanted to go up two sizes (to a D cup), then your nipples may become too large for your breasts. On the other hand, if your nipples were already quite large before surgery and remain so after breast augmentation surgery, then reducing their size would make them disproportionate with the rest of your body.

The best way to determine which option is right for you is by consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon who will help guide you through all of the available options during an informative consultation appointment–and help ensure that all of your questions are answered before moving forward with any procedure!

You can do whatever you want with it. You can make it bigger, smaller, or whatever you want. You can do nipple reduction or augmentation (or both!). You can choose to do nothing at all–and if that’s what makes sense for your body and lifestyle then that’s awesome too!

signs of breast implant problems

If you’re not quite sure what breast implant illness (BII) is, that’s because it’s a relatively new term for a condition that hasn’t been fully defined and isn’t yet medically recognized, at least not in an official capacity that comes with specific diagnostic criteria.  

Even so, a number of women with breast implants are reporting wide-ranging symptoms collectively referred to as BII. While there’s no doubt that these symptoms are real, researchers are still trying to determine if they’re caused by implants or if they’re the product of an unrelated illness or condition.

As an implant expert who specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive breast augmentation at Brooks Plastic Surgery in Hollywood, Florida, Christopher Brooks, MD, is committed to staying up to date on the latest information regarding BII. 

Here’s what you should know about this perplexing problem.  

Breast implant illness 101

BII is the informal term that some women — and even some doctors — use to describe a range of unexplained symptoms that women can experience following cosmetic breast augmentation or reconstructive breast surgery with implants.    

Researchers’ current understanding of breast implant illness is largely based on the self-identified symptoms and anecdotal evidence women have shared with their plastic surgeons, primary care doctors, and one another across social media on popular pages that are dedicated to the topic. 

BII appears to be associated with a wide range of potential health effects. Commonly reported physical and mental symptoms, include:

Some women have also anecdotally reported unexplained chest pain, chills, sensitivity to light, and hormonal disturbances following implant surgery. 

Breast implant illness, or something else?

Although several studies and systematic reviews have looked into breast implant safety as well as the potential existence of BII, researchers still don’t understand the problem well enough to draw any definitive conclusions. 

Even so, doctors and researchers are busy looking for answers. Given that the jury is currently out on why — and how — some women with implants develop wide-ranging systemic symptoms, experts are focusing on what they do know. 

One thing they know is that many of the symptoms associated with BII are similar to the kinds of symptoms caused by autoimmune and connective tissue disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma. They also know, however, that the general cluster of BII symptoms doesn’t seem to match any classic disease diagnosis. 

ASIA — a leading theory 

While some women with BII symptoms are eventually diagnosed with an autoimmune disease or a connective tissue disorder, many are not. Researchers also recognize the possibility that some women may be experiencing a systemic inflammatory reaction to their implants. 

Among the various BII hypotheses that have been explored to date, a leading theory is that some women may be genetically predisposed to developing an immune reaction to the materials used in breast implants. 

This top theory even has a name: autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA). The pattern of widespread symptoms seen in ASIA, which is a recognized condition, are caused by a systemic reaction to adjuvants, such as silicone. 

Some experts believe that ASIA is actually a better term — or explanation — for BII.   

Breast implant illness solutions

BII symptoms can emerge anytime after implant surgery — some women develop them right away, while others develop problems several years later. If you’re experiencing symptoms that you believe may be related to your implants, it’s important to see your primary care physician as well as Dr. Brooks.

If your primary care doctor can rule out other potential causes of your symptoms, either through testing, unsuccessful treatment measures, or both, you may find yourself considering implant removal.   

As of now, complete implant removal is the solution that’s most likely to deliver long-term relief for persistent and otherwise unexplained symptoms. In most cases, both the implants and the surrounding scar tissue are removed. Implant removal often — but not always — improves or resolves BII symptoms. 

If you want to learn more about breast implant illness or to talk with Dr. Brooks about any worrisome symptoms you may be having, call our Hollywood, Florida, office or click online to request an appointment today.

does your areola get bigger before your period

Most of us don’t spend much time considering our areola (plural: areolae, because who doesn’t love a good diphthong), which is the technical name for that darker colored skin around your nipples. If you’ve noticed changes in your areolae lately, you may be concerned that they’re going to fall off, explode, or signal something deeply wrong — but, in many cases, there are simple explanations for areolae changes.

“Changes in the areola can be caused by various things,” Dr. Jamie Lipeles, D.O., an OB-GYN, tells Bustle. “The most common cause in a change in the areola is pregnancy (which is the result of changes in the hormones seen in pregnancy).” Areolae changes are among the signs of early pregnancy; they can get darker, larger, thicker, and you can start to notice surprising new bumps as your milk glands prepare themselves to feed a tiny human. Age can cause changes too, he says, but those alterations take a long time and are generally pretty subtle.

If you’re definitely not pregnant, and have noticed that your areolae are changing, they may be telling you something about your health. Here are the main areola changes to look out for if you’re not pregnant, and what they might mean.

1. Your Areolae Change Color

The color of your areola changes naturally over time, which you might have noticed because your areolae darkened when you hit puberty. However, your areolae can change color in adulthood, and not just when you get pregnant. The primary reason for color changes is high levels of progesterone and estrogen, because these hormones cause your body to increase its pigment development.

Darker areolae might be a sign of a hormone imbalance — or just the normal fluctuation of your body as it travels through the menstrual cycle. Dr. Lipeles says that areolae can also change color as a result of medications. “Any medication that affects melanocytes in the body or alters hormones or contains hormones (like birth control pills) can have an effect on the areola,” he says.

If your darker areolae is accompanied by other symptoms, such as flaking or peeling, or you notice that only one of your areola has changed in color, there might be something more medically serious going on. Paget’s Disease is a rare cancer that starts specifically in the nipple and areola area, and one of the first signs is discoloration of the nipple. If you notice sustained color changes as well as other symptoms including scaly, flaky, or thicker skin, itchiness or redness, or lumps, definitely schedule a visit to your doctor to get checked out.

2. Your Areola Gets Bigger

Breasts change size throughout your menstrual cycle, dictated by your hormone levels. This is totally natural, and as your breasts change size, your areola might get bigger too.

Your areolae may also swell when you’re turned on. When you’re getting in the mood, your breasts actually swell with blood as your heart rate and blood pressure are both raised. This can cause your areolae to get a bit expanded.

This is going to become something of a refrain but really, the only time to worry is if only one of your areola becomes larger. This breast asymmetry could be a sign of breast cancer, so if this is happening to you, go see your doctor to get checked out. Dr. Felice Gersh M.D., an OB-GYN, tells Bustle that you should also go see a doctor if the expansion is red and painful.

3. You Have New Hair On Your Areolae

Did you know that your areolae and nipples have hair follicles on them, just like the rest of your body? It’s true! It’s therefore totally natural to have some hair growing out of your areola skin. Body hair in this area is triggered by hormonal changes, and is therefore most common in puberty or menopause, but can also be due to taking the birth control pill.

If you notice that suddenly you have lots of chest hair (not just a few hairs around your nipples but a lot on your chest region) this could be a sign of a medical condition. The main culprits are polycystic ovary syndrome, which is a hormonal imbalance that can cause irregular periods and ovarian cysts, and Cushing’s syndrome, which is a rare hormonal issue that occurs when your body has high levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) for a long time.

Other symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome include getting a hump between your shoulders and stretch marks. If you have any of these additional symptoms, visit your doctor to get your hormone levels checked out. Otherwise, if you just don’t like your areola hair, you can safely remove them by plucking or lasering them off.

4. Your Areolae Are Puffy

Some people notice that their areolae gets puffy or raised. This is most common during puberty and pregnancy, but can also happen at other times during your life. This is completely normal and is not indicative of anything worrisome.

5. Your Areolae Are Itchy Or Flaky

Itchiness on your areola is rarely a sign of anything medically stressful on its own — more likely it’s because your skin is dry, your bra is rubbing you, or you’re allergic to your detergent or soap.

If you notice that your itching persists even after you change your detergents and moisturize, ask your doctor about it. Certain skin cancers include itchy skin in their symptoms, although in these cases you would also have more visible signs (such as flaky or scaly skin).

All skin has the potential to get dry and flaky, and areola skin is not exempt from this situation. Peeling or flaking areola skin could be due to weather changes, if you were suntanning topless and got a sunburn, or if you had a sexy romp that included rough nipple play and your nipples and areolae got chafed.

If you notice that your areola or nipple skin is flaking or peeling, and particularly if this is happening to just one areola or nipple, make an appointment to see your doctor. It’s possible that you could have eczema, a chronic skin condition that causes itchiness and flaky skin. Eczema runs in families, so look for this in particular if you know someone else in your family has it.

These skin changes could also be a sign of skin cancer. A number of skin cancers present with scaly, flaky, red patches on the skin and can show up on the areola and nipple area, and Paget’s Disease starts in this area.

6. Your Areola Is Bumpy

“Little bumps around the areola are completely normal and mean nothing at all,” Dr. Gersh tells Bustle. It’s totally natural for your areola skin to get bumpy when you’re cold, so if you notice bumps after you’ve been walking outside during winter, don’t worry — they will go away once you warm up.

Another reason for areola bumps is Montgomery tubercles, which is the technical name for when your areolar or Montgomery glands get clogged. Clogged Montgomery glands can get sore, change color to be red or yellow, and grow in size a bit.

While Montgomery tubercles show up mostly during pregnancy, they can also be triggered by hormone imbalance or stress, as well as physical changes such as significant weight change. So if you notice you have these bumps and you know you’re not pregnant or stressed, you might want to talk to your doctor about getting your hormone levels tested.

7. You Have Pimples On Your Areolae

Because your areolae have both sweat and sebaceous (oil-producing) glands as well as hair follicles, it’s possible for these glands to get clogged, giving you… nipple pimples! This can happen in particular right before menstruation.

Most areola pimples are not a medical issue and will go away if you clean the area with warm water and a gentle (non-perfumed, chemical-heavy) cleanser. If you are struggling with these pimples, you can always go see a dermatologist to get more help and prevention tips based on the specific reasons why your body is producing these pimples. If they start to ooze or get painful, Dr. Gersh says, you should see your doctor in case they’re infected.

8. Your Areola Retracts

“The most concerning change in the areola is what are referred to as retractions,” Dr. Lipeles says. “Retractions are when the areola or nipple appear to be getting pulled in a different direction.” If your nipple or areola looks as if it’s been attached to a string and the string has been pulled inward, shifting it in a different direction and creating tension, that’s a retraction.

“Retractions should be looked at by a health professional immediately and imaging of the breast should be ordered right away to rule out cancer,” Dr. Lipeles says. Retractions are a pretty serious deal, so get them checked out right away.

9. You Feel Lumps Under Your Areola

There are many potential culprits for lumps under your areola, and most of them are not cancer. The most common option is that you have fibrocystic breasts, which is a really normal change many breasts go through, often right before you get your period. If your breasts are fibrocystic, it means your breast tissue changes to feel more ropey and lumpy. This often goes away on its own. Lumps can also be due to clogged milk ducts (which you have even if you’re not lactating); an infection; or an intraductal papilloma, which is a fancy name for a benign (aka, non-cancerous) tumor in your milk ducts.

Sometimes, a lump could be what’s called ductal carcinoma in situ, which is the name for the earliest form of breast cancer. At this stage, the cancer is very treatable, but you do have to have a doctor see it so the cells don’t spread to other parts of your breast.

“If someone notices a lump affecting the areola, they should have imaging and a breast exam done,” Dr. Lipeles says. If you have a tumor or the beginnings of breast cancer, you will likely want to get that treated. Infection should be treated as well.

You know your breasts better than anyone else — they’re yours, after all! Because some medically scary things can happen in this area (mainly cancer), it’s a good idea to keep an eye on them and notice any changes. “Whenever it’s unclear what the problem is, an examination is needed,” Dr. Gersh says. A study published in Cancer epidemiology in 2017 found that while 53% of breast cancer patients turn up to their doctors concerned about a lump, 7% first decided to seek medical attention because they’d seen something radically different about their nipples.

Do your nipples go back to normal after breast augmentation?

Over the past few months Dr. Arie Benchetrit, a plastic surgeon in Montreal, has published several blog posts about breast augmentation. He has talked at length about implant type, size, shape and projection as well as the typical life expectancy of implants.

One aspect of breast augmentation that Dr. Benchetrit has not yet covered on his blog is how it affects the nipples. He understands that while nipples aren’t the central focus of breast augmentation, they are an important part of the discussion.

For this reason, Dr. Benchetrit has chosen to focus on a common question relating to this aspect of the procedure: what happens to the nipples after breast augmentation surgery?

Size

Some women mistakenly believe that as the breasts get bigger, the areolas (the pigmented skin surrounding the nipples) grow in proportion. However, in most cases, the areolas do not dramatically change in size after breast augmentation. They might stretch slightly because of the larger volume of the breasts, but it is rare for them to get substantially bigger.

Swelling in the weeks immediately following surgery can cause the nipples to look puffier than normal. This should dissipate over time.

Position

As with size, it is rare for the position of the nipples and areolas to change significantly after breast augmentation. If one nipple sits a bit lower than the other, it will likely stay that way after surgery, too. If one nipple points slightly to the left, it will remain that way after surgery.

The only exception is if Dr. Benchetrit makes an intentional change during surgery (e.g., relocates the nipples and areolas higher on the breast mound or reduces their size). This is something that would be discussed during the pre-operative consultation.

Sensitivity

It’s quite normal for breast augmentation patients to experience nipple numbness, soreness or tingling, or even a pulsing sensation, as the nerves recover. These effects are only temporary and should subside within the course of a few months. If the nipples are extremely sensitive, wearing a nipple shield or a Band-Aid should help reduce the irritation.