Areola Reduction
Bringing the areola back to a trim, proportionate size for your breast — a small change that brings a sense of balance.
Is this right for you?
The areola is the darker area of skin around the nipple. When it stretches wider — through genetics, after pregnancy and breastfeeding, or for other reasons — it can leave the breast looking less balanced. Areola reduction surgery brings this area back to a more compact size.
This may be a good fit if
- Women over the age of 18.
- Areolae that have stretched wider, or that are uneven from one side to the other.
This may not be right if
- You are hoping to change the volume or the sag of your breast — that calls for a different operation, which can sometimes be done at the same time.
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How it works
Before surgery, you are examined and counselled by a specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, along with blood tests to check your bleeding and clotting times, plus other tests depending on your situation.
The surgery is carried out under local anaesthetic and takes around 30 minutes to an hour. Depending on how far the areola has stretched, the extra rim of skin is removed through an incision running around the edge of the areola, or with an added vertical incision from the base of the nipple to the areola's edge (a "lollipop" pattern). Most often, you go home about 1 to 2 hours afterwards.
Areola reduction can be done on its own, or alongside other procedures such as a breast lift or a reduction for overly large breasts.
Realistic expectations
You will have an areola with a trimmer shape and a size that sits in better proportion with your breast. The incision line fades over time.
What this will not do
- It will not change the volume of your breast — this surgery treats only the areola.
- It will not lift a sagging breast; if that is what you need, it is a separate procedure done in combination.
Recovery
This is a gentler procedure than implant surgery, but it still needs proper care in the first few days.
- The first few days
- You take antibiotics and pain relief for about 5 days. The incision may be mildly swollen and bruised, then settle over a few days. You can shower the next day.
- Around 5 to 7 days
- The incision is lightly dressed for about 5 days; stitches come out after 7 days if non-dissolving sutures were used. Most people return to their normal routine and work after about a day.
Risks & safety
This is a relatively straightforward operation, but there are still risks worth knowing about beforehand.
- Loss of pigment in the skin around the incision in a small number of cases — this can be touched up with medical tattooing.
- Poor scarring.
- Uneven results between the two sides.
- Risks linked to the local anaesthetic.
How we do it
Even though it is a small procedure, areola reduction should still be carried out by a specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, under properly sterile conditions.
At The Gioi Dep, you are examined and counselled carefully before you decide, and you are followed up after the procedure.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to stay in hospital for the surgery?
Usually no. The procedure is done under local anaesthetic, and you can go home after about 1 to 2 hours.
How soon can I go back to work?
Most people return to their normal routine and work after about a day.
Will the scar show?
The incision sits along the border of the areola, so it is usually hard to notice, and it fades over time. If a vertical "lollipop" incision is needed, your surgeon will talk it through with you first.
Can it be done at the same time as a breast augmentation?
Yes. Areola reduction can be combined with a breast augmentation or a reduction for overly large breasts in the same operation.
What if the areola loses its colour?
Loss of pigment around the incision happens in a small number of cases and can be touched up with medical tattooing.
Will the result last?
Your areola will look trimmer and more balanced; like any tissue in the body, its shape can still change over time, with weight, or with pregnancy.
The next step
Have questions about your options? Book a consultation with our team.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.