Breasts play a very important role in the beauty of the female form, and the shape of the nipple areola plays an important role in the overall beauty of the breast. Common nipple areola cosmetic surgery includes nipple reduction, nipple invagination correction, nipple reconstruction, areola reconstruction, etc. Preparation for Surgery Healthy women who avoid menstruation can undergo common nipple areola cosmetic surgery. If you smoke, stop smoking before surgery; medications such as aspirin can increase the possibility of intraoperative bleeding, so stop using these medications before surgery. Your physician will go over your expectations and determine how realistic they are prior to surgery. Surgical Procedures Common cosmetic nipple areola surgery can be performed in an outpatient operating room under local anesthesia, and the goal of the plastic surgeon and all staff is to make your procedure as smooth and comfortable as possible. Patients with enlarged nipples may undergo nipple reduction to obtain nipples of a more satisfactory size and shape. The plastic surgeon will design a surgical plan based on the patient’s requirements and remove excess tissue from the nipple, which can result in a lower height, smaller transverse nipple diameter, and an erect, more aesthetically pleasing nipple shape. Patients with nipple invagination can restore their natural nipple shape through nipple invagination correction surgery, which is divided into two main types: the external orthotic continuous traction method is less invasive, quicker to recover, leaves no scar, has a low recurrence rate, and preserves the patient’s breastfeeding function; the incision method is suitable for severe nipple invagination, in which the fibrous cords pulling the nipple and the breast duct are cut, and the invaginated nipple can be completely corrected in one operation. For patients with congenital nipple loss or breast reconstruction, unilateral or bilateral nipple reconstruction can be performed by using local flap tissue or tissue from other parts of the body transplanted to the appropriate location in the breast. Only morphologically satisfactory results can be achieved in a single surgery, and postoperative pigmentation of the nipple can be increased by tattoo staining or epidermal re-grafting techniques. Areola reconstruction can be performed at the same time as nipple reconstruction. In addition to tattoo staining and epidermal replantation, transplantation of tissue from the opposite areola and labia minora can also be performed with good results. Understanding the Risks There are risks associated with any surgery, and nipple-areola cosmetic surgery is no exception; fortunately, significant complications are relatively rare. Thousands of patients undergo this type of surgery successfully each year, with the vast majority recovering well and with satisfactory results. The risks and potential complications of the procedure are best discussed between the surgeon and you in person. Possible complications of the surgery include bleeding, infection, postoperative scarring, temporary loss of sensation in some of the skin, and poor healing of the incision. You should strictly follow your surgeon’s medical advice and instructions before and after surgery and communicate with your surgeon in a timely manner, as this will reduce some of the risks. Recovery after surgery Patients can go home after surgery, change medication at the hospital as requested by the physician, and remove stitches in 10 to 14 days. The surgical area may feel mild painful discomfort in stages in the early postoperative period, but in most people it is not serious; if there is severe pain, your surgeon should be informed. Oral antibiotics may be given early in the postoperative period to prevent infection, and the incision should be kept clean and dry for two weeks after surgery. The surgery does not interfere with the patient’s daily life. Light activities can be performed in the early postoperative period and work can be resumed gradually; however, excessive force on the upper extremities should be avoided, and care should be taken to protect the surgical area from injuries such as crushing and punching.