Anatomy of the upper outer breast: from nipples to areola and areolar glands

Anatomy of the upper breast

Speaking about the anatomy of the breast, first of all, it is necessary to mention the nipple. It is at the forefront of the mammary gland's milk production system. This is what the baby looks for immediately after birth. The nipple is very sensitive to touch and temperature changes. Often nipples become the object of increased male attention. And how, I wonder, do the nipple and areola interact? We invite you to get acquainted with the anatomical structure and work of the main elements of the mammary gland.

Postoperative period

As a rule, nipple and areola plastic surgery is performed under local anesthesia. In this case, the patient is discharged home on the same or the next day after surgery. Scar care is performed either independently or on an outpatient basis. The stitches are removed after about a week. However, compression garments must be worn for another 10-14 days after this. Most types of correction of the nipple-areolar complex (with the exception of reduction of a hypertrophied nipple) do not interfere with the basic functions of the breast - the ability to produce breast milk. But, despite this, this type of plastic surgery is recommended to be performed after the end of the breastfeeding period.

Milky ducts

The milk ducts are tiny tubes that carry milk from the mammary glands (lobules) to the tip of the nipple. The ducts are lined with myoepithelial cells. A disease such as mastitis is characterized by blockage of the milk ducts. Most types of breast cancer begin to develop in the milk ducts. Ductal carcinoma in situ (a form of breast cancer from the ductal epithelium without invasion into adjacent tissues and metastasis) and infiltrative ductal carcinoma develop specifically in the milk ducts. A method for examining fluid from the mammary gland or ductal cells can be a ductogram or a HALO test (DNA fragmentation test).

Breast milk flows from openings on the surface of the nipple called milk pores. There are usually 2 to 3 pores in the center of the nipple and another 3 to 5 pores located around it. The pores have tiny sphincters (valves) designed to prevent milk from leaking when a woman is not breastfeeding. The ducts located just below the areola dilate before they enter the nipple. These wide, sac-like sections are called ampoules or lacteal sinuses.

The procedure for correcting the nipple-areolar complex

Nipple and areola surgery can be performed as a separate operation or in conjunction with other breast correction procedures. The duration of the operation, as a rule, does not exceed one hour. The correction can take place under local or general anesthesia. The type of anesthesia is selected depending on the individual characteristics of the patient, as well as the duration of the operation itself.

All operations to correct nipples or areolas can be divided into three groups:

1. change in nipple size (increase or decrease);

2. change in the shape and size of the pigmented area of skin around the nipple;

3. restoration of nipples or areolas.

Correction of an inverted nipple occurs by releasing the milk ducts, which cause the deformation. Such a procedure not only corrects the defect itself, but also improves breastfeeding functions. The operation is performed using microsurgical methods. The postoperative scar in this case is almost invisible, since the incision size is less than 1 cm.

Correction of the size and shape of the areola is carried out by reducing the pigmented area of skin around the nipple. It is believed that the optimal size of this zone should be 35-45 mm in diameter.

A reduction in the size of the nipple is corrected by wedge-shaped excision. Unfortunately, in most cases, such an operation disrupts breastfeeding functions. On the other hand, it is breastfeeding that causes nipple hypertrophy.

The most difficult operation is to restore the nipple or areola. The new nipple is formed from existing breast skin. To form a new areola, skin grafting is most often used. In this case, the donor area of skin is taken from the patient’s perineum, since the pigmentation of the skin in the areola area and in the perineal area is almost the same. In some cases, the effect of natural pigmentation is achieved through additional tattooing with special bio-inks.

Areola

The area of the breast surrounding the nipple, called the areola, is darker against the skin of the breast. The small bumps on the surface of the areola may be either Montgomery glands or hair follicles. The areola can be large or small, round or oval.

During pregnancy, the areola may increase in diameter. If you notice a change in the skin of the areola - pits, wrinkles or a rash - a woman should immediately consult a doctor. You shouldn’t be scared right away, because they may not be dangerous. But diagnosis is necessary: sometimes such changes can be symptoms of Paget's disease (also called eczema-like cancer). This breast cancer is rare and begins to develop in the nipple, appearing as a red, scaly rash.

Main indications

During a woman's life, various changes occur in her body, which can have a definite effect on the shape of her breasts. These factors include puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight gain and loss. However, in addition to the shape and size of the breast, negative changes can also affect the nipple-areola complex. Such defects can be corrected using corrective plastic techniques.

The main indications for such an operation are:

· very large or inverted nipple; · disproportionately long or wide nipple; · asymmetry or deformation; · partial or complete absence of a nipple or areola; · disproportionately large size of areolas.

Of course, corrective plastic surgery of nipples or areolas is mostly done by women. However, sometimes men also resort to it. Especially in cases of injury or absence of nipples and areolas.

Nipple and areola surgery: before and after photos

Tags: plastic surgery

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