Areola Reduction London

What is Areola Reduction Surgery?

Areola reduction is a cosmetic surgery that reshapes and reduces the size of the areola (the pigmented skin that encircles the nipples). The surgery provides patients with areolas that are symmetrical and proportionate to the size of their breasts.

Large areolas — the size of the areola in general — might be due to genetics, weight gain, or pregnancy that expands the nipples and areolas. Patients that perceive their areolas to be disproportionately large or asymmetrical will benefit from areola reduction. Those seeking areola reduction may also want to consider nipple correction or nipple reduction surgery.

As a plastic surgeon specialising in areola reduction among a range of other body contouring surgeries, Dr Omar Tillo has mastered the skills for performing areola reductions that leave behind minimal scars. With hundreds of procedures under his belt, he has the expertise to tailor the procedure according to the patient’s anatomy, taking into account the shape of the breast and condition of the skin, among a range of other factors to produce a seamless result.

If you are dissatisfied with the size and shape of your areolas, book a consultation with Dr Tillo at the CREO clinic to discuss a bespoke procedure for resolving your cosmetic concerns.

Quick Summary of Areola Reduction Procedure

Treatments

1

Results

Immediate

Anesthesia

Local Anaesthetic

Surgery time

1 Hour

Hospital time

6 Hours

Mobility

Immediate

Washing

2 Days

Off-Work

1-2 Days

Exercise

2 Weeks

Full recovery

2 Weeks

Areola Reduction Before and Afters

Patient Before And After Areola Reduction

Patient Before And After Areola Reduction

Read Our Patient Reviews

RealSelf Patient Reviews of Omar Tillo, MD, MS, FRCS (Plast)

Benefits of Areola Reduction Surgery

There are several key benefits of areola reduction surgery:

Proportions – Areola reduction surgery reduces the size of the areolas to make them proportionate on to the other and to the patient’s breast.
Firmer breasts – Areola reduction can improve the breasts appearance, making them look firmer.
Combination treatments – Areola reduction can be easily combined with other procedures such as breast augmentation and breast reduction surgery to achieve your ideal aesthetic.
Confidence – Many patients concerned about the size of their areolas find that a surgical solution can improve their self-esteem by resolving their aesthetic concerns.

Who is an Ideal Candidate for Areola Reduction Surgery?

Areola Reduction London

Dr. Tillo will thoroughly assess your suitability for areola reduction during your initial consultation.

In general, you will be a good candidate for areola reduction procedure if:

You are in good physical and psychological health. To check that you are within a suitable BMI range for areola reduction, use our BMI calculator.
You have disproportionately large or asymmetrical areolas that you wish to correct.
You have realistic expectations about the results that areola reduction surgery can achieve.

How Much Does Areola Reduction Cost in London?

In general, prices for bilateral areola reduction surgery start from £4,300. However, the cost of areola reduction varies according to the complexity of the surgery. You will therefore only receive a bespoke quote following a 1-to-1 consultation with Dr Tillo.

For patients seeking to spread the cost of their treatment, we offer a range of financing options with our partner Chrysalis Finance, including interest free financing for up to 12 months. Longer repayment options are also available.

Why Choose CREO Clinic

At the CREO Clinic, we work with Dr. Omar Tillo, a body contouring and breast reconstructive specialist. Having performed countless successful areola reductions, he has both the surgical skill and experience to create a bespoke treatment plan to meet your equally unique needs.

What to Expect

Below, we have outlined the process of undergoing an areola reduction with the CREO Clinic:

Consultation

The first step in undergoing an areola reduction is the initial consultation with Dr. Tillo. During this appointment, you can expect to go over your medical history to ensure that you are fit for surgery. Dr. Tillo will ask you about your expectations for surgery and he will describe the realistic results that surgery can produce to ensure they are similar.

Preparing for Surgery

Prior to your areola reduction, you will need to take several preparations:

BMI – You will need to ensure your BMI is stable and at a safe level for surgery (under 30).
Cease smoking – You will need to cease all nicotine use (including vaping, patches) four weeks prior to and after surgery to reduce the risk of complications.
Reduce alcohol intake – You should also reduce your alcohol intake prior to surgery as this can impede your body’s healing process.
Stop taking oestrogen contraceptives/HRT – You will need to stop taking these medications four weeks before surgery to prevent the risk of blood clots.
Make your home comfortable – Ensure your house is ready for your recovery and any child or pet care is arranged during the initial stages of healing.

The Areola Reduction Procedure

Areola reduction is usually performed under local anaesthetic and lasts about one hour.

Dr. Tillo will make two circular incisions around the outer edges of the areola to remove the skin in between. The shape and size of the incisions will vary depending on your body and the desired results. Afterwards, Dr. Tillo stitches the remaining skin together with dissolvable sutures and a permanent stitch that prevents that areola from widening.

Recovery & Aftercare

Immediately after your areola reduction, you may experience bruising, swelling, and numbness around the skin surrounding the nipples and areolas. These post-surgical side-effects will significantly reduce within the first week after the surgery and should completely dissipate within six weeks.

Most patients feel able to return to office work within 1-2 days and resume strenuous exercises two weeks after the surgery.

Results Timeline

Once you remove your dressings, you will notice an immediate reduction in the size of your areola. However, it may take up to six weeks before you can appreciate the final results of your surgery.

By this time, the post-surgical side effects will have largely subsided, and your breast tissue will have settled. Furthermore, you can expect any scarring to the surrounding skin to seamlessly blend between the areola and the breast, and to fade within a year.

Possible Risks or Complications

Although areola reduction is considered to be a safe procedure, like any cosmetic surgery, it carries some risks:

Visible scarring
Wound breakdown and delayed healing
Asymmetries
Infection
Loss of sensation in the nipples
Difficulties breastfeeding

Areola Reduction FAQs

Why do people choose to have areola reduction surgery?

Patients may choose to undergo an areola reduction if they believe that their areolas are too large in proportion to their breasts. Alternatively, patients may choose a reduction to restore symmetry between the breasts, if one areola is significantly larger than the other. Those seeking areola reduction may also want to consider nipple correction or inverted nipple surgery.

Can I choose how much my areola is reduced?

Areola reduction can be tailored to an individual’s own needs and the results they wish to achieve. In general, Dr. Tillo will be best placed to determine the areolas ideal size so that it is in proportion with your breasts for a natural-looking finish.

How long does areola reduction surgery take?

Areola reduction surgery typically takes around 1–2 hours to complete.

Is areola reduction surgery painful?

Areola reduction is performed under local anaesthetic or sedation (upon requirement), meaning the area is completely numbed during surgery. After the procedure is complete, you may experience some discomfort, though any post-surgical soreness typically dissipates within a week.

When will I see the results?

Immediately after surgery, you will be able to notice that your areolas are reduced in size. However, you will need to wait for the breast tissue to settle and for any swelling to dissipate before you can appreciate the final results of the surgery, which can take up to six weeks.

Are areola reduction results permanent?

Yes, an areola reduction permanently reduces the size of the areolas. However, pregnancy or significant weight gain may affect the results of your surgery.

Does areola reduction surgery leave scars?

Areola reduction surgery leaves behind a scar, usually around the borders of the areola, where the surgeon makes the incision. You can expect the scar to flatten and fade between 6-12 months.

Does areola reduction surgery affect breastfeeding?

No, areola reduction will not affect your ability to breastfeed. If performed correctly, the surgery will not damage the milk ducts underneath the nipples.

When can I return to normal activities after an areola reduction?

You can expect to be fully recovered within 2 weeks of your surgery, after which you can resume all normal activities.

Is areola reduction surgery worth it?

Disproportionately large areolas, whether due to genetics, weight loss, or pregnancy, are a cosmetic concern for many people. Therefore, most patients consider areola reduction to be a worthwhile procedure as it improves the appearance of their breasts and delivers permanent results. Furthermore, it is a relatively quick procedure with short downtime.

Complementary Procedures

Breast Augmentation and Areola Reduction

Breast augmentation is a surgery that increases the size of the breasts. At the London-based CREO clinic, we perform breast augmentation using implants, fat transfer, or a combination of both (known as composite breast augmentation). Many patients combine areola reduction and breast augmentation, particularly after a pregnancy, which leaves women with enlarged areolas and deflated breasts.

Breast Reduction and Areola Reduction

Breast reduction is a surgery that reduces the size of the breasts by removing and reshaping breast tissue. In addition to being a cosmetic concern for many women, disproportionately large breasts also result in physical symptoms such as back pain and rashes that the surgery can alleviate. Many patients combine breast reduction with areola reduction to make their areolas proportionate to their reduced breast size.

Book A Consultation

Find out if you are eligible for Areola Reduction