Injecting fillers to augment breast nipples is a new trend, according to Allure.com.
But just because it’s a trend doesn’t mean it’s a good idea, according to the October 2017 article. Plastic surgeon Lisa F. Schneider, M.D., said in the article that the aim of injecting hyaluronic acid fillers into the nipples would be to increase nipple projection. Dr. Schneider warns nipple augmentation is not an indication the FDA has approved for fillers, and she would recommend that patient steer clear of the trend. Pain, temporary results and the risk of infection are among her reasons.
Seattle, Wash., plastic surgeon Richard Baxter, M.D., tells The Aesthetic Channel that he agrees.
“I would definitely not do it. Milk ducts could be blocked leading to infection and scarring, possibly interfering with later breast feeding, and other issues,” he says. “It seems like a risk of long-term problems for what is almost certainly going to be a short-term trend.”
Not everyone thinks it’s a bad idea, however.
In an article published last year on DailyMail.com, New York City plastic surgeon Norman Rowe, M.D., is quoted as saying he has seen a surge in demand for aesthetic nipple procedures, spurred, he thinks, by a trend in see-through tops.
Dr. Rowe describes different techniques for achieving designer nipples in the article, one of which is the use of fillers to make nipples project more. Results last from nine months to two years, according to the article.
In addition, a study published in August 2017 in Cutis suggests using hyaluronic fillers to augment nipples might be a good option for postsurgical breast reconstruction.
“The loss of the 3-dimensional contour of the nipple-areola complex… following surgical breast reconstruction is a technical challenge for the physician and a psychological burden for many breast cancer patients,” according to the authors. “The use of injectable dermal fillers to enhance nipple projection is a simple noninvasive procedure with immediate and adjustable volume results that positively impact patient satisfaction.”
Injectable hyaluronic acid filler availability and safety make it an ideal option for restoring the natural feel and contour to the delicate structure of the nipple-areola complex, they write.
