Paraskevas A, Sabri E (2012) A simple and easy technique to correct inverted nipple deformities. Eur J Plast Surg 35(10):759–761 Feng R, Li W, Yu B, Zhou Y (2019) A modified inverted nipple correction technique that preserves breastfeeding. Aesthet Surg J 39(6):NP165–NP175 At baseline, the research assistant collected data on maternal age, parity, highest educational attainment, employment, monthly household income, previous breastfeeding (Yes/No), grading of the inverted nipple(s), and the longest duration of previous breastfeeding in multiparous women. This was defined as the longest period of previous exclusive breastfeeding (in months) during which a participant breastfed a daughter/son. Moreover, on the first day postpartum, data were collected on the mode of delivery, gestational age, infant’s gender, birth weight, APGAR score, newborn feeding (exclusive breastfeeding/artificial milk/mixed), sore nipple (Yes/No), use of devices to evert the nipple, and compliance with the use of the syringe (experimental group only). Eligible subjects are healthy pregnant women, at or above 18 years of age, with grades 1 or 2 inverted nipples. Inclusion criteria are gestation at 37 weeks or more, intention to breastfeed, and residing in Lebanon for 6 months after delivery. We will exclude women with grade 3 inverted nipples, previous breast surgery affecting the breast anatomy, high risk pregnancies, medical conditions that may interfere with breastfeeding, including a critical maternal condition, newborns with congenital malformations such as esophageal atresia, cleft lip, and/or palate, and women choosing artificial milk as their preferred infant nutrition. Women with term twin gestation will not be excluded. Recruiting process Of the 27 participants in the experimental group, only three (14.3%) reported using the inverted syringe technique in at least 50% of breastfeeds during the first month, and none used it afterwards. Breastfeeding by direct latching of the infant on the breast was reported by 14 (59.1%) mothers in the experimental group, and 13 (66.7%) mothers in the control group ( p = 0.607). The nipple everted/inversion grade improved in 9 (42.5%) of the control and 6 (33.3%) of the experimental group ( p = 0.742). By six months, more women in the control ( n=10; 41.7%), as compared to the experimental group ( n=5; 9.5%) were using a breast pump to express maternal milk ( p = 0.020).

Place the bulb over the nipples, and adjust for comfort. You only want the good kind of pinching sensation The breast shell may stimulate lactation in people who breastfeed. Nursing parents should not wear them continuously for days on end. If you wear the shell during feedings, be sure to wash it in hot, soapy water afterward, and dispose of any milk leaked into the shell during wearing. Eligible pregnant women will be recruited from the Women’s Health Center and the Delivery Suite of the American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon. An inverted nipple is defined as a condition in which the nipple is pulled inward into the breast instead of pointing outward, classified according to Han and Hong [ 12]. During regular working hours, a trained research assistant will recruit eligible women after explaining the trial’s objective and procedures and verifying inclusion criteria. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Randomization Use the Electric Nipple Corrector. There are 4 modes and 9 levels of suction for this electric nipple corrector, which can be selected according to individual needs. And the soft material of suction cups will not make your nipples suffer. The suction cups do not easily fall off during use. While still attached, the nipple and areola are both lifted from the breast and sewn into a protruding shape.

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Most nipple infections happen during lactation, but subareolar breast abscesses appear in people who are not lactating. Grade 2: The nipple protracts when pressure is applied, though not very easily, and retracts as soon as pressure is released. Grade 2 inversions are more likely to complicate breastfeeding. There is often a moderate degree of fibrosis, with mild retraction of the lactiferous or milk ducts. I've been using this for a couple of weeks now and I'm very pleased. Based on research I'd say I have one Level 1 and one Level 2 inverted nipple. Both have responded very well to one to two 2-6 hour treatments (either sleeping or when at home) per day. I have a 9-5 job and sometimes am not at home so it's been inconsistent but for the most part, daily.

This study is approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the American University of Beirut. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Since the study involves using the inverted syringe technique and documentation of relevant data in a diary, we estimate that the risks to women from participating in this study are negligible, not exceeding those of current standard practice. The only risk from nipple manipulation in the experimental group is the rare possibility of uterine contractions and labor induction if done prior to delivery. Since participants will start using the syringe right after delivery, this risk is eliminated. We also anticipate that the use of the syringe will result in less pain and less sore or bleeding nipples in the experimental group compared to the control group, who are at much greater risk for these complications secondary to poor infant latch. We will collect information on any adverse events during follow-up of participants, and will report all adverse events to the IRB as per institutional policies. Should any adverse events result directly from this study, the investigators’ institution will cover the cost of treating, on its premises, those medical adverse events. Belfort MB, Rifas-Shiman SL, Kleinman KP, Guthrie LB, Bellinger DC, Taveras EM, et al. Infant feeding and childhood cognition at ages 3 and 7 years. Effects of breastfeeding duration and exclusivity. JAMA Pediatr. 2013;167:836–44. If you’re interested in getting your nipples pierced, do your research. You’ll want to be sure any piercer you choose has a license and experience piercing inverted nipples. Your best bet is to call piercing parlors in your area and let them know what you’re looking for. What’s the procedure like? Pros: What usually looked just flat now fills out readily to the touch or with change in temperature. Initially after treatment, both nipples stay perky. No loss of sensitivity. Very simple to use.In our recent breastfeeding support trial [ 21], the attrition rate was 40%. Since women with inverted nipples face more difficulties in breastfeeding than women with normally everted nipples, we hypothesize that 50% attrition rate would be a reasonable assumption for the proposed study. To account for a potential attrition rate of 50%, we inflated the sample size to become 100 women in total. Statistical methods Hill PD, Aldag JC, Hekel B, Riner G, Bloomfield P. Maternal postpartum quality of life questionnaire. J Nurs Meas. 2006;14:205–20. If you do decide to get your nipples pierced, note that taking the jewelry out may cause your nipples to invert. To prevent this, avoid leaving the jewelry out for extended periods of time. There are many advantages to undergoing nipple correction surgery. As each individual patient is different, the way in which it can impact on their life varies. For example, some people may be embarrassed to get naked in a dressing room or in front of their partners because of their inverted nipple. Whereas others may simply dislike the way they look to themselves in the mirror and dents their self confidence.

Kesaree N, Banapurmath CR, Banapurmath S, Shamanur K (1993) Treatment of inverted nipples using a disposable syringe. J Hum Lact 9(1):27–29 The inverted nipple is an abnormality that is present in 3% of females, with bilateral involvement in 86.8% of affected women [ 1]. A higher prevalence rate of 9.8% has been reported in pregnant women [ 2]. Nipple inversion is mostly congenital but can be acquired secondary to inflammation such as in mastitis, or due to other conditions such as cancer or breast surgery. Han and Hong classified the severity of nipple inversion into three grades based on the ability to manually pull out the nipple and maintain its projection, and the extent of fibrosis beneath it. Grade 1 inverted nipple has minimal fibrosis, is easily pulled out manually with maintenance of good projection. Grade 2 inverted nipple has moderate fibrosis beneath it, can be pulled out manually but fails to maintain projection. Grade 3 has severe fibrosis and inversion and hence cannot be pulled out manually [ 3]. Terrill PJ, Stapleton MJ. The inverted nipple: to cut the ducts or not? Br J Plast Surg. 1991;44(5):372–7. The majority of people who suffer from inverted nipples are born with the condition and it can affect both men and women.

Correction Of Inverted Nipples

Bracaglia R, Tambasco D, Gentileschi S, D'Ettorre M (2012) Recurrent inverted nipple: a reliable technique for the most difficult cases. Ann Plast Surg 69(1):24–26 Schwager RG, Smith JW, Gray GF, Goulian D Jr (1974) Inversion of the human female nipple, with a simple method of treatment. Plast Reconstr Surg 54(5):564–569

Riordan JM, Woodly G, Heaton K. Testing validity and reliability of an instrument which measures maternal evaluation of breastfeeding. J Hum Lact. 1994;10(4):231–5. Nabulsi M, Smaili H, Tamim H, Wahidi M, El-Jamal C. Validation of the Arabic Maternal Breastfeeding Evaluation Scale (MBFES-A) among Lebanese women. Int Breastfeed J. 2021;16:60. Determine the grade of your inverted nipples. Take off your shirt and stand in front of a mirror. Holding your breast at the edge of the areola (the dark area of skin surrounding the nipple) between your thumb and forefinger, press inwards about an inch behind your nipple. Be firm but gentle. Depending on the nipple's response, you can assess the grade of inversion. [1] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source McGeorge DD. The “Niplette ”: an instrument for the non-surgical correction of inverted nipples. Br J Plast Surg. 1994;47:46–9. If you develop a painful lump that oozes pus when pushed or cut, and if you have a fever, you may have a type of infection called subareolar breast abscess.Victora CG, Horta BL, Loret de Mola CL, Quevedo L, Pinheiro RT, Gigante DP, et al. Association between breastfeeding and intelligence, educational attainment, and income at 30 years of age: a prospective birth cohort study from Brazil. Lancet Glob Health. 2015;3:e199-205. Gangal HT, Gangal MH (1978) Suction method for correcting flat nipples or inverted nipples. Plast Reconstr Surg 61(2):294–296 There are currently 3 grades of an inverted nipple used to define how serious the condition is. These include: Center the Supple Cup onto the nipple and squeeze the bottom of the Supple Cup as you gently press it onto the nipple. This creates a gentle vacuum, drawing the nipple into the Supple Cup.