Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Articles

I bet you didn’t know that more than 70% of the 18,541 women who were polled as part of the Breast Size Satisfaction Survey, published earlier this year, reported that they were dissatisfied with theirs. In other words, it’s not a coincidence that breast augmentations are the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure performed in the United States, and has been for quite some time.

At Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery we find size isn’t the only quality many women would like to change about their breasts. If you ever stared into a mirror and wondered to yourself, are my areolas normal? You’re not alone. They come in all different colors and sizes, both of which tend to change over the course of a woman’s lifetime—which only seems to feed the insecurity that surrounds them.

What does a “normal” areola look like?

First thing first: What is the areola? Sure, it’s the pigmented skin that surrounds the nipple, but what is it, exactly? Have you noticed the tiny little pimples on your areolas? Dr. Davis explains, “Those are lactiferous ducts. There’s a small number of them on the areola. There are also Montgomery glands – they can release a small amount of breast milk, but they mostly produce a lubricating substance to keep both the areola and the nipple soft and smooth for lactation.”

The pigment ranges from nearly identical to the rest of the skin to deep purple or dark brown. The color of your areolas is not indicative of anything, though the color generally darkens as the breasts and areolas grow during pregnancy and breastfeeding — due to hormonal changes.

Genetics are the driving factor for how large your areolas are. Sometimes their size correlates directly with the size of the breasts, but there’s a lot of deviation from that.

The so-called “normal” areola doesn’t exist. There’s too much variation to pin down any one combination of color, size, and shape and anoint it the ideal. Here, we make sure our patients understand, it’s OK if your areolas aren’t identical.

How to change the size of your areolas

Dr. Davis is experienced in many procedures that will alter the size of your areolas. Whether you want to go smaller or larger, surgery is your best bet.  If you want smaller areolas, an areola reduction is most often done as part of breast reduction or breast lift, though it can also be done on its own, or with breast implants. This procedure is generally able to reduce the diameter by 25% to 50%.

A breast augmentation is the most effective way to increase the size of the areola. When the breasts get bigger, the areolas will too. And that’s because, as the breast grows, the overlying skin stretches with it, increasing the diameter of the areola.

Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery is known for state-of-the art breast procedures that insure you looking great and feel the best about yourself.

If you have any questions related to Breast Augmentation, please contact us and we can schedule a virtual consultation with Dr. Davis.

Once you had your consultation with Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery and scheduled your procedure, your homework doesn’t end there. Our patients are often surprised to learn just how much of their recovery from their treatment impacts their results. While we are there to guide you through the process, whether it’s a few days or a few weeks, there are some things you can do beforehand that will enable you to fully focus on your recovery when the time comes.

Get organized

Everyone recovers at their own pace, but I’ll give you a general idea of how long you should expect yours to last. For your part, make a list of all the errands you’d normally run during that period and plan to take care of them during the days prior to your procedure. Allot time, too, for cleaning your home and scheduling pet or childcare. Basically, act like you’re leaving for an extended, exotic vacation.

Make time for yourself

But don’t let all of your time be absorbed by chores. Ideally, try to have all of that taken care of within two to three days of your procedure. Then use the remaining time to focus on yourself. Even less invasive procedures can induce a certain amount of stress. So try to do things that will relax you. We recommend getting a massage, or taking a couple virtual restorative yoga classes. We often find calm patients consistently heal the fastest.

Be patient with your recovery. You’ve done everything you could to position yourself for the best possible outcome. Think of the recovery as one more extension of that commitment.

That means not only giving yourself a break but also remembering that we’re in this together. The post-treatment instructions I’ll provide you, while they may feel a bit restrictive at times, they’re meant to help you achieve a great outcome and keep you safe in the meantime.

Limit your time online

Google and social media may have been great resources during your preparation, but they can also stir up a lot of unnecessary anxiety. If you have any lingering questions or concerns about your procedure, don’t hesitate to call or email me. The problem with relying on the internet for those sorts of things is it can be quite disorienting. Every review, testimonial, and post is presented matter-of-factly, when in reality, there’s nuance in the context that influences every procedure.

As always the staff at Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery is here to answer any and all questions and set you up for the best success — we want you to look and feel your best.