Besides the cosmetic concerns for both sexes, inverted nipples can also make breastfeeding difficult for women, causing distress for both mother and baby.

So how can you tell you have inverted nipples?

For most people, it is apparent just by looking at the nipple in its relaxed (ie non-erect) state. If your nipple doesn’t protrude, instead appearing flat or as a slit or indentation, then it is considered inverted.

However, even if your nipples look normal, it’s still possible they may retract when stimulated – which also counts as being inverted! There is a simple “pinch test” you can use to determine if this is the case.

Place your fingers either side of the areola around the nipple and squeeze lightly. This should cause the nipple to protrude. If the nipple recedes inwards instead, then the nipple is inverted.

How can inverted nipples be treated?

Depending on the severity of the nipple inversion, there are both surgical and non-surgical treatments available. For less severe cases, non-surgical options include Niplette, a suction device worn continuously for one-three months to gradually tease the nipple outwards. The breast tissue remains intact, and breastfeeding is possible afterwards.

For more severe inversion, surgical correction may be required. Even if surgery is necessary, inverted nipple correction takes about 30 minutes and is performed as a day patient, so it’s not a major surgery by any means. However, it’s important to note that surgery means breastfeeding will no longer be possible for women – worth bearing in mind if you are looking to start a family in future.

If you’d like to know more about treating inverted nipples, visit our inverted nipple correction information page. You can also contact us to arrange a free consultation by emailing info@aurora-clinics.co.uk or calling 0845 230 4110.

My Google+ Profile

We hope you’ll forgive us for blowing our own trumpet, but we’ve recently been left some lovely feedback on our Facebook page, and thought it’d be nice to share it here to show our appreciation.

Here’s a selection of some of the latest comments posted on our Facebook wall:

“Mr Adrian Richards, wow, what a fantastic person and amazing surgeon. Kind, caring, genuine and professional. He and his team were fabulous, I’m so pleased with my results and the all round care given. I just wish I had found you sooner! A huge thank you, I’ve told all my friends about you! Highly recommended! One very happy customer ” – LR

“I would just like to say a huge thank you to Mr Richards, Aggie and the rest of the team. I had my PIP implants removed and replaced on 13th March and I was treated so well from the start, they made me feel so relaxed and stress free. It was Grade A service and I would recommend them to anyone who was thinking about going for any surgery with this team. Thank you hugely from the bottom of my heart.” – LW

“Can’t express how great this company is! Top quality surgeon, staff, facilities!” – JR

“I had my surgery on Tuesday and I am so happy with the results and the care I have received from Mr Richards and the team has been amazing. Thank you so much.” – LBM

“I want to thank Mr Adrian Richards and Aggie for my consultation yesterday, I feel totally at ease now and can’t wait for 30th April. Thank you for such a lovely personal consultation instead of feeling like you’re ushered out the door, you both were truly amazing and no question was too much trouble. Thank you so much!!” – MB

“Thank you to the wonderful Yvonne and Mr Richards for making me feel very happy and at ease yesterday. I am really looking forward to surgery in a few weeks! Thank you to ALL the team for your support. You have all been wonderful xx” – LBM

So a huge thank you to everybody who has left us feedback, whether it be on our Facebook page, via email or on Twitter. We always love to hear about your experiences at Aurora, and receiving feedback like this really means a lot to the team, so we appreciate you taking the time to share your comments. Please keep letting us know what you think about Aurora Clinics, whether it’s to tell us what you think we can improve on, or just to let us know about the things we’re doing right. Keep in touch!

Question

I am thinking about having surgery to correct my asymmetrical breasts and was wondering how long I would have to wait from my first consultation through to surgery?

I would also like to know the cost for this type of surgery.

Answer

Thank you for your recent enquiry regarding uneven breasts (asymmetry).

If you are considering this procedure, it would be best to see Mr Miles Berry at our London clinic so you can be examined and discuss the options available for surgery. At this consultation Mr Berry could also answer any of your queries or concerns.

As a basic idea, Breast Asymmetry treatment is usually performed under general anaesthetic at our specialist clinic and involves a one night stay in hospital.

The cost includes all of your consultations prior to surgery and unlimited after care appointments following the procedure. 

Surgery to correct and improve this can involve:

We can provide an individualised quote for any combination of the above.

Finance is available via a BMI Card which currently offers up to 12 months interest free. It usually takes 48 hours for a decision to be made after applying for the BMI card.  Once accepted, you can call us on: 0800 328 5743 to book a free consultation appointment.

All of our surgeons have at least 10 years’ experience and are recognised by memberships such as the GMC.

Best Wishes,

The Aurora Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Team

Question

Dear Aurora Clinics,

I previously had breast uplift surgery in Scotland along with a reduction on my right breast to create better symmetry.

During the operation, 50g of tissue was removed from my right breast but this was clearly not enough as the asymmetry appears to be even more pronounced than before.

I am also worried about my nipples as the surgeon has reduced the size of my areolas (which I did not request). As a result, both nipples sit very close to the top of my areolas but further away from their base.

Will further surgery compromise the size of my nipples? I am so desperate to have this remedied and wish that I had come to Aurora Clinics to begin with for my breast uplift surgery. Can you help me?

Answer

Thank you very much for your question. I am sorry that you are unhappy with the appearance of both areas following your original surgery.

In answer to your questions: There is no scientific way of knowing exactly how much tissue to remove from each breast when correcting asymmetry. Generally with experience, surgeons get better at this although it is never possible to guarantee exact symmetry following surgery.

Generally when we perform surgery we have an idea as to how much tissue we will need to remove in order to achieve symmetry. We also take measurements whilst the patient is in theatre and sitting in different positions to try and obtain the best possible symmetry. We normally ask you to wait at least 4 months after surgery before considering revision as this allows time for internal scarring to settle and will help to achieve the best results.

It is unusual to have a difference in the size of the areolas after Breast Uplift as the outsides should be an even distance from the nipple in all areas.

I think further surgery might compromise your nipples but you must consult with your surgeon. He will explain how he could make your areolas more even.

We would be happy to see you to discuss the possibilities which are open to you. Alternatively you could send some photos to info@aurora-clinics.co.uk where we will be happy to give you a more detailed opinion as to the best way forward.

I hope this has been helpful and we wish you the very best of luck if you do decide to go forward with further surgery.

Best Wishes,

The Aurora Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Team

Many people mistakenly believe that Mums don’t or shouldn’t consider cosmetic surgery because of their busy lives with their children.

In fact, at Aurora Clinics we have found this not to be the case. We actually treat a lot of mums with children of varying ages.

Why Do Mums Opt For Cosmetic Surgery?

In our experience, the principle reason why mums consider surgery is to correct changes which occur after pregnancy and breast feeding.

These changes are typically in the chest and tummy region but can also occur in other areas of the body if people have put on a significant amount of weight during pregnancy and the skin does not retract fully.

Breast Surgery In Mums

One popular procedure amongst Mums is a correction of changes in the breasts following pregnancy.

Whether you breast feed or not, many women do notice a significant change in their breast tissue after pregnancy. This is a perfectly natural result of stretching to accommodate the production of milk.

In some mums their breasts return to pretty much the state they were before pregnancy but in other people they can decrease in size (particularly in the upper portion) or even get slightly fuller.

It is impossible to predict how anyone’s breasts will react to pregnancy and breastfeeding but, as a general guide, it is likely that you will follow a similar pattern to other female members of your family…so take a sneaky look at your own Mum, Grandma and sisters or ask them to share their experiences.

The combination of volume loss from the breast combined with stretching of the skin, can lead to decreased fullness in the upper part of the breast and – in some cases –  lowering of the nipple position.

Breast Surgery Treatments Favoured by Mums

Breast volume can be corrected with breast implants and the descent of the nipple with an uplift procedure which lifts the nipple and tightens the skin of the lower breast.

Most people think of breast enlargement surgery as being very obvious and ‘fake’ looking as this is what we see in the media. It has to be remembered, however, that the vast majority of people we see in the press with unattractive busts have very large implants which are out of proportion to their overall body shapes.

Good surgeons know that most Mums are keen to look natural. Most mums at Aurora Clinics tell our surgeons that their Number One fear following surgery is looking false or out of proportion. For this reason, we concentrate on selecting implants which are very much in keeping with your overall physique to give a natural feminine appearance and restore the volume to the mums’ chest that they had prior to their pregnancy.

Why Might a Mum Need a Tummy Tuck?

During pregnancy, the abdomen can also stretch significantly to accommodate that little person inside you! This can produce a widening of the rectus abdominis muscles on the front of the tummy.

• The rectus abdominis muscles are named from the latin ‘rectus’ and ‘abdominis’ which means ‘from the abdomen’
• They are the straight muscles which give the six pack appearance in toned individuals
• There are 2 muscles on the front of the tummy: during pregnancy these can separate which is known as rectus divarication (splitting of the muscles)
• In some mums this does go back fully but in others it does not. The cause of this is unknown and even in very fit individuals such as personal trainers we often see considerable splitting of the muscles

You can check whether you have split muscles by lying down on the ground and gently lifting your legs up in the air , together and straight. With your muscles tense, gently feel the gap between your muscles. You will soon feel if there is a gap anywhere above or below the tummy button!

Splitting of the muscles can be corrected in some cases simply by abdominal exercises such as crunches, pilates and core stability regimes but in many cases the muscles will not go back.

Widening of the muscles can lead to an imbalance in the centre part of your body which can result in back pain.

Tummy Tuck Surgery for Mums

Surgery to correct this is normally performed by a Tummy Tuck using a lower abdominal incision which will be slightly below the caesarean scar. Often this surgery completely removes the original caesarean scar.

The muscles are then accessed and can be sewn together, producing permanent repair of this area. It is very unlikely that the muscles will split again unless you become pregnant once more. Overall tummy tuck surgery is very successful at repairing the split in the muscles and also removing the excess skin and the caesarean scar.

Generally it is recommended that any surgery – breast enlargement or tummy tuck –  is left until after you’ve completed your intended family. This is because your skin and muscles are likely to change and stretch again with subsequent pregnancies, undoing the work of the surgery. It is therefore better to wait until you have had all the children you are planning on and correct any required areas all at once. If you would like further information about Aurora Clinics cosmetic surgery options for mums, please do not hesitate to contact our friendly team (lots of us are Mums too!) on 0800 328 5743 or info@aurora-clinics.co.uk

Aurora Clinics take our patients’ satisfaction very seriously. As such, we consistently collect feedback from patients who have completed a whole range of plastic or cosmetic surgery procedures with us. Each month we collate those results and see how we can improve. Here are some of the findings from Nov-Dec, based on 41 patients who had lots of different procedures including Breast Enlargement, Breast Reduction, Blepharoplasty and Labiaplasty.

What Criteria Forms the Patient Satisfaction Survey?

We asked our patients about their satisfaction with the Aurora Clinics experience in a number of areas including:

• How Easy was it to Schedule an Appointment
• How Would You Rate Your Consultation Experience
• How Would You Rate the Hospital Facilities
• How Would You Rate the Aftercare
• How Happy are You with the Results of Your Surgery
• Would You Recommend Aurora to Your Friends

Very Positive Patient Feedback

A lot of the feedback we received was exceptionally positive.

• 83% said it was ‘Very Easy’ or ‘Easy’ to schedule an appointment with Aurora Clinics
• 62.5% rated their Consultation experience ‘Excellent’ (with a further 37.5% rating  this aspect ‘Very Good’
• Aftercare and Results of Surgery both also scored 62.5% in the ‘Excellent’ satisfaction stakes
• A whopping 100% of the 41 patients surveyed this month would recommend Aurora to their friends!

Patient Testimonials

Here are a selection of the feedback testimonials we received on the Patient Satisfaction Survey…it’s great to hear that you are all generally so pleased with your Aurora Clinics experience!

• “Excellent surgeon and nurse, great results. All staff were friendly and helpful, made the whole experience much easier, would recommend aurora clinics to anyone.”
• “Mr Richards and his friendly, expert team should be the only choice for somebody looking to have breast augmentation. Exemplary care, constant phone/email availability and reliable support from initial consultation to discharge and beyond. As a perfectionist, I’m not an easy person to please. But I’m thrilled with the quality of the outcome and the time spent to find the perfect size and shape for my frame, the value of the procedure against competitor offerings and the outstanding service provision from aurora clinics and the Shelburne. The operation was smooth, i was thoroughly looked after and Mr. Richards is a fantastic surgeon. Brilliant.”
• “Overall my experience was excellent. Mr Richards and his staff were all lovely and very attentive. I always felt respected and cared for. I have no complaints whatsoever and am thrilled with the result of my procedure.”

But No Resting On Our Laurels…We’re Listening To Your Comments

Of course, we also want to actively address any feedback you have about ways in which Aurora Clinics can improve and keep going from strength-to-strength. This time we learnt that: you would like a clear, structured process for sending pre and post op pictures by email and to have more information about when your pictures will be sent. Please note that we are listening and try to act upon all your comments as best as we can.

If you have any Testimonials or Feedback which you would like to send to Aurora Clinics, you can do so anytime via info@aurora-clinics.co.uk

 With increasing numbers of ladies currently opting for implant replacement (following the recent PIP Implants scare) this question is on the minds of many. However, straightforward information about FDA approval and the CE Mark is not always easy to find. This has led to confusion and, unfortunately, some scaremongering on popular forums and social media platforms about whether one type of implant is better than another.

In this Blog, Aurora Clinics hope to make things clearer, offering information and reassurance for those researching the best breast implants for their breast enlargement surgery.

What Is FDA Approval?

• A form of regulatory sanction granted by the Food and Drug Administration
• They assess medical devices (like Breast Implants) according to safety and effectiveness 
• A risk classification from 1-3 is given to decide if the product is safe to sell on the open market

Since 1988, Breast Implants have been classified Class III ‘High Risk’ by the FDA so require the most stringent application procedure for approval, known as a PMA (Premarket Approval Application). This means the manufacturer must submit clinical data and research to back up any claims about the product. They also have to prove that their implants are not only safe but effective too.

The important thing to note is that the FDA are an American governing body who (according to their website) only monitor and approve the manufacturing, repackaging, re-labelling and importing of medical devices which are sold into the USA market. This obviously means that if a product is not an American brand and the company has no intention of trading the product into America, there is no need for the product to seek and gain FDA approval.

What Is the CE Mark?

• Essentially the EU equivalent of FDA Approval
•  A set of legal requirements / a declaration of conformity for all medical and aesthetic devices which must be rigorously followed before they can be sold on the European open market
• Manufacturers must comply with European health, safety and environmental Product Directives, with the product meeting set standards for safety and quality
• Non-conforming products can be withdrawn by customs and law enforcement officials.

As with FDA Approval, because Breast Implants are designated Class III (high risk) medical devices, they require a CE Medical Mark rather than a standard CE Mark which ensures the same depth of clinical data and research is submitted before a product can be approved for open market sale. The CE Medical Mark also guarantees that the device has been tested not to interfere with hospital equipment, particularly life-saving apparatus.  

Are Implants with FDA Approval necessarily ‘Higher Standard’ than those with the CE Mark?

Not at all. This is a common myth which has developed in the UK through lack of understanding and information. It has grown due to unchecked rumours on forums and social media, coupled with the American suppliers / providers’ obvious eagerness to exploit this belief to seem as if their products are somehow superior, regardless of the lack of factual foundation.

Part of the confusion may stem from the fact that lower classed devices in the CE Mark system do not require clinical research data in order to gain approval. (The ‘Medium Risk’ device classifications on the FDA system, however, also have to submit far less rigorous clinical data and receive clearance much more easily.)  This may have been misunderstood and applied to Breast Implants when, in fact at this level, the two systems are much of a muchness just one is European and the other American.

In his brilliant article ‘CE No Evil’ for Cosmetic News magazine (December 2011, p.22-24), Mike Murphy concludes by admitting that “neither CE nor FDA approval guarantees that medical/aesthetic equipment will deliver good clinical results. They are essentially safety tests with large variations in clinical efficacy”.

Nagor and Allergan Implants

When it comes to Breast Implants, Aurora Clinics are finding many worried women trying to choose between Nagor (which has the CE Mark) and Allergan (which has FDA approval) using these regulatory approvals as a deciding factor. The simple fact is that Nagor is very much a UK, “proud-to-be-British” implants company and therefore have never traded into the US or particularly needed an FDA approval. Allergan, on the other hand, are American so do.

That said, Nagor provided a statement for Aurora explaining that “although we are not selling products in the US, products manufactured from our facility are currently progressing through the FDA approval process”. In 2005, the FDA visited the Nagor facility and deemed its systems satisfactory at that point. Nagor also add that they are “certified throughout the world by other stringent health authorities including TGA (Australia), Anvisa (Brazil) and SFDA (China).”

In terms of efficacy, Aurora has a very good track record with both of these brands and our surgeons are happy recommending either as excellent quality breast implants.

If you have been researching Aurora Clinics UK for your cosmetic surgery procedure, chances are that you found lots of videos, articles and podcasts by Mr. Adrian Richards.

Adrian Richards (Cosmetic and Plastic Surgeon)

Mr. Richards is Aurora’s Clinical Director and a fantastic surgeon – he was voted ‘Home Counties Leading Plastic Surgeon’ by The Daily Mail and ‘Leading Breast Surgeon UK’ by The Independent on Sunday.  But that’s not the only reason that Mr. Richards appears all over the Internet – he is a pioneer of digital media, believing that cosmetic surgery information should be made freely available to all those who want it through videos, podcasts, photos and blogs.

Because of this, Mr. Richards is our surgeon who gets the most limelight.

But did you know that Aurora Clinics actually have a number of top-quality Plastic and Cosmetic surgeons, all specialising in different procedures and of an equally high standard (just maybe a little more camera-shy!)

Mr. Prashant Govilkar

Holding an NHS post with Stoke Mandeville Hospital Centre of Excellence, Mr. Govilkar also works regularly as an Aurora Clinics Buckinghamshire partner surgeon. He provides a whole range of treatments from breast to face surgery but is a post bariatric surgery specialist, expert at treatments like the body lift for after patients have lost a lot of weight. Mr. Prashant Govilkar is very actively involved in training others, presenting and authoring his own papers. His patients really appreciate his calm manner and sympathetic listening skills.

Mr. Miles Berry

The perfect Aurora Clinics choice if you need a top-quality surgeon based in London. Consulting from our Harley Street clinic, Mr. Berry trained extensively in breast reconstruction after breast cancer as his speciality. Nowadays with Aurora Clinics, however, he is also an expert in more general breast surgery procedures and male breast reduction (gynecomastia surgery) too. Mr Berry has a great sense of humour and is very popular with all his patients.

Mr. Mark Scott

Mr. Scott comes highly recommended by the many patients he has treated over the years. Impressively, he was one of the UK’s youngest ever consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, when he was appointed to Stoke Mandeville NHS Trust back in 1996. Mr Scott’s background is also in Plastic and Reconstructive surgery and he is a real expert in breast surgery procedures as well as face lifts and rhinoplasty (nose reshaping) amongst other treatments. He can be seen for consultation with Aurora at The Paddocks Clinic in Princes Risborough.

Aurora Clinics have an extensive team of Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Specialists

We do have a number of other expert Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeons, not to mention our expert team of Aesthetic Practitioners who offer our Non-Surgical treatments. Aurora Clinics are very proud of our Team and selective about who we work with: by only partnering with Board-accredited, highly experienced and qualified surgeons we are able to offer you the very best surgery experience and results.

To arrange a consultation with any of our surgeons, please call us on 0800 328 5743 and we will be delighted to advise on the most suitable surgeon for you. All of the surgeons mentioned in this article are experts in performing PIP implant removal and replacement surgery for Aurora Clinics, please contact us for details.

Question :

Aurora Clinics have been recommended as specialists in the field of breast enlargement surgery.

My breast augmentation surgery was carried out in London in December last year. Upon first inspection, I had a feeling that my left implant was not going to descend and it never did. After six months, I had revision surgery to manually drop the implant. I am now a few weeks post op and very unhappy with the results – my once symmetrical nipples now look very uneven and the entire breast seems to be sitting too low.

I feel that the surgeon created the pocket too low, but he is reluctant to admit this. I have lost all my faith in him now and am very keen to seek a second opinion, with the possibility of having further surgery in the future to correct this.

I will not go back to my original surgeon and would be grateful if you would agree to see me in the future or provide some advice. Thank you and best wishes.

Answer :

We are sorry that you are not happy with the appearance of your breasts following breast enlargement surgery.

Your initial surgery appears to have resulted in the muscle holding the implant in a unnaturally high position.

At the operation your surgeon may have released the muscle which would have resulted in the implant becoming lower. In your case, it sounds as though, it has descended too far and is sitting at a lower level than the other side. This would cause asymmetry in your nipple position.

Generally it is possible to correct this by stitching the fold to a similar level of the other side which will create more symmetry.

It would be advisable to schedule a consultation to discuss the best way forward for you in more detail.

If you would like to book a consultation you can do so by calling 08003285743.

We look forward to meeting you should you wish to book a consultation.

Best Wishes,

The Aurora Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Team

Nonetheless, they make for interesting reading so we thought you might like a summary of the findings and how they relate to us here at Aurora Clinics:

UK Cosmetic Surgery Last Year:

• Despite the ongoing recession, not one single cosmetic surgery procedure decreased in popularity in 2011!
• In fact, there was a 6% average increase in numbers of all cosmetic surgery procedures combined throughout the year.
• The biggest increasing procedure was the Male Tummy Tuck which increased by a whopping 15%!
• Breast enlargement surgery still remained the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure, followed by Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery).
• For men, the most popular procedure of 2011 was the nose job or rhinoplasty.

 Do These Statistics Match Aurora Clinics?

At Aurora Clinics, we would agree that Breast Surgery procedures (particularly breast enlargement) are our most popular surgical treatments. Having a number of top Breast Surgery specialist Plastic Surgeons and because we never used PIP implants, we hope that the PIP implants scandal will not affect the fantastic Aurora Clinics reputation for breast surgery. To the contrary, we have been doing our utmost to help all the ladies with PIPs that we possibly can through cost price removal and replacement, whilst still maintaining our usual high standards of breast surgery for new breast enlargement patients.

The rise in male Tummy Tuck and other procedures like Gynecomastia (man boobs) is interesting. As Clinical Director and Surgeon Mr. Adrian Richards observes, “these are not all men who are overweight with beer bellies: many of them are fit and healthy individuals who are simply looking to shape up”. Whilst men had been catching up with women in the facial cosmetic stakes for a while – as the popularity of male rhinoplasty shows – 2011 was the year that men really seemed to begin to care a lot about their figures.

Other top procedures at Aurora Clinics are, as ever, our specialities like Inverted Nipple Correction and Mini Facelifts – treatments which not all cosmetic surgery centres specialise in.

For more information on cosmetic surgery in general or any of the treatments mentioned in this article, please contact Aurora Clinics on 0800 328 5743 or info@aurora-clinics.co.uk . To read more about the BAAPS official statistics 2011, please visit this link.