Flat Nipples

If a woman gently compresses the areola, which is the dark part around the nipple between the thumb and the forefinger, the nipple will protrude. If it doesn’t then she has flat nipples. Flat nipples will remain flat and not protrude when pressed. Sometimes one nipple may be flat and the other normal. It is not unusual to have nipples like that. One can make out if the nipples are flat by just looking at them. If there is any confusion, then you should confirm it by asking the doctor.

There are many types of flat nipples and even men have them as it is not restricted to women only. There is the dimpled or the folded nipple where only part of the nipple is inverted or flat and does not protrude when stimulated but can be pulled out with fingers. This however does not remain perked after some time. Other types are when the nipples are slightly flat, or moderately flat. Some are severely flat and may retract deeply into the breast even below the areola level.

Most people feel that flat nipples will make breast-feeding difficult or impossible. Hence doctors used to advise pregnant ladies to do nipple stretching exercises and use breast shells. Breast shells are plastic cups worn inside the bra, which press on the areola forcing the nipple to come out. Studies have shown that this is not true. Women with flat nipples can also breast feed their babies successfully and therefore doctors now do not insist that pregnant women with flat nipples try to draw them out. They feel that such practices make women feel they are inadequate and this may mentally make her have a block against breast-feeding. She may incessantly worry about whether she can breast feed her baby or not.

When the newborn baby latches on to the breast and begins sucking, the flat nipples may become normal. A lactation expert will be able to help the new mother to breast feed her child. The mother can make a ‘sandwich’ of her flat nipple by holding it between her thumb and forefinger and pushing the nipple into the baby’s mouth. Using breast pumps, nipple shields or nipple shells may also help flat or inverted nipples to protrude and become normal enough for the child to breast-feed.

Flat nipples are not a stigma on the beauty of a woman. But if she feels severely about it, and the other normal practices have not helped her, then she can go in for plastic surgery and get a certified surgeon do the needful. The only snag being that breast feeding after such a surgery may not be possible as the milk ducts might have got affected during surgery when the extra tissues had to be readjusted to make the flat nipples stand out.