Why liposuction alone may leave puffy nipples after gyno surgery
This is a translated information post from Silhouette Plastic Surgery Clinic in Korea.
Gyno surgery usually involves two different types of tissue:
• Excess chest fat
• Firm glandular tissue beneath the nipple and areola
Liposuction can reduce the fatty portion of the chest.
However, dense glandular tissue may remain beneath the nipple even after the surrounding fat has been removed.
This is why liposuction alone may leave the chest smaller overall while the nipple and areola still look puffy or pointed.
Using one small access point
Liposuction may be performed through the areola border, armpit, or side of the chest.
The technique shown here uses a small opening along the areola border.
The same access point can be used for both fat removal and treatment of the glandular tissue.
Older approaches sometimes used one opening for liposuction and a separate incision for gland removal.
Using the same discreet access point may reduce the number of surgical marks.
Immediately after the liposuction stage.
A tumescent solution is first introduced into the chest, and an ultrasonic liposuction device is used to loosen and remove the excess fat.
A small access point measuring approximately 2–3 mm can be seen beneath the areola.
Why does the nipple still project after liposuction?
After the surrounding fat is removed, firm glandular tissue may still remain directly beneath the nipple.
From the side, this can make the nipple and areola continue to project forward.
The surrounding chest may look flatter, but the remaining central tissue can create a pointed or uneven contour.
Side view after chest fat removal.
The surrounding chest has become flatter, but the nipple and areola remain elevated because glandular tissue is still present underneath.
Why glandular tissue must also be treated
Firm glandular tissue cannot always be adequately removed with liposuction alone.
A tissue shaver can be inserted through the small access point and advanced toward the area beneath the nipple.
The device is used to reduce and remove the remaining glandular tissue without creating a long incision around the areola.
The tissue shaver is inserted through the small opening and guided toward the glandular tissue beneath the nipple.
Finding the right balance
Removing too little glandular tissue may leave persistent nipple projection.
Removing too much may create a depression or crater deformity beneath the nipple.
The goal is therefore not to remove every layer of tissue.
An appropriate supporting layer should remain beneath the nipple while the tissue responsible for the projection is reduced.
The surrounding chest also needs to be contoured so that the corrected area blends smoothly with the rest of the chest.
The tissue shaver is used to reduce and remove the glandular tissue beneath the nipple and areola.
This helps correct the central projection that remained after liposuction.
Before and after
The following case involved a patient in his early 20s.
Before surgery, the nipple and areola projected noticeably from the surrounding chest.
The postoperative photograph was taken approximately three months after surgery.
Before and three months after gyno surgery.
The surrounding chest fat and the glandular tissue beneath the nipple were both treated.
The postoperative chest appears flatter, and the nipple and areola sit in a more natural position.
Why both fat and glandular tissue matter
Liposuction alone may leave firm glandular tissue behind.
Gland removal alone may leave excess surrounding fat and an abrupt transition beneath the nipple.
Treating both components can help create a smoother and more balanced chest contour.
However, the appropriate approach varies according to:
• The amount and location of glandular tissue
• The distribution of chest fat
• Nipple and areola projection
• Skin elasticity
• Chest asymmetry
• Previous surgery or scar tissue
• The patient’s preferred chest shape
A small access point does not guarantee a completely invisible scar.
The final scar, recovery period, and degree of improvement vary from person to person.
Before-and-after photographs show an individual case and do not guarantee the same result for everyone.
This post is shared for educational discussion only.
NSFW / medical image warning.
This does not replace an examination or consultation with a qualified medical professional.
Posted Aug 4, 2026, 10:02 AM UTC