Nipple cosmetic surgery is the latest fad with a significant number of people said to be looking for nipple surgery and nipple prostheses in the past year.

Much of the trend is said to stem from Victoria Beckham. Pictures of her recently have seen her in tight black t-shirts with her nipples outlined in the top. The pictures have sparked debate over whether they are real or fake, and some people have chosen to have cosmetic surgery to get nipples like her.

Many women who are looking for nipple cosmetic surgery cite reasons that they want to improve their shape and appearance, particularly for occasions when they want to wear a t-shirt without a bra.

The term ‘nipple cosmetic surgery’ actually encompasses quite a range of different plastic surgery techniques. Some of the techniques available are:

• Nipple Lifts: Small flaps of skin around the nipple are made which then helps push it up and out
• Symmetry Surgery: Cosmetic surgery to ensure the nipples on each breast look the same
• Nipple Colour: The areola (the pigmented area around the nipple) can be evened out. The area can also be tattooed to even the colour or to change the colour.
• Inverted Nipple Correction: Some nipples can be flat or concave and refuse to protrude. This condition can interfere with breastfeeding. Cosmetic surgery can be done to correct this issue.

Naturally there are side effects associated with each of the nipple cosmetic surgery procedures. Any incisions are, of course, at a small risk of infection. The surgery can also cause the nipples to lose physical sensitivity if nerve endings are removed or damaged. A small number of women may also lose the ability to breastfeed.

The success rate of each of the cosmetic procedures will also vary. Inverted nipple surgery has quite a low long-term success rate with up to 50% of women saying that the nipples retract again within 2 months of having nipple cosmetic surgery. Weight loss or weight gain can also have a profound effect on the long-term effectiveness of the surgery.