You may want only the shape of the breast reconstructed without a nipple, or you may choose to have the look of a nipple. The appearance of a nipple and areola (the brown or pink rim of tissue around the nipple) can be created in several ways.
Learn more about:
Adhesive nipples
These stick to the skin or breast prosthesis and stay in place for several days. They are made from soft silicone and are available in a variety of colours. You can buy them from breast prostheses suppliers.
Nipple made from your own body tissue
A small operation can reconstruct a nipple and the areola. This operation is generally done a number of months after a reconstruction to give your body time to heal from the original operation and because the reconstructed breast may drop slightly after surgery.
The nipple is made from tissue on your reconstructed breast. It is folded to create a nipple shape. The new nipple won’t have nerves, so it will not feel any sensation or become erect to touch. Sometimes the nipple can flatten out and sometimes it can be permanently erect.
 | Reconstructed breast and nipple (no tattoo) After the reconstruction you will have a new nipple. |
Nipple tattoo
The new nipple can be tattooed to match the colour of the other nipple. The tattoo can be done by a reconstructive (plastic) surgeon, trained nurse, professional medical tattooist or specially trained cosmetic therapist. Initially, the tattoo will look darker than the remaining nipple, but it will fade with time to match in colour.
A new technique called 3D nipple tattoos uses different shading to create the appearance of a nipple. Your breast care nurse can give you more information about this new procedure.
→ READ MORE: Surgery to the other breast
Key resource
Download a PDF booklet on this topic.
More resources
Dr Jane O’Brien, Specialist Oncoplastic Breast Cancer Surgeon, St Vincent’s Private Hospital, VIC; Clare Bradshaw, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Breast Assessment Unit, Fiona Stanley Hospital, WA; Rene Hahn, Consumer; Sinead Hanley, Consumer; Dr Marc Langbart, Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Randwick Plastic Surgery, NSW; Melanie Law, Consumer; Sally Levy, Consumer; Annmaree Mitchell, Consumer; Ashleigh Mondolo, Breast Cancer Nurse Clinical Consultant, Mater Private Hospital Brisbane, QLD; Rochelle Osgood, Clinical Nurse Consultant – McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, QLD: Dr Kallyani Ponniah, Head of Department, Breast Centre, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, WA; Meg Rynderman OAM, Consumer; Sarah Stewart, Breast Care Nurse, The Royal Women’s Hospital, VIC; Erin Tidball, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council NSW; Jane Turner, Senior Exercise Physiologist, Sydney Cancer Survivorship Centre, Concord Cancer Centre, NSW.
The photograph above has been reproduced with permission from Breast Cancer: Taking Control © Boycare Publishing 2010.
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