A common bilateral nipple reconstruction surgery at surgery center facility in U.S. includes
| |
Units |
Avg Cash price |
Provider |
Plastic & reconstructive surgeon visit provider fee
First time visit
Standard
|
1 |
$123 |
Provider fee to reconstruct nipple
Standard
Bilateral procedure
|
1 |
$1,316 |
Facility |
Surgery center fee to reconstruct nipple
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$1,399 |
Prescriptions |
HYDROCODONE-ACETAMINOPHEN
Standard
Standard
|
30 |
$16 |
Anesthesia |
Anesthesiologist fee to be "put under" for procedure
Level 3
Standard
|
1 |
$202 |
Anesthesiologist time to be "put under" for procedure
Per minute
Standard
|
229 |
$458 |
Total average cash price |
|
A common bilateral nipple reconstruction surgery at outpatient hospital facility in U.S. includes
| |
Units |
Avg Cash price |
Provider |
Plastic & reconstructive surgeon visit provider fee
First time visit
Standard
|
1 |
$123 |
Provider fee to reconstruct nipple
Standard
Bilateral procedure
|
1 |
$1,316 |
Facility |
Outpatient Hospital fee to reconstruct nipple
level 1
Standard
|
1 |
$3,787 |
Prescriptions |
HYDROCODONE-ACETAMINOPHEN
Standard
Standard
|
30 |
$16 |
Anesthesia |
Anesthesiologist fee to be "put under" for procedure
Level 3
Standard
|
1 |
$202 |
Anesthesiologist time to be "put under" for procedure
Per minute
Standard
|
229 |
$458 |
Total average cash price |
|
Bilateral nipple reconstruction surgery is a procedure to rebuild or reshape the nipples and areolas of the breast/chest if they are damaged or removed.
The most common reason this surgery is performed is after surgical removal of the breasts due to breast cancer. The blood supply for the nipple runs through the center of the breast tissue. Therefore, if the breast tissue near these blood vessels needs to be removed, the nipple must be removed as well.
There are other rare cases where nipple reconstruction is required. The nipple may be damaged during an accident, due to complications from piercing, or as the result of cosmetic surgery. While reconstruction of both nipples is most commonly required, reconstruction of just one side, known as unilateral nipple reconstruction, is also possible.
While most nipple reconstruction surgeries occur in middle-aged women, young women with early-onset breast cancer, men with breast cancer, and anyone born with abnormalities of the nipples may also undergo nipple reconstruction.
Bilateral nipple reconstruction is considered a minor surgical procedure. Most patients find the pain after the procedure easily manageable. If you are undergoing a bilateral nipple reconstruction, you have likely had other major surgeries such as a mastectomy (removal of the breast) which is far more painful and has a much longer recovery time.
Recovery from nipple reconstruction is extremely quick since it only involves the outer layer of skin and the fat beneath it. In the first few days after surgery, you may have pain and swelling in the area. This pain is generally not severe enough to limit your activity.
In the first few days after surgery, you will be asked to keep the area dry and avoid submerging it in water. One to two weeks after surgery, the sutures used to hold the newly reconstructed nipple in place will be absorbed by the body. You can then treat the reconstructed nipple as you would any other sensitive area of skin.
After nipple reconstruction, there are additional steps to restore the appearance of the nipples and the areola that surrounds them. The nipple reconstruction will re-create the shape of the nipple but cannot fully restore its skin shade and color.
The majority of surgeons have partnerships with local tattoo artists that specialize in coloring and shading the reconstructed nipples to look nearly identical to a natural nipple. If you only need one nipple reconstructed, they will also be able to match its appearance to your non-reconstructed nipple.
You should have nipple reconstruction surgery if your nipples have been removed or damaged. Bilateral nipple reconstruction does not restore the ability to produce milk if the nipple/breast cannot do so already. This makes nipple reconstruction a purely cosmetic procedure.
Bilateral nipple reconstruction surgery is not typically performed to change the size of the areola (the dark area surrounding the nipple) or the size of the nipples. True nipple reconstruction is focused on replacing the raised area of the nipples if they are lost due to trauma or another surgery.
Nipple reconstruction surgery is almost always covered by insurance. Ensure that you speak to your surgeon and insurgency company before undergoing any other breast reconstruction surgeries. Some insurance companies will require that the nipple reconstruction be done within a specific time period after reconstructing the breast itself.
You will be able to wear anything you want five to seven days after surgery. The first one to two days after surgery, you will wear a plastic nipple protector to prevent pressure from being placed on the nipple by your bra or clothes.
Your surgeon will recommend that you wear a supportive but non-compressive bra for the first few days after surgery. Sports bras are generally not recommended as they can place more strain on the skin that has been shaped into the new nipple.
Five to seven days after the surgery, you can resume wearing any comfortable bra that does not cause you pain. Going bra-less is also generally okay at this point, except for women with very large breasts.
How soon you can return to exercise depends on your type of surgery and the specific exercise you want to participate in. Your surgeon will provide recommendations after your surgery and during your follow-up visits. In general, the following guidelines will apply:
- Low impact exercises such as yoga, walking, and stretching are generally safe after the first day of surgery.
- Higher impact exercises such as running, weightlifting, and high-intensity training will be off-limits until the nipples are fully healed in two to three weeks.
About the bilateral nipple reconstruction surgery Average Cash Prices
This procedure is most commonly performed at either a surgery center or an outpatient hospital.
Surgery centers, also known as ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), are independent, licensed medical
facilities that are governed by distinct regulatory requirements compared with a hospital. Procedures
performed at an ASCs are often less expensive than when they are performed at an outpatient hospital,
but they typically offer fewer complimentary services, and may not have the full-range of support
services that a hospital provides.
Outpatient facilities are outpatient departments or clinics that may be within or next to a hospital,
but is owned and run by the affiliated hospital. These facilities can perform surgical treatments and
procedures that do not require an overnight stay. Procedures performed at an outpatient hospital are
often more expensive than when they are performed in an ambulatory surgery center, but outpatient
hospitals may offer more complimentary and support services for patients because they are connected to
the hospital system.
