Areolar & Nipple Correction
Areolar and nipple correction in Scottsdale with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ashley Howarth to address asymmetry, prominence, puffiness, or irregular size with precision and care. Each procedure is thoughtfully planned to align with your body, your goals, and the way you want to look and feel.
Experience the exceptional care and personalized touch of a board-certified female plastic surgeon who prioritizes your well-being every step of the way. Discover why Dr. Ashley Howarth stands out as one of the best plastic surgeons in Arizona for results that look and feel beautifully natural.
Areolar & Nipple Correction in Scottsdale
The size, shape, and symmetry of the areola and nipple can have a profound effect on how a woman feels about her body. Whether due to genetics, tuberous breast development, breastfeeding, or past surgery, areolar irregularities are common—but rarely discussed. For many women, the result is a quiet discomfort they’ve lived with for years.
Dr. Ashley Howarth is a Mayo Clinic–trained, board-certified plastic surgeon who offers highly customized solutions for areolar and nipple correction. Her approach is delicate, discreet, and deeply personal—always with the goal of restoring balance, proportion, and confidence through subtle refinements that feel beautifully your own.
What Is Areolar & Nipple Correction?
Areolar and nipple correction includes a range of minor surgical procedures designed to improve size, shape, position, or symmetry of the pigmented area surrounding the nipple—or the nipple itself. It may involve reducing the diameter of enlarged areolas, flattening puffy areolas, correcting asymmetry, or addressing nipples that are prominent, inverted, or misshaped.
These procedures are often performed in conjunction with breast augmentation, lift, or revision surgery, but can also be done on their own. Dr. Howarth uses precise surgical techniques and fine suture placement to create natural-looking results with minimal scarring. Every plan is customized to your anatomy, your concerns, and how you want to feel in your body.
Reasons Women Choose Areolar & Nipple Correction
REDUCE ENLARGED OR PUFFY AREOLAS
Whether due to genetics, breast development, or aging, some women develop wide or protruding areolas that feel out of proportion. Correction can create a more balanced appearance that better matches the shape of the breast.
CORRECT ASYMMETRY
When one areola is noticeably larger, higher, or shaped differently than the other, it can make even small changes in the breast feel amplified. Surgical refinement restores harmony and brings both sides into visual alignment.
REFINE PAST SURGERY RESULTS
Areolas may widen over time after breast surgery or change with implant placement. Dr. Howarth can reduce stretched or distorted areolas, reposition the nipple-areola complex, and refine scarring from prior procedures.
ADDRESS NIPPLE CONCERNS
Some women feel self-conscious about inverted, prominent, or misshapen nipples—especially in intimate or clothing-related settings. Correction is gentle, low-risk, and designed to improve both appearance and self-esteem.
Areolar & Nipple Correction Consultation Process
A Thoughtful, One-on-One Conversation
Your consultation is a quiet, respectful space to share your concerns—however small they may seem. Dr. Howarth understands that what might be dismissed by others can feel deeply personal to you. Together, you’ll explore what’s possible, what matters most to you, and what result will feel most aligned with your body and sense of self.
She’ll take careful measurements, assess skin elasticity, and explain your options in approachable terms. If you’re combining areolar or nipple correction with another procedure, Dr. Howarth will walk you through how everything fits into a cohesive surgical plan. If you’re pursuing correction on its own, she’ll ensure it’s approached with the same level of care and planning as any major procedure.
This is not about perfection. It’s about making a meaningful, proportionate improvement that helps you feel more at ease in your skin.
From consultation to confidence
Selecting a Plastic Surgeon with a Commitment to Excellence
Careful Planning
Dr. Howarth begins with a conversation and a tailored evaluation—measuring size, position, and tissue characteristics to design a result that feels balanced, subtle, and true to your goals.
Surgical Expertise
She uses advanced techniques to reduce, reshape, or reposition the nipple-areola complex while preserving nerve function and minimizing scarring. Fine sutures and layered closure ensure a smooth, natural appearance.
Supportive Recovery
Most patients return to light activity within a few days and experience little discomfort. Dr. Howarth and her team provide detailed aftercare instructions and close follow-up, so you feel supported at every step.
Begin Your Transformation
Meet your surgeon
Ashley Lynn Howarth, MD, FACS
Dr. Ashley Howarth is a board-certified plastic surgeon who completed her training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Mayo Clinic Arizona. Prior to that, she trained in general surgery at Texas A&M Baylor Scott & White, and earned her medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine. With nine years of combined surgical training, few surgeons possess the level of academic experience as Dr. Howarth.
She has quickly become one of Arizona’s most in-demand plastic surgeons, recognized for her surgical precision, natural aesthetic, and obsession with detail. Her clinical interests include cosmetic surgery of the face, breasts, and body, and she is known for delivering results that are refined, balanced, and thoughtfully executed.
In addition to her surgical practice, Dr. Howarth serves as an Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at Mayo Clinic, where she helps train the next generation of plastic surgeons. She also serves as the youngest board member and Member-at-Large for the Arizona Society of Plastic Surgeons, a leadership role awarded by her peers.
As a working mother of three young boys, Dr. Howarth understands the challenges that women face. Her care is grounded in empathy, honesty, and individualized attention, with the goal of helping every patient feel confident, supported, and beautifully themselves throughout the entire process.
She proudly supports the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale and sponsors their Celebrate Youth Gala each year. She also mentors young women interested in medicine and surgery by offering shadowing opportunities and career guidance, continuing her dedication to helping others grow—both in and out of the operating room.
“My life feels full and wonderful due to this transformation. I’m blessed to have had Dr. Howarth complete my surgery. Don’t wait to love your body and yourself!” – M.A.
What size areola is considered “normal”?
There’s no perfect size—but the average areola diameter is about 4 to 5 cm. What matters most is how the areolas relate to your overall breast proportions. If they feel too wide, puffy, or uneven to you, correction may help.
Can areolar reduction be done without implants or a lift?
Yes. Areolar surgery can be performed on its own for women who are otherwise happy with their breast size and shape. It’s a minor outpatient procedure with minimal downtime and a high satisfaction rate.
Will sensation be affected?
Dr. Howarth takes care to preserve nerve pathways during surgery. Most patients retain normal sensation after areolar or nipple correction, though slight temporary numbness is possible during the healing phase.
What causes puffy or herniated areolas?
This is often a hallmark of tuberous or constricted breast development. The breast tissue pushes outward against the areola, creating a raised or ballooned appearance. This can be corrected through surgical release and reshaping.
Can you fix asymmetrical areolas?
Yes. If one areola is larger, higher, or shaped differently, Dr. Howarth can perform precise surgical adjustments to create symmetry and better visual balance.
Does areolar surgery leave visible scars?
The incision is typically placed along the outer edge of the areola, where the change in pigment helps camouflage the scar. With proper healing and Dr. Howarth’s fine suturing technique, the result is usually discreet.
Is this surgery covered by insurance?
In most cosmetic cases, no. However, Dr. Howarth’s team provides transparent, customized pricing and will walk you through everything included in your surgical plan.
Begin Your Transformation
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