Retracted nipples are generally operated on when there is no more desire of pregnancy.
Under a short, general anaesthesia an incision is made through the nipple. The retracted milk ducts are released and the nipple is everted.
Breast feeding is no more possible after this operation. Nipple sensation is temporarily disturbed, but eventually it almost always recovers completely over less than a year.
Spontaneous, progressive retraction of a previously normal nipple is an alarm sign. It requires examination by a gynecologist at short term.
