Polythelia Surgical removal of accessory nipples

If, since birth, one has more than two nipples, the condition is referred to as polythelia, hyperthelia, third nipple, supernumerary nipples or accessory nipples.

The accessory nipples are usually small and not easily recognizable. Nevertheless, they can be aesthetically unpleasant.

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If one has more than two nipples, we speak of supernumerary nipples, accessory nipples or third nipple. Though the most frequently used definition is polythelia. The term derives from Greek:  «poly» = many and «thele» = nipple.

Supernumerary nipples usually appear along the so-called milk lines or mammary ridges. The breast develops at an embryonal stage from these ridges. The milk lines run on both sides from the armpit to the groin. Only in rare cases, the accessory nipples may also appear on the neck, the back and in the area of the buttocks.

Since supernumerary nipples are very small, they do not usually cause any problems. Though, in very rare cases, they may become malignant and should, therefore, be removed.

Treatment of polythelia

Polythelia is congenital in most cases. But it could also manifest as late as puberty when the breast development starts. Accessory nipples are, as a rule, harmless. But, especially underneath the breast, they can be extremely unpleasant. For this reason, it is worth treating polythelia for aesthetic reasons.

The surgery will be performed as an ambulatory procedure at Clinic Beethoven­strasse AG. For the excision, that means the removal of the supernumerary nipple, a local anesthesia is usually sufficient