A nipple simulating the shape, surface geometry and function of a woman's breast is provided. The nipple has a stem and a base. The base has an areola region and a bulbous region. The areola region is positioned between the stem and the bulbous region, and can simulate the areola of a woman's breast. The bulbous region can simulate the region of a woman's breast surrounding the areola. The areola region has a texture or surface geometry that is different from the texture or surface geometry of the stem or bulbous region.
1. A method of molding a nipple having a stem region, an areola region, and a third region, the areola region being between the stem and the third regions, the method comprising:
finishing a first portion of a mold to a smooth finish, said first portion forming the stem region of the nipple;
adding a desired texture to a second portion of the mold, the second portion forming the areola region of the nipple, said desired texture being sufficient to provide an outer surface of the areola region with a rough texture; and
finishing a third portion of the mold to a smooth finish, said third portion forming the third region of the nipple;
overmolding thermoplastic elastomer on the areola region;
wherein the outer surfaces of the stem region and the third region are a different material than the overmolded region.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stem, the areola region, and the third region are integrally molded.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the stem, the areola region, and the third region are integrally formed of a flexible material.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the flexible material is selected from the group consisting of silicone, latex, rubber, or any combination thereof.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the areola region is a different material than the stem region and third region.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising molding the nipple so that outer surfaces of the stem region and the third region are of silicone, rubber, latex, or combinations thereof.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the areola region has dimples or ribs.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adding the desired texture to the second portion of the mold comprises electrical discharge machining or chemical etching the mold.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the areola region has an outwardly curved shape.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the areola region is integrally molded with the third region along an areola edge.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the third region has an outwardly convex shape.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the third region has a greater surface area than the areola region.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the third region has an upper portion and a lower portion.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the third region has an upper portion and a lower portion.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the lower portion extends substantially vertically downward from the upper portion.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the upper portion has a wall thickness that is thinner than a wall thickness of the lower portion.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the third region is connected to and surrounded by a securing structure comprising a flange that is perpendicular to an outer surface of the lower portion.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the lower portion has an annular ring extending outwardly from the lower portion.
19. The method of claim 9 , wherein the stem region is substantially cylindrical in shape.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the stem region has an inwardly concave circular shape between the stem region and the areola region.