Objective To compare the effect of periareolar incision and radial incision in the resection of benign breast tumor, and to analyze the inffuence of periareolar incision on aesthetic effect and nipple sensory recovery. Methods A total of 60 patients with benign breast tumor admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to January 2025 were selected. According to the random number table method, they were divided into the control group and the observation group, with 30 patients in each group. All patients underwent benign breast tumor resection. The control group was treated with radial incision, and the observation group was treated with periareolar incision. The surgical-related indicators, aesthetic effect and nipple sensory recovery were compared between the two groups. Results There were no signiffcant differences in operation time and intraoperative blood loss between the two groups (P>0.05). The hospitalization time in the observation group was shorter than that in the control group (P<0.05). At 6 and 12 months after operation, the VSS scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group, and the breast symmetry scores were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). At 12 months after operation, the excellent and good rate of nipple sensory recovery in the observation group (96.67%) was higher than that in the control group (80.00%) (P<0.05). Conclusion The application of periareolar incision in the resection of benign breast tumor can improve postoperative aesthetic effect and nipple sensory recovery, and shorten hospitalization time, without increasing operation time or intraoperative blood loss.