Nipple and areola reconstruction. A study in 79 mastectomized women.

Seventy-nine patients of 100 desired a nipple-areola reconstruction. In nipple-areola reconstruction, skin from the upper inner thigh gives the best results as areola replacement, except perhaps in women with very large contralateral areola. Nipple-sharing was the most favourable method for reconstruction of the nipple. Mushroom nipple plasty could give satisfactory results when nipple sharing was not feasible. There were no early complications of nipple-areola reconstruction, which often can be done on an out-patient basis. Most of a series of women who underwent breast reconstruction thought that nipple-areola reconstruction was important and were satisfied with the result.