Creating a realistic breast: the nipple-areola reconstruction.

Breast reconstruction is a multi-stage process, leaving many patients overwhelmed by the surgeries they have had to endure by the time they reach the final stages. Patients, however, are encouraged to complete their new breast by undergoing nipple and areolar reconstruction. These last two procedures improve the aesthetic result by transforming the surgically created breast mount into a more natural-appearing breast. This final touch enhances body image, restoring the patient's feeling of wholeness. These procedures are mostly done in the office under local or no anesthesia, depending on the sensation present in the reconstructed breast.