Before and after nipple and areola reconstruction in a 72-year-old breast cancer survivor. She had DIEP flap reconstruction (skin and fat microvascularly transplanted from the abdomen to the chest) and was ready for her final stage of reconstruction.
The “nipple sharing” technique was used to reconstruct her nipple. A portion of the right nipple was excised and transferred to the left breast as a free nipple graft. The right donor nipple was made approximately 50% smaller, as shown in the second set of images.
The nipple tissue heals like a skin graft, with blood vessels traveling upward into the graft from the recipient tissue underneath. It takes around a month for a nipple graft to heal and establish a strong blood supply. Once it is healed, it looks and feels warm and soft like a real nipple, but will not have normal sensation. On occasion it can contract and become erect, but usually it stays relatively flat.
Medical tattoo constructed an areolar circle. Follow-up photos are shown 6 months after surgery. She has exceptionally good symmetry of her nipples and is overjoyed with her nipple!
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
