Before and after left nipple and areola reconstruction following breast reconstruction with the DIEP flap in a 46-year-old breast cancer survivor. She had previously undergone a right breast reduction and was not offered reconstruction at the time of her mastectomy!
Fortunately, she found our office and was thrilled to learn about the DIEP flap. Her left breast was reconstructed by microsurgically transplanting skin and fat from her lower abdomen to her chest.
Six months later, her left nipple was reconstructed using the nipple sharing technique. A portion of the right nipple was taken and moved to the left breast, which healed as a free nipple graft. Medical tattoo was used to reconstruct her left areola.
At three weeks after free nipple graft, the transplanted nipple looks pink and swollen, as expected. By three months, it is well healed and looks normal and natural, like it was always there! The donor nipple becomes slightly smaller after nipple sharing, as shown in the photos below.
Follow up photos are shown 9 months after her DIEP flap and 3 months after nipple reconstruction and areola tattoo. Her full breast reconstruction photos for her DIEP flap can be seen here.
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
