title: Breast development and areola sensitivity after submammary skin incision for median sternotomy.
abstract: Vertical incision for median sternotomy may result in unsightly scars. Therefore we have used a horizontal approach in women since the early 1980s. Of 36 women, 27 came for a follow-up examination. A tendency toward scar hypertrophy was found medially in 7 women. Four breast-fed their child after operation. Reduced areola sensitivity occurred in only 9 women. Horizontal submammary skin incision resulted in cosmetically acceptable scar formation and did not harm breast development and lactation.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Surgery, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deutinger
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Domanig
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001940:Breast / Q000254:growth & development*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D009558:Nipples / Q000502:physiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012677:Sensation; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*