title: Intradermal tattoo as an adjunct to nipple-areola reconstruction.
abstract: Improving results in breast reconstruction have encouraged more authentic restoration of the lost nipple-areola. While recreation of nipple shape can be reliably achieved, appropriate color has remained elusive, except when a composite nipple graft has been harvested from the normal breast, often at a significant aesthetic, emotional, and oncologic cost. Extensive experience with intradermal tattooing of the nipple-areola in over 100 patients over a 5-year period has shown this technique to be exceptionally safe and effective. Both medical-grade and commercial machines are available at varying prices, and medical-grade pigments may be obtained in a variety of authentic flesh tones derived from titanium or iron oxides. In nearly every case, tattooing has helped with either nipple-areola color, size, shape, or position, without any significant complications. Some degree of tattoo fading is common, requiring occasional late touch-ups and, more rarely, complete retattooing.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Spear
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Convit
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Little
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009558:Nipples / Q000601:surgery*; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000379:methods*; D013653:Tattooing