title: Pre-reconstruction tattooing eliminates the need for skin grafting in nipple areolar reconstruction.
abstract: Tattooing the skin of the reconstructed breast as a prelude to reconstruction of the nipple provides a nipple areolar reconstruction that has a uniform color. There is no requirement for a skin graft donor site. Tedious tattooing of the nipple papule is avoided. It is much easier to tattoo a flat surface than a projecting papule, and this technique gives a more uniform color. We believe that this approach to nipple areolar reconstruction provides a simpler, dependable technique.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pa.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Banducci
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kahler
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Manders
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D009558:Nipples / Q000601:surgery; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013653:Tattooing