title: The C-V flap for nipple reconstruction after previous skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction: refinements of donor-site closure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The C-V flap including its modifications is very popular flap used for nipple reconstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  This report describes a refinement of the C-V flap used in nipple reconstruction for patients who previously have undergone skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction. Closure of the V flap donor sites is facilitated by means of designing two opposing advancement "areolar" skin flaps.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our modification ensures that no "dog ears" remain after the donor sites of the two V flaps are closed and that all scarring remains within the skin paddle of the neo-areola without any extensions on the mastectomy skin flaps.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our refinement of the closure for the donor site of the C-V flap used in nipple reconstruction produces an aesthetically pleasing result without unnecessary donor-site scar extensions on the mastectomy skin flaps.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Birmingham City Hospital, Birmingham B18 7QH, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Katerinaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sircar
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Sterne
mesh_terms: D001940:Breast / Q000601:surgery; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008408:Mastectomy; D009558:Nipples / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps