title: [Tattooing of the nipple-areola complex in breast reconstruction: Technical note].
abstract: The reconstruction of the nipple-areola complex is an essential step in breast reconstruction. It announces the end of the reconstruction process, which is often long and sometimes difficult to live for the patient and will significantly improve the perception of body image. Concerning the reconstruction of the areola, tattooing is one of the preferred techniques. It's a simple, quick and safe procedure with a high satisfaction rate. This technique is still perfectible in our opinion, because the random lifetime of pigmentation is a recognized disadvantage of this procedure. We propose a modification of the conventional technique for improving the quality of dermopigmentation while reducing its completion time. Our method is to perform a dermabrasion before starting the tattoo. Indeed, dermabrasion allows better penetration of the pigments inside the dermis and thus offers two advantages: a more durable result over time and reduced operation time by reducing the number of passing of the machine tattoo. Finally, our tattooing technique seems relevant and totally appropriate: its realization is simple, reproducible, does not increase the overall cost of reconstruction, provides timesavings and gives a better long-term result.
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie plastique et reconstructrice, CHU Rangueil, 1, avenue Jean-Poulhès, 31059 Toulouse, France. Electronic address: samuel_riot@hotmail.fr.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Riot
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie plastique et reconstructrice, CHU de Lille, 2, avenue Oscar-Lambret, 59037 Lille cedex, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Devinck
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie plastique et reconstructrice, CHU de Lille, 2, avenue Oscar-Lambret, 59037 Lille cedex, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aljudaibi
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie plastique et reconstructrice, CHU de Lille, 2, avenue Oscar-Lambret, 59037 Lille cedex, France.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Duquennoy-Martinot
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie plastique et reconstructrice, CHU de Lille, 2, avenue Oscar-Lambret, 59037 Lille cedex, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guerreschi
mesh_terms: D003869:Dermabrasion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D009558:Nipples; D013653:Tattooing / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Breast cancer; Breast reconstruction; Cancer du sein; Dermabrasion; Nipple-areola complex; Plaque aréolo-mammelonaire; Reconstruction mammaire; Tatouage; Tattooing