title: Windmill Flap Nipple Reduction: A New Method of Nipple Plasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nipple hypertrophy is a common aesthetic issue for Asian women. Thus, methods to correct this problem are needed. Several nipple reduction procedures have been reported, but all have shortcomings. In this article, we propose a new method to reduce both the height and diameter of the nipple without affecting its function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen female patients, between the ages of 24-41 years, underwent a new nipple reduction method in our department between May 17, 2010, and May 5, 2014. Three crescent-shaped lines were drawn from the top of the side wall of the nipple, extending to the areola. This design reduces both the diameter and height of the nipple with minimal tissue manipulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before surgery, the mean diameter and height of the nipple were 15.9 ± 2.7 and 18.3 ± 3.1 mm, respectively, with the patient in the supine position. Immediately after surgery, the mean diameter and height of the nipple were 9.1 ± 1.7 and 7.9 ± 2.1 mm, respectively. No major complications, such as nipple necrosis, infection, delayed wound healing, or loss of sensation, were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This new surgical technique allows the creation of a new nipple of the desired height and diameter with excellent aesthetic results and without significant complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310003, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yijia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liyuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310003, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yichen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310003, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jiaxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310003, People's Republic of China. wly259yq@163.com.
authors.forename: Jinghong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods; D009558:Nipples / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply / Q000637:transplantation*; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Nipple hypertrophy; Nipple reduction; Surgical management