New measurement method for matching areola size prior to tattooing

Abstract

Reserved as the final step in breast reconstruction surgery, nipple areola reconstruction is important for obtaining an aesthetically agreeable breast.1–6 It has been shown that the recreation of the nipple‐areola complex (NAC) is an integral part of the breast reconstruction process since patients associate this stage with the end of treatment and it provides a sense of completeness. Creating a nipple‐areola complex that matches the contralateral nipple in terms of size, shape, projection, and position is an important factor to the final reconstructive result. Tattooing is a favored technique for nipple areola reconstruction since it is a simple, quick, and safe procedure with a high satisfaction rate. However, it is challenging to match the size of the reconstructed NAC to that of the natural breast. We propose a new measurement method to easily and accurately match a reconstructed