by Azouz, Solomon; Swanson, Marco; Omarkhil, Mirwais;
Rebecca, Alanna
Plastic and
Reconstructive Surgery: January 2020
- Volume 145 - Issue 1 - p 38-42
Summary: Medical
tattooing is a critical reconstructive component in women following mastectomy.
Recently, novel three-dimensional tattooing techniques mimicking depth by using
light and shadow principles have allowed for aesthetically superior results. However,
results are variable between providers, and professionals skilled in tattooing
are often inaccessible to patients. To assess the need and obtain more
background information regarding current practices, the authors recorded survey
results from 753 plastic and reconstructive surgery offices. Results showed
that 23 percent of facilities that offer reconstruction do not perform or refer
for nipple-areola complex tattooing, leaving the patients to seek the service
on their own. In this article, the authors present the nipple-by-number device,
a three-dimensionally–printed stencil to ensure an accurate, consistent, and
personalized aesthetic result during three-dimensional nipple-areola complex
tattooing. The nipple-by-number device permits the plastic surgeon or
supervised treating specialist to inexpensively, efficiently, and expeditiously
perform the three-dimensional nipple-areola complex tattooing in their office.
Furthermore, the device gives the patients the option of having their premorbid
nipple-areola complex anatomy restored through preoperative photographs or
choosing a different nipple-areola complex from a catalogue of designs. The
device can be applied on any reconstructed breast mound whether or not a nipple
projection procedure has been performed.
