Mammaplasty in patients with large areola: Reducing the nipple-areola complex using intra-areolar incisions

Abstract

Minimal incision breast reduction techniques resulting in periareolar scars are widely used. However, this technique is less suitable for patients with large areola diameters and relatively small breasts, requiring a modest reduction or lift only. As a result of the large nipple-areola complex larger amounts of skin must be removed in order to resect the complete peripheral areola, increasing the risk of high-riding nipples, breast flattening and incomplete areola resection resulting in a rest on the vertical scar. This report describes a modified technique offering a solution to these problems. In this technique intra-areolar incisions are used to reduce areola size without resecting large volumes of breast tissue and skin. Complete peripheral areolar resection is always possible and high-riding nipples are avoided.