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Breast development and areola sensitivity after submammary skin incision for median sternotomy
1Second Department of Surgery, University of Vienna, Austria.
Vertical incision for median sternotomy may result in unsightly scars. Therefore we have used a horizontal approach in women since the early 1980s. Of 36 women, 27 came for a follow-up examination. A tendency toward scar hypertrophy was found medially in 7 women. Four breast-fed their child after operation. Reduced areola sensitivity occurred in only 9 women. Horizontal submammary skin incision resulted in cosmetically acceptable scar formation and did not harm breast development and lactation.
Vertical incision for median sternotomy may result in unsightly scars. Therefore we have used a horizontal approach in women since the early 1980s. Of 36 women, 27 came for a follow-up examination. A tendency toward scar hypertrophy was found medially in 7 women. Four breast-fed their child after operation. Reduced areola sensitivity occurred in only 9 women. Horizontal submammary skin incision resulted in cosmetically acceptable scar formation and did not harm breast development and lactation.