Management of Nipple-Areola Deformity

Herniated or pseudoherniated nipple-areolar complex (NAC), also called protuberant or "domed nipple," is an entity that can be present both in males and females and represents a therapeutic challenge. It can be an isolated deformity, but in most cases is found within another breast deformity, such as tuberous breast or can appear following pregnancy. Its diagnosis and appropriate treatment become important when patients search for correctional breast surgery.

To review some common techniques for the treatment of tuberous breasts that address the nipple-areola problem as well, but also to present our experience with some newer and less invasive surgical techniques that could be useful for isolated treatment of herniated or pseudoherniated nipple.

We performed a retrospective study that included all patients operated from December 2013 to December 2018. We reviewed existing techniques which in addition to our personal experience helped us to create an algorithm to assist surgeons in this matter.

A total of 125 patients with herniated or pseudoherniated NAC were treated. There were 87 women and 38 men. The average age of the patients was 30, 8 ± 8.1 years (ranging from 20 to 63). We analyzed the results of four following techniques: periareolar mastopexy (52 patients), release of fibrous tissue in combination with lipofilling (19 patients), resection of herniated breast tissue (23 patients) or controlled electrocoagulation of relaxed erectile muscle (31 patients). The minimum follow-up for all cases was 4 months.

The achievement of a successful aesthetic result is possible in a single-stage procedure with initial surgery. It depends on careful individual preoperative evaluation of anatomical features and a surgical approach chosen accordingly.

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