Pre-reconstruction tattooing eliminates the need for skin grafting in nipple areolar reconstruction

Tattooing the skin of the reconstructed breast as a prelude to reconstruction of the nipple provides a nipple areolar reconstruction that has a uniform color. There is no requirement for a skin graft donor site. Tedious tattooing of the nipple papule is avoided. It is much easier to tattoo a flat surface than a projecting papule, and this technique gives a more uniform color. We believe that this approach to nipple areolar reconstruction provides a simpler, dependable technique.