LONG-TERM EXPERIENCE WITH NIPPLE-AREOLA TATTOOING

Although nipple areola tattooing is now a well-accepted step in breast reconstruction, little is known about its long-term effectiveness. A retrospective study of our 6-year experience in tattooing 151 patients was thus carried out. Patients were surveyed regarding color match, s atisfaction, and complications. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 75 months ( mean, 25.2 months). Fifty-seven percent of respondents said their tatt oo looked similar to the normal areola. There were five (3%) infection s, one rash, and one slough. Ten percent of tattoos needed a touch-up later to correct for excessive fading. Nearly 60% of tattoos were ulti mately lighter than the normal. Eighty-four percent of the tattoos wer e rated as satisfactory, and 86% of the patients said they would repea t the procedure if given the same choice again. Nipple-areola tattooin g done with iron oxide and titanium dioxide pigments thus appears to b e a reasonably safe and effective procedure in most patients but may r equire one or more subsequent touch-ups for appropriate color match.