NIPPLE RECONSTRUCTIONS - COMPARISON OF PATIENTS AND SURGEONS PERSPECTIVES

Nipple-areolar complex (NAG) addition is an important adjunct to breas t reconstruction in patients who have had mastectomies. We Studied 22 patients who underwent NAC reconstructions over a 5-year period. There were a total of 273 breast reconstructions carried out over the same period. Patients were questioned regarding their perception of various physical characteristics of the NAC reconstruction as well as their p erception of the overall benefit of the operation. Patient ratings wer e compared with those of an independent observer. The majority of pati ents (19/22) were pleased to have undergone such surgery and felt that it had completed their breast reconstruction. Patient and observer sc ores were similar: the highest scoring features were NAC position, sof tness and symmetry. The lowest scoring features were sensation, size a nd appearance when nude. Only one patient found any influence of NAC r econstruction towards sexual responsiveness. Twenty-one of the 22 pati ents would recommend this procedure to other women. We feel that NAC r econstruction is a valuable component of the reconstructive ladder in breast cancer.