Comparison of nipple and areolar sensation after breast reduction by free nipple graft and inferior pedicle techniques

Breast reduction with free nipple-areolar transplantation has traditionally been used for patients with gigantomastia. It is a widely held belief that there is little or no recovery of sensation in the nipple-areolar complex after this procedure. We set up a retrospective study to compare nipple-are olar sensation after free nipple grafting with that after breast reduction by the more commonly performed inferior pedicle technique. We reviewed 38 p atients (17 free nipple grafts and 21 inferior pedicles) at least 1 year af ter breast reduction and measured the nipple and areolar pressure sensibili ty in each breast with Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments. We found some degree of recovery of sensation in all patients, with areolar sensation being sim ilar in the two groups but nipple sensation being superior in the inferior pedicle group. In addition, we assessed the erectile function of the nipple s in each group. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.