Polyurethane nipple prosthesis.

Long-term nipple projection remains the elusive ingredient for measuring the success of a nipple reconstruction. Augmentation of this projection without sacrifice of autogenous donor tissues may be achieved using a polyurethane-coated silicone gel implant affectionately and descriptively called the "gumdrop" nipple. Two patients who agreed to implantation with this device have each been observed over a one-year period with no loss of projection. The role of an internal nipple prosthesis, although perhaps of some value as a salvage procedure, appears to offer few advantages over other accepted methods of reconstruction that do not use any foreign body.