Nipple reconstruction with a modified S-flap technique.

A modified S-flap method for nipple reconstruction with two local opposing skin flaps, was used for a series of 21 women with a mean age of 50 years (range 30-64). Four patients had bilateral breast reconstructions, so the total number of reconstructed nipple areola complexes (NAC) was 25. The patients were examined 29-46 months (mean 36) after the reconstruction with particular reference paid to projection, size, sensation, and colour of the nipples. The patients also answered a questionnaire about their assessment of the final result. The mean projection of the nipples was 3.9 mm (range 0-9). Five patients had various degrees of necrosis of the skin flaps. One third of the women had some sensation in their reconstructed nipples. Two thirds of the nipples were pale. The patients estimated the final result as 8.2 (range 1-10) on a visual analogue scale.