Patient Satisfaction After Cosmetic Breast Surgery Utilizing the Free Nipple Graft Technique

Abstract

Breast surgery using the free nipple areolar graft (FNG) technique is a less frequently utilized technique; however, a very safe alternative to other available dermoglandular pedicles when nipple areola vascularity is of concern. One of the drawbacks with FNG technique is the loss of tactile sensation and the overall postoperative esthetic appearance of the nipple areola complex (NAC). Our aim was to study patient satisfaction, specifically in regard to NAC sensation and esthetic appearance of the NAC in patients who underwent breast surgery utilizing the FNG technique. This study is a case series of patients undergoing cosmetic breast procedures utilizing the FNG technique. Postoperative outcomes were evaluated both by the clinician and the patient by completing a survey questionnaire. We conducted a 3 month postoperative patient satisfaction survey utilizing a questionnaire in 74 patients who underwent various cosmetic surgical procedures on the breast using the FNG technique. Patients were also objectively evaluated by a physician during the same visit. Patients rated their NAC sensation and esthetic appearance on a scale of 1 to 5 and 1 to 10, respectively, and the physician rated the NAC loss on a scale of 1 to 5. Results were reported as percentages of total patients in each group. Our results indicated that over 85% of patients in our study had more than 50% tactile sensation to the NAC at 3 months. We also found that over 75% of patients were very satisfied with the esthetics of the NAC after these procedures. We conclude that the risk of sensation loss to the NAC and patient satisfaction in regard to esthetic appearance of the NAC is better than what is believed to be and that the FNG technique may possibly be an underutilized tool in the surgeon’s toolbox.