Alteration of nipple and areola sensitivity by reduction mammaplasty

Abstract

Breast hypertrophy can cause physical, psychological, and cosmetic discomfort. More than 100 different operative techniques have been described to reduce the size and to relieve the symptoms. For many years, shape, length of scars, and low complication rates were the major goals in breast reduction surgery. However, during the last years, attention has been directed towards the nerves supplying the breast, and hence the preservation of the sensibility of the nipple-areola complex has become a criterion in evaluating the different reduction techniques [1-9]. © 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.