What is the Likelihood of Needing a Nipple Graft During Breast Reduction Surgery?

How will this affect the ability to breastfeed in the future? Will sensation be lost in the nipples?

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9 Doctor Answers | Asked by anon

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Nipple Grafting During Breast Reduction?

Thank you for the question. There is a very little likelihood that nipple grafting is a necessary part of breast reduction surgery. This technique may be helpful for patients who are very large and/or ptopic and who are having breast reduction surgery that involves relatively long distance movement of the nipple/areola complexes. If the nipple grafting procedures performed you will not have sensation or be able to breast-feed in the future. The nipple... more

Nipple Graft In Breast Reduction

I rarely find the need for free nipple-areolar grafts in performing breast reduction surgery. The two situations in which I employ this technique are extremely large volume reductions (rarely) and in patients who are unable to stop smoking (often). This does result in permanent loss of nipple sensation. It is also very unlikely that you would be able to breastfeed in the future since the connections of the nipple to the milk ducts have been disrupted.

Rarely

This is a rare thing to happen. It is a risk and one must be ready for it but very rare. It also depends on how large of breast cup size you are starting with meaning the larger the breast and the longer the pedicle the more likely to have issues with nipple necrosis and therefore the need for nipple/areola grafting.

Andre Aboolian, MD

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Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Breast Reduction and Nipple Grafts...

Under the care of a well trained plastic surgeon, nipple grafts during breast reduction need almost never be done! With the wide variety of breast reduction techniques now at the disposal of plastic surgeons, reduction methods can virtually always be selected which will allow for safe preservation of natural blood flow to the nipple and areola, eliminating the need for "nipple grafts". The "inferior pedicle" breast reduction technique has become the "gold... more

Free nipple grafting with reduction

Very rare these days. you didn't offer any information on size but you would have to be enormous and VERY low to require a free graft. if it has been suggested do some more asking. hope this helps.

Nipple grafting is unnecessary

Hi, Nipple grafting is no longer necessary using a new technique in breast reduction surgery. With this technique viability of the nipple areola complex is no longer an issue regardless of breast size. The nipple is never detached from the breast mound so nipple sensitivity is preserved. Many issues have been resolved with this technique that were problematic using standard breast reducing procedures (including that of breastfeeding). Great question! Best... more

Questions on free nipple graft fro breast reduction

A free nipple graft breast reduction is virtually always a pre-planned procedure that is selected for a variety of reasons.When it is selected intraoperatively, it is employed to save the viability of the nipple-areola complex when there is evidence that this tissue would otherwise not survive long term because of blood supply (or removal) issues. A free nipple graft completely detaches the nipple from its blood and nerve supply. As a consequence, there will ultimately be little... more

Nipple graft during breast reduction

First of all, what we mean by a nipple graft is that the nipple and surrounding areola are literally cut off from the breast tissue just under it. This graft is made very thin usually by a scissors: the nipple part is about the thickness of the nipple but the surrounding areola is thinned so that it is not much thicker than paper. For the vast majority of cases, this is not done, and the nipple-areolar complex is carried to a higher level on the chest still... more

A free nipple graft is always a possibility during breast reduction surgery

A free nipple graft is not a common occurance but can happen during breast reduction surgery, especially is very large breast reductions or in a breast that is very very droopy (because the pedicle of the blood supply is longer and has to travel further.) If the surgeon decides to perform a free nipple/areola graft during breast reduction surgery, the ability to breast feed will be lost since the ducts are cut. Sensation may return in time, but more often sensation... more