Surgical repair of the inverted nipple.

Abstract

As other methods for correction of the inverted nipple have proved unreliable, I use my own technique described herein. An infra-areolar semicircular incision is made through the skin and subcutaneous tissue. The areola is then undermined until the ducts are reached. These lactiferous ducts are transected, and the nipple is then disinvaginated with sharp and blunt dissection and restructured in the proper position with dissection within it, similar to the manner in which a glove finger is expanded. Once the required shape has been achieved, the tissues at the base of the nipple, as well as the proximal cut portion of the ducts imbricating them, are reapproximated in layers to prevent recurrence. Closure of the infra-areolar incision is then performed. Satisfactory and permanent results have been obtained with this method, with lack of circulation in the areola and limited superficial necrosis occurring only in rare cases.