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What tissue is used for nipple reconstruction?

Page last modified on: October 16, 2008
Question from RuthM: For nipple reconstruction, from which body parts other than the inner thigh can tissue be taken?
Answer —Joseph Serletti, M.D., F.A.C.S.: We try to keep nipple reconstruction as straightforward as possible. Virtually all of our nipple reconstructions are done in the office under local anesthesia. Basically, patients drive themselves to the office and drive themselves home or back to work. The way that we do nipple reconstruction is a two-step office process. The first step is to make the nipple projection from the skin that's on the breast reconstruction. We let that heal and six to eight weeks later, one of our nurses than tattoos the coloring for the areola.

On Wednesday, May 16, 2007, the Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Reconstruction Updates. Joseph Serletti, M.D. and moderator Jennifer Sabol, M.D. answered your questions about breast reconstruction.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Joseph M. Serletti, M.D., F.A.C.S. is professor of surgery and chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a pioneer in the field of free flap autologous breast reconstruction.

Jennifer Sabol, M.D., F.A.C.S.Jennifer Sabol, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a breast surgeon who directs the newly developed Breast Care Center at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, Pa. Among her many interests, Dr. Sabol spearheads several research initiatives to advance the care for women with breast cancer and improve methods of breast cancer detection and treatment.

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