Management of inverted nipples.

Sim, Hyung Bo

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 2000;27(1):16-20.
Published online January 1, 2000.

Management of inverted nipples.

Hyung Bo Sim

Abstract

A number of techniques have been introduced for the correction of inverted nipples, many of which are time-consuming, involve extensive incision and dissection around the nipple, or result in undesirable outcomes. Only two surgical methods were performed depending upon the patient's demand for nursing. When a patient desired breast-feeding the modified Teimourian method with pursestring was executed to preserve lactiferous ducts while the modified Hartampf method with purse-string severing the ducts was performed on a patient who did not want breast-feeding. These two methods were both simple and non-invasive. The reinversion rates were compared and analyzed for 73 nipples followed up for between 3 months and 2 years. Eversion was maintained in 89% of nipples. Invaginated nipples showed an increased tendency to reinvert postoperatively compared to umbilicated types(13.6% vs 6.9%). The duct-preserving method also tended to reinvert 3 times more than the duct-dividing method(14.3% vs. 4.2%).