Semilunar Flap for Minimizing the Scar Length in Nipple Reconstruction.

Abstract

Summary:Nipple reconstruction is an essential procedure to change an amorphous breast mound to a distinct breast. Various skin flaps have been proposed for nipple reconstruction. In the C-V flap technique, which is one of the most commonly used flaps for nipple reconstruction, the scar that is developed after closure of the donor site of the V-flap frequently extends beyond a new areola area. To reduce the length of the donor site scar, various modifications of the C-V flap have been proposed. We adopted the semilunar flap instead of the V flap of C-V flap by changing the angle of V flap for nipple reconstruction. The semilunar flap design allowed generation of a donor flap with sufficient width and length of the skin flap for a nipple barrel without increasing the length of the donor site scar. In most cases, the semilunar flaps showed stable outcomes and resulted in angled donor-site scars that were usually located within the boundary of a new areola. We think the semilunar flap represents a good alternative method in nipple reconstruction by changing the angle of the donor-site scar and leaving the scar length within the new areolar area.