The Moufarrege Total Submuscular Augmentation or How to Preserve Nipple Erogenous Sensation in Breast Augmentation

Abstract

Breast augmentation is currently one of the most common plastic surgery procedures performed worldwide. However, patients who underwent this procedure always complain of postoperative sensory changes at the nipple areolar complex. The nipple nervous system includes a tactile sensation system and an erogenous sensation system, the latter being less described and commonly overlooked by plastic surgeons performing breast augmentations. The erogenous sensation is supplied by the IVth, Vth and VIth intercostal nerves who run laterally on the surface along the muscular aponeurosis. Both subpectoral (dual plane) breast augmentations and sub-glandular breast augmentations present a real and constant risk of damage to these nerves, resulting in a permanent loss of nipple erogenous sensation. In the Total Submuscular Breast Augmentation approach, the implant is inserted behind the four muscles: the external oblique, the serratus anterior, the pectoralis minor and the pectoralis major. This approach will preserve the three intercostal nerves responsible for the erogenous sensation of the nipple. In this article we describe the surgical technique and the advantages of the total submuscular breast augmentation.