Areola and nipple

There are two techniques for reconstructing an areola: tattooing and skin grafting.

The tattoo is performed under local anesthesia. The precision brought by artistic tattoos (trompe l’oeil tattooing called 3D tattooing) allows us to recreate areolas in trompe l’oeil with an extremely natural effect and looking very much like the areola of the other breast. Touch-ups may be necessary to obtain a better result or to maintain the result over time.

The skin graft can be done under local or general anesthesia. The removal is often done in the groin and leaves a small scar at the root of the thigh, it can also be done in the lower abdomen above the pubis. The nipple is usually reconstructed at the same time as the areola.

There are several techniques to reconstruct a nipple

• Grafting of a part of the contralateral nipple provided that it is not too small. The removal of the nipple does not cause any visible scarring or loss of sensitivity.
• Grafting of a part of the labia minora provided that they are not too small and that the color is compatible.
• A local flap, the skin of the breast at the location of the areola is rolled up on itself. In this case the areola will have to be reconstructed by a skin graft.
• A trompe l’oeil tattoo (called 3D tattoo).

While waiting for this reconstruction, adhesive areolas offer a good choice of shapes and colors, with a very natural effect. These areolas can particularly be used under a bathing suit.

Before / After areola and nipple reconstruction

The photos below provide an overview of the results of the two techniques of nippple-areolar plaque reconstruction, but also of the appearance of an adhesive areola.