Nipple Dimensions After Augmentation Mammoplasty, Mastopexy and Reduction Mammoplasty: A Comparative Clinical Study.

[BACKGROUND] Nipple hypertrophy is a rare aesthetic problem. Ideal nipple dimensions are 6-8 mm, while nipples larger than 10 mm are considered hypertrophic.

[PATIENTS AND METHODS] A total of 24 female patients, aged between 22 and 53 years, with a nipple diameter or height greater than 10 mm, underwent augmentation mammoplasty (AM), augmentation mastopexy (AUM) and reduction mammoplasty (RM) operations. The patients were divided into three groups according to the type of surgery containing equal numbers of patients. Group I underwent AM, Group II underwent AUM and Group III underwent RM surgery. Preoperative and 1-year post-operative nipple dimension measurements were performed, and the results were compared.

[RESULTS] There was no significant difference between the preoperative nipple volumes among the groups (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference between preoperative and post-operative nipple volumes in Group I (p > 0.05). The difference between preoperative and post-operative nipple volumes in Group II and Group III was significant (p < 0.05). When post-operative dimension comparisons were taken into consideration, there was a significant difference between Group I compared to Group II and Group III (p < 0.05); however, the difference between Group II and Group III was not significant (p > 0.05).

[CONCLUSIONS] Since there will be no reduction in nipple size during the post-operative period in AM patients, hypertrophic nipple can be reduced in the same session. However, in patients with AUM or RM, if the reduction in nipple size is not sufficient, it is more convenient to perform the nipple reduction operation 1-year post-surgery.

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