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Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Published in: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 3/2020

01-06-2020 | Breast Reduction Plastic | Original Article

Septum-Based Mammaplasties: Surgical Techniques and Evaluation of Nipple–Areola Sensibility

Authors: Benedetto Longo, Floyd Wilhelmus Timmermans, Alessio Farcomeni, Jacopo Maria Frattaroli, Gennaro D’orsi, Matteo Atzeni, Michail Sorotos, Rosaria Laporta, Fabio Santanelli di Pompeo

Published in: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery | Issue 3/2020

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Abstract

Background

The aim of the study was to describe details of surgical techniques and objectively evaluate nipple–areola (NAC) sensibility and viability of septum-based mammaplasties compared to not septum-based reduction techniques.

Methods

Data regarding NAC sensibility for static and moving one- and two-point discrimination were prospectively collected from 63 active group hypertrophic-breasted patients undergoing septum-based reduction mammaplasty preoperatively, at 6 and 12 months postoperatively, and from a control group of 60 patients who underwent not septum-based techniques. Fixed and mixed effect models were used for statistical analysis.

Results

Comparison of complications showed no significant differences between groups (p = 0.07). After adjusting the results of the active group according to type of sensory testing, it emerged that the threshold decreases by 10% (p = 0.0003) at 6 months and even reaches 43% (p < 0.0001) at 12 months. The results have been modulated according to age, since the variation is less marked when age increased, by 0.6% at 6 months and 0.8% at 12 months (p = 0.019). The effects of the BMI can only be seen at 12 months, with an increase by 1.3% per year (p = 0.033). Among septum-based techniques, the inferior-central pedicle showed better sensibility outcomes even if not significantly (p = 0.06). Comparison of NAC sensibility outcomes showed that active group had thresholds that were 48% lower when compared to those of the control group at 12 months postoperatively (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Septum-based mammaplasty gives optimal results in terms of NAC viability with a significant improvement of sensibility postoperatively. Comparative outcomes on sensibility were also significantly better than not septum-based techniques.

Level of Evidence II

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.​springer.​com/​00266.
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Metadata
Title
Septum-Based Mammaplasties: Surgical Techniques and Evaluation of Nipple–Areola Sensibility
Authors
Benedetto Longo
Floyd Wilhelmus Timmermans
Alessio Farcomeni
Jacopo Maria Frattaroli
Gennaro D’orsi
Matteo Atzeni
Michail Sorotos
Rosaria Laporta
Fabio Santanelli di Pompeo
Publication date
01-06-2020
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery / Issue 3/2020
Print ISSN: 0364-216X
Electronic ISSN: 1432-5241
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-020-01657-7

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