The Correction of Inverted Nipple by Modified Elsahy and Broadbent-Woolf Methods

Park, Su Seong; Park, Jung Min; Ha, Jae Seong; Lee, Keun Cheol; Kim, Seok Kwun; Park, Si Hyun

Abstract

An inverted nipple may have both functional and aesthetic problems such as loss of lactability and hygiene. The inverted nipple may be congenital or caused by trauma, mastitis, mammmoplasy and breast cancer. Many procedures have been described for creating the normal anatomic configuration of the retracted nipple. For correcting the inverted nipple, the authors choose surgical procedure according to the grade of inverted nipple and the need of lactation. A total 37 nipples in 20 patients were operated on from February of 2001 to February of 2005. The patients were classified into 3 grades according to Han and Hong's grading system of inverted nipple. We applied modified Elsahy method to the group of patients in Grade I and patients in Grade II with need of lactation, and we applied Broadbent-Woolf method to the group of patients in Grade III and Grade II with need of lactation. Recurrence was found in 1 case corrected by modified Elshay method and no recurrence was found in those corrected by Broadbent-Woolf method. The patients' satisfaction score was 4.6 points in 5 points perfect score system. We prevented recurrence of inverted nipple with patients' satisfaction by applying different operative procedures according to the grade and patients' need of lactation.