Immediate nipple reconstruction during immediate autologous latissimus breast reconstruction.

Background: Creation of the nipple-areola complex is the final step in surgical restoration of the breast. Often considered as a secondary complement to breast reconstruction, nipple-areola reconstruction is usually done after an interval of several months and makes use of composite graft techniques involving the opposite nipple or local flaps.

Methods: Because the position of the nipple-areola complex is defined from the outset in skin-sparing mastectomy and because of the disappointing results obtained by classic nipple reconstruction techniques, the authors propose immediate nipple reconstruction using the skin paddle of the latissimus dorsi flap.