Reduction mammoplasty with free-nipple transplantation: indications and technical refinements.

Multiple techniques for breast reduction have been proposed. For carefully selected women with macromastia, the technique of choice may be amputation mammoplasty with free nipple-areolar grafting. These select groups include the following: the poor-risk elderly, women with systemic disease that could affect the vascularity of the skin flaps or impair wound healing, women with previous operative procedures in the breast affecting skin flap or pedicle vascularity, and women with indications for removal of tissue in the region of the inferior pedicle. Our experience demonstrates that in these high-risk women, amputation mammoplasty with certain technical refinements provides an aesthetic safe result without significant perioperative surgical or medical complications. A clinical series is presented with an average follow-up of 2.75 years.