Nipple-areolar complex (NAC) has been shown to improve cosmetic satisfaction in patients unable to undergo a nipple-sparing mastectomy. However, the maintenance of sustained nipple projection remains a challenge for plastic surgeons. A study published in the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reports a novel technique for nipple reconstruction using a 3D-printed scaffold in a preclinical model. The 3D-printed scaffold is made of a dissolvable polymer routinely used in surgical devices.
The polymer, along with the body’s healing processes, creates nipples that not only look and feel real but also maintain a long-lasting projection, unlike previous reconstruction surgeries. The scaffold could be made in a range of customized sizes and shapes for patients who have undergone mastectomy. It can also be used to reduce flattening post-nipple-sparing breast reconstruction procedures,…
