Background: Scars, skin pigmentation mismatch, contour deformities are often negatively affecting good reconstructive outcomes in reconstructed patients. In cases when surgery is reaching its limits, it is important to provide another treatment option like using medical tattooing. This may help to improve the postoperative outcome and patient´s satisfaction. We analyzed the beneficial effects of medical tattooing, an advanced form of cosmetic tattooing, in reconstructed patients. Methods: We analyzed the outcome of surgical NAC (nipple-areola complex) reconstructions in comparison with tattooed NACs in breast-reconstructed patients (after skin-sparing mastectomy and implant reconstruction). 20patients underwent post-reconstruction medical tattooing by a tattoo-artist to improve colour mismatch and contour deformities using colors like carbon black, titanium dioxide, glycerine, isopropyl alcohol. All colors were applied using an electric tattoo machine; 20patients underwent nipple-reconstruction using different type of local flaps and skin-grafting (groin-skin). GAIS? Results: Compared to reconstructive NAC procedures, medical tattooing showed more improved aesthetic outcome. Patient satisfaction was significantly higher in the posttattooed patients. Further, no adverse events were noticed in the medical tattoo group. In the reconstructed group the aesthetic outcome was not as perfect because of colour mismatch and contour-irregularities. 1 loss of implant following skin penetration and infection after flap-elevation for nipple reconstruction was noted. Conclusion: A cross-over combination of reconstructive surgery and medical tattooing is a promising and much safer approach to provide high patient satisfaction in reconstructive surgery.
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