Evaluation of the nipple-areola complex after reduction mammoplasty with dermal release versus resected volume of the breast tissue
Avaliação da sensibilidade do complexo areolopapilar após mamoplastia redutora com liberação dérmica versus volume ressecado de tecido mamário

INTRODUCTION

The breast has been considered a symbol of femininity since the start of Western civilization, and in this culture, a breast with functional changes, such as changes in size or shape, can also generate a feeling of social inadequacy or low self-esteem in women¹. In this field, reduction mammoplasty has been one of the surgical procedures most commonly performed in Brazil and worldwide^1-3. The nipple-areola complex (NAC) plays an important role both in breastfeeding and sexual lives of the patients⁴. Because of this, we must mention possible complications of reduction mammoplasty, such as change or even loss of sensitivity of the NAC. The innervation thereof arises from the sensitive cutaneolateral rami of the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th intercostal nerves, which come out laterally, and the 4th, which has an anterior lateral ramus that comes out after it⁵.

In this regard, in 1930, Schwartzman⁶ described a technique for cutaneous decortication, preserving the tissue around the nipple and, therefore, its respective vascular and nervous systems, thus attempting to assure better vascularization and sensitivity of the NAC after breast reduction. There is no consensus in the literature regarding the sensitivity of NAC after reduction mammoplasty. Authors, such as Mofid et al.⁷ and Agostini et al.⁸, found no changes in sensitivity after the surgical procedure. In contrast, DelVecchyo et al.⁹ and Wechselberger et al.¹⁰ concluded that sensitivity was improved after surgery. Spear² reported a decrease in sensitivity, but it gradually improved for 12 months.

Currently, at the Plastic Surgery Department of Hospital das Clínicas, of the Federal University of Pernambuco (HC-UFPE) in Recife, Brazil, a careful section of the dermis has been performed routinely (Figure 1) after Schwartzman maneuver, seeking to facilitate the migration and the lower distortion of the NAC during the construction of the breast, particularly in cases that require greater involvement of these structures, to provide a more pleasing overall aesthetic result. However, its relationship with mammary sensitivity and the quantity of resected mammary tissue is still unclear.

Figure 1 - Dermal section maneuver.

Figure 1 - Dermal section maneuver.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the sensitivity of the NAC after reduction mammoplasty with dermic release and the resected volume of the breast tissue.

METHODS

The research was conducted at HC-UFPE in Recife City, State of Pernambuco, Brazil, with prior authorization granted by the Research Ethics Committee of the Institution and approved with Certificate of Presentation for Ethical Appreciation (CAAE) No. 05351312.3.0000.5208. The study is a randomized, prospective, controlled, and double-blind study, conducted between August 2013 and August 2015.

The inclusion criteria were women who spontaneously sought the outpatient clinic of the Plastic Surgery Department and who were indicated for reduction mammoplasty, and aged between 21 and 50 years. The main exclusion criteria were with previous breast surgery; neurological disease; cardiovascular impediment; diabetes mellitus; self-immune diseases; collagen disorders; nipple-areola complex (BMI) >30; menopausal women, or those with psychiatric problems (as evaluated by the Mini Mental State Examination - MMSE). All patients underwent surgery at HC-UFPE. All surgical procedures were performed by the same surgeon, with the patients under general anesthesia and subjected to reduction mammoplasty, using the Pitanguy technique.

The patients underwent surgery consecutively, with breast reduction surgery being performed on both sides, with each patient grouped into the experimental or control NAC , and they were randomized using the website Random.org. In the case of the experimental NAC, a surgical maneuver of skin section was performed to facilitate the rising of the areola in the construction thereof, whereas in the case of the control NAC, the conventional surgical techniques were performed, without this maneuver.

In this way, sensitivity was assessed in five regions of the NAC (Figure 2), namely, the papillary, upper nipple, lateral nipple, medial and inferior regions, through the Semmes-Weinstein microfilaments, wherein the value for the areolar region was obtained calculating the arithmetic mean of the four points measured.

Figure 2 - Evaluation of local sensibility of the nipple-areola.

Figure 2 - Evaluation of local sensibility of the nipple-areola.

The periods for checking were pre- and postoperatively, after 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 1 year. These checks were always conducted by the same member of the research team, blinded to the patient groups. Data regarding the total resected mammary tissue for each patient was also obtained, and the patients were divided into two groups: with total resected weight up to 300 g and >300 g of mammary material.

The data were grouped using a Microsoft Office Excel 2015 spreadsheet and analyzed using SPSS version 2.0. Wald’s test was used to compare the percentages of sensitivity of the evaluated regions of the control and experimental NACs, within the groups considered: resection up to 300 g and >300 g. The conclusions were made considering a level of significance of 5%.

RESULTS

The study involved 39 patients and 78 observations. The mean age and BMI were 31.7 years and 25.5 kg/m², respectively. None of the patients were smokers. Comorbidities were present in 5.1% of the sample, with hypertension accounting for all the cases. The rate of complications was 41%, which consisted of 7 cases of non-aesthetic scars, 6 cases of bruises, and 4 cases of dehiscence. No patient complained of pain or NAC necrosis, and all patients were satisfied with the surgical result after the 1-year observation period.

Table 1 shows no statistically significant differences with regard to sensitivity of the nipple area between groups for patients with a resected weight of up to 300 g of mammary tissue.

Table 1 - Percentage of papillary sensitivity in women with total resected mammary tissue weight of up to 300 g, by time and group.

Table 2 shows that no statistically significant difference with regard to sensitivity of the nipple area pre- and postoperatively between groups of patients with resected volume of >300 g of mammary tissue. However, statistical difference was found in the level of sensitivity for the control group at 3 and 6 weeks postoperatively.

Table 2 - Percentage of papillary sensitivity in women with total resected mammary tissue weight of >300 g by time and group.

Table 3 shows no statistically significant differences with regard to sensitivity of the areola between groups for patients with resected weight of up to 300 g of mammary tissue.

Table 3 - Percentage of areolar sensitivity in women with total resected mammary tissue weight of up to 300 g, by moment and group.

Table 4 shows no statistically significant differences with regard to areolar sensitivity between groups for patients with resected weight of > 300 g of mammary tissue.

Table 4 - Percentage of areolar sensitivity in women with total resected mammary tissue weight of >300 g, by time and group.

DISCUSSION

The Plastic Surgery Department of the HC-UFPE has the performed dermis resection as a routine activity performed after Schwartzman maneuver in reduction mammoplasties to facilitate migration and reduce distortion of the NAC during breast construction. It is recommended mainly for cases where significant movement of the NAC is needed or when the breast shows a firm parenchyma, with little sliding of overlying skin, meaning that the periareolar dermis sets a limit on the mobilization thereof, and can even cause distortion, thereby having an aesthetic influence upon the final result of the surgical procedure.

The literature showed no studies evaluating the association between NAC sensitivity and dermic resection and the volume of the resected mammary tissue; moreover, the specialized literature shows disagreement regarding NAC sensitivity after reduction mammoplasty. The authors that defend improvement in sensitivity reported that this is a result of the superimposition of dermatomes and the relief of natural chronic traction by the weight of the breasts^9,10. Spear² reported a decline in sensitivity, but this improves for 12 months. However, the various methodologies used make comparison of the results of these papers difficult.

As we can conclude looking at Tables 1 to 4, in the experimental group, for volumes of resected tissue over 300 g, a negative effect was observed on the papillary sensitivity and a positive effect for areolar sensitivity at the end of the monitoring period. In the case of the control group, for resected mammary volume of >300 g, sensitivity was improved both in the papillary and areolar regions.

Despite this, no statistically significant differences were found between the patients of the experimental and control groups, both in the group with resection up to 300 g and those with resection >300 g. However, in the papillary region and considering the control group with resection >300 g, sensitivity improved both 3 and 6 weeks postoperatively. This later becomes equivalent to the result for the experimental group 1 year postoperatively, as proposed in the study by Spear², on the gradual return of sensitivity.

These findings do not support the findings of Wechselberger et al.¹⁰ and Gonzales¹¹, as these studies did not find any association between the quantity of mammary tissue resected and changes to the breast sensitivity postoperatively. However, these articles used different cutoff points from those of the present study: 400 g and 550 g, respectively. However, as we operated on the patients consecutively in this study, we selected a cutoff point of 300 g, this being the most common weight; in the sample; however, we have seen resections of up to 1275 g without any loss of sensitivity.

In the literature, we have also found some criticism on the method of evaluation through microfilaments as proposed by Semmes and Weinstein because they do not bring absolute values and also due to variations between observers; however, the evaluations were made by the same examiner, in the same place, and using the same set of filaments, thus being an easy, reliable and reproducible method for comparisons¹¹. With regard to the observation period, most of the articles published consider 1 year of monitoring as being adequate^2,12.

Due to the lack of a statistically significant difference regarding sensitivity between the experimental and control groups, whether for the groups with up to 300 g and >300 g linked to the ease of ascension of NAC and breast construction, it is thus proven that the maneuver, apart from being totally harmless with regard to sensitivity, it may also be safely used in reduction mammoplasty, even in large and bulky breasts.

CONCLUSIONS

In line with the results obtained, considering a significance level of 5%, we conclude that the maneuver for the release of skin did not cause any difference in the sensitivity of the NAC, regardless of the volume of breast tissue resected.