• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.687-691
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• 2008

Purpose: An inverted nipple presents both cosmetic and functional problems. It is a source of repeated irritation and inflammation, and interferes with nursing. In addition, its abnormal appearance may cause psychological distress. With consideration of its underlying pathophysiologic components and severity, a number of techniques have been introduced for correction of this anomaly. The diversity of techniques indicates the lack of a good, sustainable, and durable solution for this quite common problem. We report our method as an alternative solution for correcting of the inverted nipple. Methods: From August 2003 to November 2007, 273 nipples in 147 patients were treated. 126 patients had bilateral inverted nipples. Patient age at the operation ranged from 21 to 63 years(mean age, 34 years). All nipples were congenital anomaly. 45 nipples were graded as grade I, 179 nipples as II, and 49 nipples as III. In the our study, we made some modification to the classic purse-string suture: (1) twice purse-string suture: (2) excision of diamond-shaped skin at the nipple neck: (3) buried suture of the breast parenchyma at the nipple base: (4) some timely release of retraction using Bovie's electrocautery dissection at inner surface of the nipple neck. Results: The operation time averaged 15 minutes. The mean follow-up period ranged from 3 to 48 months, with an average of 8.4 months. There were no complications associated with the surgery, such as infection, hematoma, permanent sensory disturbance, or total nipple necrosis except temporary sensory loss in 9 cases, partial nipple necrosis in 7 cases, and recurred inversion in 15 cases. All patients except recurred inversion were satisfied with their results. Conclusion: We believe that our modified purse-string suture is a reliable, simple, safe, and effective method for correcting the inverted nipple.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.590-598
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• 2021

Background Although the initial projection after primary nipple reconstruction is excellent, nipple projection gradually flattens in most cases due to multiple causes. Although various methods have been reported to rebuild the nipple after nipple flattening, the most effective method of secondary nipple reconstruction remains unknown. The aim of this study was to review our institution's experiences with secondary nipple reconstruction. Methods We conducted a retrospective review from March 2012 to January 2019. We performed secondary nipple reconstruction if the primary reconstructed nipple height differed by more than 6 mm from the normal nipple height. We chose the method of nipple revision according to the degree of tissue scarring and the remaining nipple projection. Results We performed secondary nipple reconstruction on a total of 27 nipples, using purse-string sutures for 19 nipples and star flaps in eight nipples. The median follow-up period was 8 months (range, 6-19 months) after the final nipple reconstruction. Among the 19 nipples reconstructed using purse-string sutures, 10 (53%) demonstrated acceptable projection of more than 5 mm. Among the eight nipples reconstructed using star flaps, six (75%) showed acceptable projection of more than 5 mm. Most of the patients (73%) were satisfied (scores of 4 or 5) with the nipple reconstruction overall. Conclusions Few studies have presented favorable outcomes of secondary nipple reconstruction. When the star flap and purse-string suture methods were used depending on the remaining nipple height and scarring, appropriate projection could be achieved.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.322-326
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• 2009

Purpose: Severe type of inverted nipple (cannot be pulled out above the areola plane by manipulation, grade III) usually cannot be corrected by a relatively simple purse - string suture technique. Most patients want to avoid visible scars. To treat the severe case and avoid visible stigma, we introduce this invisible dermal flap method. Methods: This new surgical procedure makes bilateral incisions on the sidewall of nipple and dissections vertically to free the ducts from the contracted tissues. After dissection, the tunnel is formed. We insert "dermal flaps" into the tunnel underneath nipple base. Then through - and - through sutures are performed vertically (6 o'clock and 12 o'clock positions) and the purse - string suture is added with 4 - 0 nylon. Results: We had treated 35 primary inverted nipples (grade III) in 27 patients and 13 recurrent nipples in 7 cases. The results were excellent in 45 nipples (93.7%). All but 3 recurred cases was fully or very satisfied with the results. Conclusion: This technique is effective for the correction of severe inverted nipples and recurrent cases. We can avoid the visible scars on the areola surface.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.339-343
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• 2016

Background Numerous techniques have been used to achieve long-term projection of the nipple following nipple-areola reconstruction. However, the reconstructed nipple loses projection over time. We describe a technique that uses local flaps to improve the lost projection of reconstructed nipples. Methods Between November 2013 and March 2015, nine patients (11 nipples) underwent revisional nipple reconstruction for lost projection. Only C-H nipple reconstructions were included in this study. The medical history of each patient was reviewed and photographs were taken in front and lateral views. All patients attended routine follow-up visits. Deepithelialized triangular flaps were made on all four sides of the nipple and buried in the opposite corners in order to augment the volume of the nipple. Anchoring sutures were used to attach each triangular flap on the side opposite their point of origin, and the resulting defects were closed directly. Results This procedure was used successfully in nine patients (11 nipples). Adequate projection was achieved in all patients and no complications occurred. The average nipple height was 3 mm before operation, 7 mm one day after operation, 5 mm at the six-month follow-up, and 5 mm at the 12-month follow-up. The average nipple-areolar angle was $164^{\circ}$ before the operation, $111^{\circ}$ one day after the operation, $130^{\circ}$ at the six-month follow-up, and $133^{\circ}$ at the 12-month follow-up. Conclusions The method described provides a solution to the loss of projection in reconstructed nipples. We recommend this technique because it leads to better projection, greater volume, and a more natural shape.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.17-29
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• 1995

This study was done to analysis data on breastfeeding mothers. This stud was conducted using data from telephone counseling in one metropolitan area. The subjects who had received consultation about breastfeeding were 100 breastfeeding mothers. The period of consultation was from Mar. 9, 1994 to August 23, 1994. Consultants were referred from UNICEF, hospitals, TV, newspapers or magazines. Analysis of the problem patterns resulted in 11 classifications. These were physio -anatomical factors(11 cases) , psychological factors(15 cases), breastfeeding methods(21 cases), breastfeeding intervals and frequency(19 cases) , disease in the breastfeeding mothers(13 cases), disease in the babies (12 cases), lack of support (4 cases), food and drugs while breastfeeding(5 cases), weaning(11 cases), others(27 cases). The highest frequency was for breastfeeding methods (21 cases). When the contents of the counselling were analyzed for the 100 cases, 36 problem patterns were identified. Patterns with over 10 responses were diarrhea, insufficient milk supply, sore and cracked nipples, weaning, inverted nipples and jaundice. The age of infants when mothers were telephoned was as below : 1 week(28 cases), 2 weeks(12 cases), 3-4 weeks(18 cases), 5-8 weeks(7 cases), 9 weeks-3 menths(4 cases), 4 menths-6 months(12 cases), over 6 months(2 cases), and the number of pregnant women was 12. The nursing diagnosis were classified according to problem patterns and each diagnosis was assigned an appropriate Problem Pattern The total number of nursing diagnoses was 22. When clients are referred for counselling nurses need guidelines about problems, possible causes and nursing. In this study, the example of guidelines for sore nipples is suggested. The recommendations based on the telephone counseling results are as follows : Prenatal education about the advantages of breastfeeding and breast care, and home visits after delivery for counseling related to breastfeeding. During the hospital stay, nursing intervention such as education on breastfeeding methods using slides, audio-visual tapes, pamphlets are needed as well as an initial trial of breastfeeding. Further research is indicated on the perceived lack of breast milk and on the effectiveness of nursing interventions to pro-mote breastfeeding.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.384-389
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• 2012

Background Numerous procedures are available for nipple reconstruction without a single gold standard. This study presents a method for reducing donor-site morbidity in nipple reconstruction using a composite nipple graft after transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap breast reconstruction. Methods Thirty-five patients who underwent nipple reconstruction using a composite nipple graft technique between July of 2001 and December of 2009 were enrolled in this study. To reduce the donor site morbidity, the superior or superior-medial half dome harvesting technique was applied preserving the lateral cutaneous branch of the fourth intercostal nerves. The patients were asked to complete a previously validated survey to rate the color and projection of both nipples, along with the sensation and contractility of the donor nipple; and whether, in retrospect, they would undergo the procedure again. To compare projection, we performed a retrospective chart review of all the identifiable patients who underwent nipple reconstruction using the modified top hat flap technique by the same surgeon and during the same period. Results Thirty-five patients were identified who underwent nipple reconstruction using a composite nipple graft. Of those, 29 patients (82.9%) responded to the survey. Overall, we received favorable responses to the donor site morbidity. Projection at postoperative 6 months and 1 year was compared with the immediate postoperative results, as well as with the results of nipples reconstructed using the modified top hat flap. Conclusions The technique used to harvest donor tissue is important. Preserving innervation of the nipple while harvesting can reduce donor site morbidity.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.226-231
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• 2015

The aim of this study is to consider breast imagery in art as depicted through western painting. Twenty western art paintings were collated. Most of the sample paintings were created from the mid-nineteenth century to the late twentieth century and some are from the Renaissance period. Ten anthropometric items were used to measure 15 distances between two landmarks and 3 angles between three points. The distance from the nipple to the sternal notch and to the midclavicular point was the same and they were 0.46 of the distance from the sternal notch to the umbilicus. The shape of the projection of the breast was almost an isosceles triangle and the altitude of the triangle was at a proportion of 0.45 of the bottom length and 0.16 of the distance from the sternal notch to the umbilicus. The distance between the lateral ends of the breasts was 2.14 times the facial width and the distance between nipples was 1.36 times the facial width. Proportions from works of art are more ideal and attractive than clinically measured proportions. The desirable ratios measured from historical paintings might be useful in planning breast surgeries.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to survey women′s poor breast shapes depending on their ages and breast types, and thereupon, analyze the differences and correlations among them, and thereby, provide for some basic data useful to the development of the comfortable brassiere which can serve to correct the poor breast. 1. As a result of categorizing the types of schematic breast sides, "type 1" was characterized by medium lower part, greatest pro trusion of breast itself, volumed upper part and visible breast outside, while "type 2" be characterized by medium lower part, most flatness, poor upper part, smallest outside size and medium outside, and "type 3" was characterized by least poor lower part, medium protrusion of breast, poor upper part, medium outside size , and "type 4" was characterized by poorest lower part, medium protrusion of breast, poor upper part, medium outside size and poorest outside. 2. The breast locations could be categorized depending on brest side types; "type 1" a higher location of breast than the other types, "type 2"had a lower location of breast except for the nipples thant the other types, "type 3" had the lowest location of breast and "type 4" had a comparatively low location of breast but had the highest nipples.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.153-156
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• 2009

The water cooling system for VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) of a fossil fuel power plant was reported to be shut down due to a water leak at the metal connection of the heat-sink to the hoses. In order to identify the cause of the failure, the system was visually inspected, and corrosion products were analyzed with SEM equipped with EDX. The failure was observed repeatedly at the nipples of certain location, suggesting galvanic corrosion. In a U-shaped heat sink with two nipples, for inlet and outlet, only one nipple was corrosively damaged at the tip, while the other was not. Most of the corrosion products were observed at the sound nipple and in the filter, identified as $Cu(OH)_2$. Some other corrosion products, composed of mostly $Cu_2O$, were found at the corrosively attacked nipple. A fair amount of Cl was also detected on the surface of the damaged nipple. It was concluded that galvanic corrosion was occurred due to a current leakage over the whole system, and the damage was accelerated by the accumulated chlorine ions in the cooling water.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.44-48
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• 2021

Previously reported nipple-areolar complex reconstruction (NAR) methods involve multiple incisions and wide skin redraping, which increase retraction forces and heighten the risk of nipple-areolar complex (NAC) flattening. We introduce a NAR method using the long V-Y advancement technique that can overcome these disadvantages. A V-shaped flap is designed with the width of the flap base 4-5 mm larger than the diameter of the normal nipple. The flap length is designed to be at least 2.5 times its width. Dissection is performed to the top of the artificial dermal matrix or muscle layer. The nipple is constructed with the same projection as the contralateral side by folding the elevated flap. The tip of the elevated flap is apposed in the middle of the donor defect to minimize the deformity during donor site closure. A 3-point skin suture is applied to the upper third of the folded flap to mold its shape. Using this long V-Y advancement technique, we successfully decreased skin tension in NAC flaps and improved the maintenance of reconstructed nipple projection. The long V-Y advancement technique provides an easy, simple NAR method, effectively maintaining longer nipple projections and reducing breast deformities, especially in Asian women with relatively large nipples.