Hyaluronic Acid Gel Filler for Nipple Enhancement Following Breast Reconstruction

Comment

With a single treatment consisting of 0.2 mL or less of filler volume, the HA gel used in this procedure provided an immediate mean increase in nipple projection of 1.5 mm. Although our assessment involved a single patient evaluated at baseline and immediately post-injection of HA filler only, it is reasonable to assume that subsequent reinjections would provide results comparable to other fillers. Although other fillers that are semipermanent (acrylic hydrogel) and nonbiodegradable (PMMA) make them more durable, these properties also make the augmentation less reversible in the case of overfilling. As with all dermal fillers, rare side effects associated with injection of HA gel filler could potentially include injection-site inflammation, extrusion of filler at the needle insertion site, minimal pain or discomfort during or after injections, bruising, swelling, or delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction. Ideally, HA gel is a soft transparent filler that is reversible with hyaluronidase, an advantage not shared by other filler materials.⁹

Conclusion

Nipple augmentation with HA gel is a simple noninvasive procedure that can be performed postoperatively in an office setting. The use of HA gel to restore the 3-dimensional contour of the nipple also may eliminate the need for secondary NAC reconstructive surgery while contributing to patient well-being. With proper postoperative timing, the use of HA gel for this purpose represents a simple solution to a challenging problem that often accompanies breast reconstruction.