[Assessment of patient satisfaction following nipple-areolar complex tattooing after breast reconstruction.]

INTRODUCTION: Nipple-areolar complex tattooing often completes the breast mound reconstruction process after cancer surgery. However, there have been few studies evaluating patient satisfaction with this technique.

OBJECTIVE: To assess patients' esthetic satisfaction with the results of tattooing performed by nurses.

METHOD: Ninety-eight women participated in the study. Overall satisfaction with reconstruction and satisfaction with the tattoo's color, dimension, position, and form were determined using questionnaires completed by patients and a professional jury.

RESULTS: 97% of patients reported overall satisfaction with the results of nipple-areolar reconstruction. The satisfaction rate with the tattoo's color was 67%, with dimension 96%, with form 95%, and with position 94%. The satisfaction rates of the jury were as follows: nipple-areolar reconstruction 79%; color 52%; dimension 77%; form 75%; and position 69%.

DISCUSSION: On the whole, the patients were satisfied with the results one year after tattooing and their satisfaction rate was higher than that of the jury's. Only 6.1% of women required a second tattoo because of discoloration.

CONCLUSION: Nipple-areolar complex tattooing has a high rate of patient esthetic satisfaction and can be performed by a trained nurse without the need for hospital admission.