Background: Nipple-areolar tattooing is well accepted as part of breast reconstruction, but the clinical data on its safety and patient satisfaction after the procedure are insufficient. We aimed to evaluate the complications of and patient satisfaction after nipple-areola tattooing in Japanese post-mastectomy breast reconstruction patients.

Methods: Patients who visited our center after undergoing nipple-areola tattooing from January 2017 to March 2020 were given an unmarked questionnaire with questions about complications related to their nipple-areola tattoo. Patients' registered their subjective evaluation responses regarding nipple-areola appearance using visual analog scale and that regarding overall satisfaction using 5-point Likert scale and free-text responses. Patients who were followed up within 6 months after tattooing or those with incomplete data were excluded.

Results: Sixty-two patients (average age: 49.7 ± 9.8 years), with an average post-tattooing period of 21.2 ± 10.5 months, were included. No patient had infections or allergic reactions. The average VAS score for nipple-areola appearance was high (8.5), and 59 patients (95.3%) answered that they were satisfied. In the free-text patient responses, 25 patients answered that they now felt comfortable going to the hot spring or taking a bath with their children, and 19 patients reported improved mental health after the procedure.

Conclusion: Post-breast reconstruction nipple-areola tattooing with sterilized inorganic pigments could achieve high esthetics and patient satisfaction, without serious complications. It is recommended for Japanese individuals with a culture of visiting hot springs and public baths.

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