Severe gynecomastia with excessive skin is difficult to treat by only periareolar excision or suction-assisted lipectomy or both. In these patients, total mastectomy and free nipple grafting may be the best option. Placement of the nipple, however, has been arbitrary. With use of 20 "aesthetically perfect" men as models, standard nipple distances were identified. The average sternal notch-to-nipple measurement was 21 cm. In addition, two consistent ratios were identified. The nipple plane was located 0.33 times the distance from the sternal notch to the pubis, and the internipple distance was 0.23 times the chest circumference. With use of preoperatively obtained measurements of the sternal notch to pubis and chest circumference, accurate nipple placement can be accomplished.
(C)1994American Society of Plastic Surgeons