The male and female chest is obviously different in many ways. One of these differences in the location of nipple-areolar complex. In the female it is ideally situated in the center of the raised breast mound, a more centric chest location. But the male nipple-arolear complex is not centric as one would think. Knowing its location is pertinent in such plastic surgery procedures s certain types of gynecomastia reduction, pectoral implants and female to male transgender surgery.
In the First Online April 2018 issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, an article was published entitled ‘Shape, Position and Dimension of the Nipple Areola Complex in the Ideal Male Chest: A Quick and Simple Operating Room Technique’. A series of male swimmers were used to determine the relationship between the pectorals major muscle and the nipple-areolar complex from which its proper location can be determined intraoepratively.
Their study results shows that the nipple-areolar complex has a consistent relationship with the pectoralis major muscle and is located on average 3 cm from the lateral border of the pectoralis major muscle and 2.5 cm above the inferior pectoralis major insertion.
This anatomic study shows that the male nipple-areola complex is not a centric chest feature and is located much further to the side and lower than many think. This is helpful to know when repositioning the nipple in type 4 gynecomastia reductions, properly positioning pectoral implants and in the relocation of the nipple in female to male transgender surgery.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana