Single Stage Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy and Reduction Mastopexy in the Ptotic Breast

Figure 4

Artist’s depiction of the arterial supply (right breast) and venous drainage (left breast) to the nipple-areolar complex (NAC). The most important contributor to NAC perfusion arises from the third internal thoracic artery perforator (a). This branch travels medially from its origin and courses just under the NAC where it gives off tributaries to the periareolar network. The anterior intercostal arteries originate more inferiorly and course along the inframammary fold before giving their contributions to the arterial supply of the NAC (b). The NAC is drained through superior (c) and inferior (d) horizontal venous slings that ultimately drain into the thoracic and subclavian veins [17, 19].