Technical trick to limit excess skin ("dog-ears") at the ends of a mastectomy scar

Abstract

The unsightly excess skin located at the two ends of the scar of a mastectomy ("dog-ears"), beyond the aesthetic discomfort that they generate, can be responsible for functional impediments. These commonly occur when closing oval or circular defects. These skin excesses require then complementary resections by an incision at their base, at the cost of an extension of the original scar, sometimes during a second surgical operation. We describe a simple technique that can help to improve the cosmetic results and limit this scar ransom.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Mastectomy; Plastic surgery; Reconstructive surgery; Scar; Surgical technique.