Aesth Plast Surg (2008) 32:401–402

DOI 10.1007/s00266-007-9105-7

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Compass Cutter for Periareolar Incisions

I. Yazıcı Æ T. Cavusoglu Æ E. I. Karakaya Æ
I. Vargel

Published online: 19 December 2007

Ó Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007

Proper instrumentation is essential for better practice in

plastic surgery. Proper instruments can standardize proce-
dures, ease applications, decrease and sometimes
eliminates human errors. An important example of the need
for specialized tools in plastic surgery practice is the cir-
cumareolar incision in reduction mammaplasty or
mastopexy procedures. The circumareolar incision is an
important part of the procedure because it directly affects
the newly formed areola size and shape.
To date, many techniques and tools have been devel-
oped and widely used [1,2]. These include templates in
different diameters for marking, commercially available
cookie cutters, and frankly, in some instances, bottle caps
with certain diameters. The most important problem with
these tools is the necessity to obtain the instrument with the
Fig. 1 Photograph of the compas cutter used
desired diameter for the patient.
To solve this problem, we use the Compass Cutter/
Knife (OLFA, Osaka, Japan) (Fig. 1), which is sterilized
in ethylene-oxide. The diameter of the circle to be cre-
ated can be set to 1 to 15.2 cm. Although the ideal
areola size is also related to the nipple diameter and
breast size, acceptable nipple diameters range from 38 to
45 mm [3]. Under precise tension applied to the nipple–
areolar complex by the assistant, this cutter can be used
by centralizing its pin to the center of the nipple. By
turning the compass clockwise, it is possible to prepare
the circumareolar incision (Fig. 2).

I. Yazıcı (&)
T. Cavusoglu
E. I. Karakaya
I. Vargel

Department of Aesthetic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery,
Kırıkkale University Medical Faculty, Fabrikalar Mah. Saglik Fig. 2 Photograph of the compass cutter used during periareolar
Cad, 71100 Kırıkkale, Turkey incision. Note that stable and concentric tension must be applied to
e-mail: ilkeryazici@gmail.com the areola by the assistant during the compass cutter incision

123
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We have applied this method to reduction mammaplasty
patients in our department for the past 6 months, and we
have encountered no problems in any of the patients.
Compass cutters are handy tools for acomplishing circu-
mareolar incisions. They can be set to different areaolar
diameters, but precise and stable tension of the site is
essential during the compass cutter incision.
123
Aesth Plast Surg (2008) 32:401–402
References
1. Gryskiewicz JM, Hatfield AS, (2002) ‘‘Zigzag’’ wavy-line peri-
areolar incision. Plast Reconstr Surg 110:1778–1783
2. Garcia-Giron AL (2003) Scalpel caliper. Plast Reconstr Surg
112:695–696
3. Hauben DJ, Adler N, Silfen R, Regev D (2003) Breast–areola–
nipple proportion. Ann Plast Surg 50:510–513