Chacon-Quiros M, Sforza M, Solis-Chaves P, Herrera-Mora G, Botti G, Munhoz AM, Verdonck K, Nagumo Y, D'Incelli RC, Villalobos-Alpizar J, Clausen-Oreamuno C, Randquist C. The 3-year results of a 100-patient prospective study of the safety and effectiveness of Mia Femtech. Aesthet Surg J. 2026;46(3):250-259. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjaf196
Disclosure
Dr. Epstein is a paid investigator in the Motiva U.S. FDA clinical trial and is compensated by Establishment Labs to train surgeons on the Preservé breast augmentation technique. He discloses this relationship in all public communications involving Motiva or Preservé. Dr. Epstein owns stock in Establishment Labs.
What This Study Found
Using cadaver dissection and imaging, researchers traced a specific small blood vessel, the fifth anterior intercostal artery perforator, that reliably supplies the nipple and areola independent of other, better-known vessels. This matters most for mastectomy planning, but it adds to the broader picture of how carefully the nipple's blood supply needs to be respected during any breast surgery.
Key Findings
- 20 cadaver specimens studied with colored latex injection to trace blood flow
- The fifth anterior intercostal artery perforator was found consistently in every specimen
- Its main branch reaches the nipple and areola through a separate pathway from the previously described fourth intercostal perforator
- A clinical case is presented showing the practical value of preserving this vessel during nipple-sparing mastectomy
Why This Matters for Preservé Patients
This is mastectomy-focused vascular anatomy, not augmentation-specific, but it's a useful supporting citation on a page discussing how surgical planning protects nipple sensation and blood supply in breast surgery generally.
