Impact of Nipple Reconstruction in Mastectomized Patients Using Cross-Linked Hyaluronic Acid Injection. (RECHIAL)

June 4, 2025 updated by: Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital

This study evaluates the impact of hyaluronic acid (HA) injection for nipple projection following mastectomy, as a complement to areola micropigmentation. While micropigmentation is standard in nipple-areola complex (NAC) reconstruction, HA use remains novel, with limited data on psychosocial, sexual, and aesthetic outcomes.

A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design will be used. In Phase 1, a randomized controlled trial will compare two groups: one receiving NAC micropigmentation alone (control) and the other receiving micropigmentation plus HA-based nipple projection (intervention). A total of 138 participants will be recruited at the Areolar Micropigmentation Unit of Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital (Barcelona) over 36 months. Outcomes will include psychosocial and sexual well-being, satisfaction with breast and nipple appearance, and nipple projection, measured using the Spanish BREAST-Q, a custom satisfaction tool, and calipers.

Phase 2 will involve a qualitative phenomenological study using semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample from the intervention group. Thematic analysis will explore body image, emotional and social well-being, and overall satisfaction, using NVivo software.

This is the first study assessing HA nipple reconstruction by advanced practice nurses using validated patient-reported outcomes. While the BREAST-Q is appropriate, it may not fully capture emotional nuances, justifying qualitative exploration. HA durability is estimated at 6-9 months, but residual volume and satisfaction over time remain underexplored. HA's aesthetic footprint may allow reduced dosages in future applications.

This minimally invasive technique may reduce the need for surgical nipple reconstruction. Conducting the procedure in a nurse-led setting is novel and may enhance patient-centered care and the role of nursing in post-mastectomy recovery.

The study complies with the Declaration of Helsinki and Spanish biomedical regulations. Ethical approval was obtained. Participants will provide informed consent, and data will be anonymized and securely stored.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Breast cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm among women worldwide. Similarly, in Spain, it is also the most prevalent tumor in women, surpassing colorectal cancer. The incidence of this disease in our country has steadily increased over the past decades, with approximately 26,000 cases diagnosed each year, accounting for 25-30% of all female malignancies. For affected individuals, both the disease and its treatment lead to physical and bodily changes, which in turn have significant emotional implications. A woman facing a breast cancer diagnosis and its associated management goes through a critical period in her life. During this time, the altered self-image resulting from various treatment side effects is often accompanied by a fear of losing femininity and self-confidence, with potentially significant repercussions on the patient's quality of life.

Modern society increasingly demands not only the cure of diseases but also the consideration of factors that enhance patients' quality of life. According to data from the Spanish Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (SECPRE), of the 36,000 women mentioned above, approximately 64% will require a mastectomy-defined as the surgical removal of the entire affected breast-and 28% will undergo breast reconstruction.

For these women, the final stage of breast reconstruction typically culminates in the reconstruction of the nipple-areola complex (NAC), which, according to DiCenso et al., represents the conclusion of surgical and adjuvant treatments, as well as the end of uncertainty. It symbolizes the transition from patient to survivor. The healing process is not considered complete until the areola and nipple are reconstructed, thus achieving a morphologically complete breast rather than merely restoring volume.

Micropigmentation is a technique involving the deposition of pigment into the skin using ultra-fine needles. It is simple, safe, does not require general anesthesia, and can be performed by trained nurses in outpatient settings. When a neo-nipple has not been created or has retracted, subcutaneous injection of cross-linked hyaluronic acid (HA) can restore lost volume, improve the realism of micropigmentation, and support emotional healing by improving body image and self-esteem. HA is safe, hydrophilic, biocompatible, and widely used in dermal fillers for volume projection.

This study aims to evaluate the impact of HA-based nipple reconstruction in terms of psychosocial and sexual well-being, satisfaction with the breasts and nipples, and the patient's lived experience.

Specific objectives include:

Identifying the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the participants.

Assessing differences in psychosocial and sexual well-being, satisfaction with breasts, nipples, and micropigmentation.

Determining nipple projection and HA retention.

Exploring patient experiences with quality of life, self-confidence, and emotional recovery.

Study Design:

This is a mixed-methods study employing a sequential explanatory design. Phase 1 is a randomized controlled trial comparing micropigmentation alone (control) with micropigmentation plus HA injection (intervention). Phase 2 is a descriptive phenomenological study using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis.

Setting:

Conducted at the Areolar Micropigmentation Unit, Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital in Barcelona, a high-tech center that treats 53 patients yearly and is staffed by nurses trained in body image and dermoesthetics.

Population:

Women ≥18 undergoing NAC micropigmentation for the first time. Exclusion criteria include HA allergy or intolerance. Sample size: 138 women (69 per group) in Phase 1. Phase 2 will continue until data saturation (typically 5-15 participants).

Measurements:

BREAST-Q (Spanish version) will assess well-being and satisfaction. A custom questionnaire will assess satisfaction with micropigmentation. Nipple projection will be measured with calipers, and HA data recorded. Interviews will explore body image, self-esteem, intimacy, and expectations.

Data Collection:

Patients will be enrolled during UMA visits. After consent, baseline data and BREAST-Q will be collected. Micropigmentation will be done in 2-4 sessions. For the intervention group, HA will be administered 15 days post-micropigmentation in 2-3 dermal injections. Follow-ups include questionnaires post-procedure and at 3 and 6 months.

Analysis:

Quantitative data will be analyzed using SPSS v.29 with descriptive and inferential statistics (t-test, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U, chi-square). Qualitative data will be analyzed using Braun & Clarke's method in NVivo. Trustworthiness will be ensured by Lincoln & Guba's criteria.

Limitations:

Challenges include lack of double-blinding, variable timelines, and emotional vulnerability. Measures include standardized protocols and extended data collection.

Justification:

This is the first study to evaluate HA-based nipple reconstruction performed by advanced practice nurses using validated PROMs. HA offers a minimally invasive, adjustable alternative to surgery with fewer complications. Its application in nurse-led outpatient care is novel.

Ethics:

Approved by the Ethics Committee of Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital. Conducted in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki, Spanish biomedical regulations, and data protection laws (LOPD 3/2018). Informed consent will be obtained. Data will be pseudonymized and securely stored.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

138

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • Spain
    • Barcelona
      • Badalona, Barcelona, Spain, 08916
        • Recruiting
        • Hospital Universitario Germans Trias i Pujol
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Isabel Granados Navarrete, RN
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Ariadna Huertas Zurriaga, RN
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Sergio Alonso Fernández, RN

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

  • Quantitative Phase
  • Inclusion Criteria:

Women over 18 years of age, or with parental or legal guardian consent.

At least one of the following criteria:

Women undergoing their first nipple-areola complex (NAC) reconstruction through micropigmentation and/or:

No previous neo-nipple surgery, either unilaterally or bilaterally.

Surgical reconstruction of the areola.

Surgical reconstruction of the NAC with subsequent retraction of the neo-nipple.

More than 6 months since their last surgery.

- Exclusion Criteria:

Allergy to hyaluronic acid.

Poor tolerance to needle injections.

Withdrawal Criteria:

Participant's voluntary decision.

Complications associated with the technique (allergy, hematoma, etc.).

Clinical deterioration preventing the woman from continuing in the study.

- Qualitative Phase

Participant Profile Characteristics: For the qualitative phase, women who have received NAC reconstruction with HA will be invited to participate, following the maximum variation criterion. To ensure the inclusion of participants with diverse characteristics and capture a wide range of perspectives and experiences on the phenomenon under study, women of varying ages, with different breast cancer diagnoses, and histories of various oncological, surgical, and therapeutic treatments will be selected.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Micropigmentation Only
Participants receive only areola micropigmentation.
Procedure: Areola Micropigmentation
Areola micropigmentation performed by trained nurses
Experimental: Micropigmentation Plus Hyaluronic Acid Filler
Participants receive areola micropigmentation and hyaluronic acid filler injection to restore nipple projection.
Device: Hyaluronic Acid Filler Injection
Subcutaneous injection of cross-linked hyaluronic acid filler (Juvederm®) for nipple projection.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Satisfaction with Nipple Reconstruction
Time Frame: 3, and 6 months after final injection session
Patient-reported satisfaction with nipple reconstruction, measured using the "Satisfaction with Nipple" scale of the Spanish version of the BREAST-Q questionnaire. This scale ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction."
3, and 6 months after final injection session

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Psychosocial Well-being
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months post-intervention
Psychosocial well-being assessed using the 'Psychosocial Well-being' domain of the Spanish version of the BREAST-Q questionnaire. This scale ranges from 0 (lowest well-being) to 100 (highest well-being), with higher scores indicating better psychosocial outcomes.
Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months post-intervention
Sexual Well-being
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months post-intervention
Sexual well-being assessed using the 'Sexual Well-being' domain of the Spanish version of the BREAST-Q questionnaire. This scale ranges from 0 (lowest sexual well-being) to 100 (highest sexual well-being), with higher scores indicating better outcomes.
Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months post-intervention
Satisfaction with Breasts
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months post-intervention
Satisfaction with breast appearance, measured using the 'Satisfaction with Breasts' subscale of the Spanish version of the BREAST-Q questionnaire. This scale ranges from 0 (lowest satisfaction) to 100 (highest satisfaction), with higher scores indicating better outcomes.
Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months post-intervention
Satisfaction with Micropigmentation
Time Frame: Periprocedural
Patient-reported satisfaction with areola micropigmentation, measured using a custom satisfaction questionnaire. Higher scores indicate better satisfaction outcomes.
Periprocedural
Nipple Projection
Time Frame: Immediately post-procedure, 3 months, and 6 months
Nipple projection (in mm) measured using digital caliper.
Immediately post-procedure, 3 months, and 6 months
Retention of Hyaluronic Acid
Time Frame: 3 and 6 months post-injection
Estimated percentage of projection retained over time compared to immediate post-injection measurement.
3 and 6 months post-injection

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital

Investigators

  • Study Director: Ariadna Huertas Zurriaga, RN, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital
  • Study Director: Sergio Alonso Fernández, RN, University of Barcelona
  • Study Director: Joan Blanco Blanco, RN, Universitat de Lleida
  • Principal Investigator: Isabel Granados Navarrete, RN, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

June 2, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 2, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 2, 2029

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 22, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 4, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

June 6, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 6, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 4, 2025

Last Verified

June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • PI-23-109

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

De-identified individual participant data (IPD) that underlie the results reported in this trial will be made available, including text, tables, figures, and appendices. Data will be shared beginning 6 months following publication and will be available to researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal, subject to approval by the study sponsor and ethics committee. Data access will be granted for the purpose of academic research. Proposals should be submitted to [contact email or data request URL].

IPD Sharing Time Frame

6, 12 months after study completion

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Available upon reasonable request and subject to institutional review

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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