Plastic Surgery Markers and Calipers: Areola, Keyhole, Castroviejo and Sheen Grid
Instrument guides
Plastic Surgery Markers and Calipers: Areola, Keyhole, Castroviejo and Sheen Grid
How areola, keyhole, facelift and flap markers and Castroviejo calipers help you plan symmetric results, and which sizes we make.
Markers and calipers turn a plan into lines on the skin that are the same on both sides. Areola markers press or score a circle of a chosen diameter. The McKissock keyhole marker draws the keyhole pattern for breast reduction. Facelift, flap and navel markers set incision lines and positions, and Castroviejo and Thorpe calipers measure distances in millimetres. Because they are steel, they can be sterilized and used on the table as well as before surgery.
Where does the Castroviejo caliper come from?
The Castroviejo caliper carries the name of Ramón Castroviejo, the Spanish born eye surgeon known for corneal transplantation, whose 1932 work on keratoplasty is listed in the Garrison and Morton medical bibliography. Calipers of this type were made for eye surgery and are now used across plastic surgery wherever small distances must be measured precisely. Sheen grids are rhinoplasty planning grids, and the areola and keyhole markers come from breast surgery.
Which markers and calipers do we make?
| Instrument | Sizes | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Freeman areola marker, sharp | 34 to 50 mm | Scoring an exact areola circle |
| Freeman, double ended | Pairs from 34/36 to 45/50 mm | Two sizes in one instrument |
| Areola marker, blunt | 36, 40, 42, 45 mm | Pressing a circle without scoring |
| Grossman areola marker | 40, 44, 48, 52 mm in one | Four sizes on one instrument |
| McKissock keyhole marker | 38 to 45 mm | Keyhole pattern for breast reduction |
| Ackerman areola marker | 14 or 16 cm | Areola position |
| Pitanguy facelift marker, D'Assumpcao | 16 cm | Facelift skin excess |
| Marten flap marker, Lockwood abdominal flap demarcator, DeMartel scalp flap, navel marker | 14.5 to 32 cm | Flaps and the umbilicus |
| Castroviejo caliper 20 mm, 40 mm, Castroviejo Epker 40 mm | 20 or 40 mm range, straight, curved or angled | Precise small measurements |
| Thorpe caliper | 80 mm range | Larger distances |
| Sheen grid, reverse | Rhinoplasty symmetry | |
| Joseph measuring rod, Davis nasal projectometer | 17 cm, mm scale | Nasal measurements |
Sharp or blunt areola marker?
A sharp marker scores a light line into the skin that stays visible through the case. A blunt marker presses a circle that you then trace with a pen. Double ended and multi size markers let you try two diameters without changing instruments. Choose the diameter range your patients usually need, and add a caliper to check symmetry from fixed landmarks.
How should markers be cleaned?
Remove all marking ink before sterilizing, because baked on ink is hard to remove. Check the edges of sharp markers for nicks, and the caliper scale and screw for free movement. Never leave instruments in saline, because it causes corrosion. Our instrument care guide gives the full routine, and the CDC guidance on cleaning instruments before sterilization explains why cleaning comes before the autoclave.
Frequently asked questions
What size areola marker do I need?
Diameters from 38 to 45 mm are common, and our range runs from 34 to 52 mm. The surgeon chooses for the patient.
What is a McKissock keyhole marker?
A template marker that draws the keyhole pattern used in the McKissock vertical bipedicle breast reduction.
Can calipers be autoclaved?
Yes. Ours are stainless steel. Open the caliper fully before sterilizing.
What is a Sheen grid?
A stainless reference grid used to plan and check symmetry in rhinoplasty.
Related instrument guides
- Breast dissectors and spreaders
- Fiber optic lighted retractors
- Liposuction cannula tip types
- Nasal rasp types for rhinoplasty
Order markers and calipers
See the full measuring and marking range. For a set for a hospital, a clinic or a distributor, send us your list and we will send you a quote.