Nipple reconstruction
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congratulations Carrol2!
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GreenMonky when they do the nipple recon they just cut the skin. Your implant is under the muscle. Your PS would have to cut into that first. I remember disecting a cat in Physiology in high school. We managed to cut the skin without cutting the muscle. I'm sure your PS has more experience than a junior high schools student.
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well I had 2 days no cones on them and they already flattened a little. I think they look better. They are not exactly identical but I suppose natural nipples are not either. I keep peeking to be sure they are still there.
greenmonkey I can see no way that they could cut the implant. They are only cutting into the skin your implant is under the muscle. I did not get my fat grafting yet so can't answer that question but I did have lipo on my sides. If I had a desk job I could have gone back in a week. Since I work retail I took 2 weeks and I was totally fine. I had no pain at all did not need any pain killers not even advil. I just had some bruises on my sides so that was sore to the touch so had to hug carefully. I told the PS I had to look to be sure he did the surgery cause I could not feel anything. Oh and I do have feeling in one of my new nipples which is very groovey.
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GreenMonky Forgot to add I did have fat transfer at time of nipples but I also had a revision to lefty. The donor sites were sore but not terrible. I do have a high tolerance to pain so I might not be a good person to ask. I think if I had been working at the time I would be allowed back to work after I had my post op visit with my PS. Surgery for me was on a Friday. Post op the following Monday.
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What is a scar guard?
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I've been using ScarAway silicone sheets (recommended by my port surgeon. Got it at Walgreens). Works great. Flattens out my scars and lightened them. My scars are 1 and 2 years old and still made a significant difference. I'm only 2 weeks into it too.
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1openheart~is it okay to DM you with a question or two.
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GreenMonkey...we have the same surgery date! : )
I am getting anxious to get it over with. I think my PS wants to do nipples at the time of the exchange.
I am super interested in the nipple implants though. I almost might like to wait and see about those later!0 -
had my nipple recon along with fatgrafing oct 26 my nipple has all but disappeared, and where I had the fat transfer has gone back to pre surgery.. seeing PS on Tuesday, looks like I am in for another surgery..
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Hello, All,
I just had corrections to my May 2012 BMX with immediate silicon gel implants. I went from a 34DD pre surgery to a 34B-C, so the technique used was incisions of the style: anchor and keyhole cuts (moved one nipple areola complex (NAC) up higher on left breast). My right NAC had to be reconstructed from excess breast skin. The areola took but the nipple necrosized within the first month and healed over flat. The implants were generally fine but I had excess loose skin along the underside inframammary folds of both breasts and the positioning of each implant -- especially the right one -- was a little high causing a kind of fold on the upper pole, and both were closer to the sides or armpits.
So this week, 7 months post BMX, I had these revisions done under general anesthesia in a 2 hour long operation by my perfectionistic and humorous PS. He told me that during the operation he stitched and restitched the positioning twice, because it wasn't exactly right. He said the op staff just sighed with his persnicketiness but he was proud of what he had accomplished.
My doctor would not let anyone go home until the drains are out, so I had to spend 3 days, 2 nights. I felt fine the whole time. It was nothing like the BMX. No pre-op calming drugs before the general anesthesia (I didn't want any I was calm), only paracetomal and antiinflammatory pills afterwards. Lots of water and tea. The clinic is like a luxury hotel disguised as a hospital, so I shouldn't complain, but I just wanted to get HOME!
But still, the question is.... will my nipple take? He just used a graft of my excess breast skin to make the nipple. I had queried him about nipple implants and alloderm etc, but he would listen to none of it. He had considered adding injections of hyaluronic acid (a naturally occuring substance in our bodies used in fillers for cosmetic purposes I guess kind of like botox), but decided to wait because that could be done on future office visits if needed.
He checked my breasts by pulling off the industrial hospital tape that is acting like an Egyptian mummy-like bra. I looked down and thought the breasts looked really big and different! I don't want bigger boobs! He promised me he hadn't switched the 270cc implants for bigger ones and said they would calm down in due time. He said they were closer now and so I would show some cleavage (which I didn't before). I just have to be realistic about the high risk that the nipple will not survive, but I will try to send healing messages throughout my body (I don't necessarily believe that will do anything, but it can't hurt). If the new nipple doesn't survive, I think I will just go for tatoos and a stick-on kind. I am just not interested in doing anything more plastic surgeryish. He retaped me back up and said to come back to his office Tuesday with my sports bra and velcro band which I will have to wear again for 6 weeks -- ugh!
I will ask about the nipple cones and other protective devices, which he never used on me before.
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Hi ladies, I've been following this board for a bit hoping to get the answers I need to make my decision. Well....I'm still not totally decided. I had my exchange last January & would really like to get the finishing touch ups now. I see my PS on Tuesday for another consult & would like some help with the questions I need to have the answers for. He wants to do a graft from my c-section scar encouraging me that I will get a mini tummy tuck. Is it worth it? Will I see a difference in my stomach & is it worth the risk that it may not take? I also would like to get some revisions on my scars. I also wonder if larger implants would help with rippling, though I'm afraid larger will cause pain & I have none now. Then I wonder if I should just get the 3D tattoo's but I admit I would like to have a little bump there. Wow....it doesn't sound like I'm ready to make a decision but I so want to be done & move on. Any help or suggestions with the questions I should ask would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
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tenaj I had the the nip recon done over a year ago from local skin. I'm so glad I did it. It looks so real. I have heard that taking skin from other places tends not to flatten as much (good thing). BTW ask your PS about Scar Away silicone strips. I started using it on my BMX scars 3 weeks ago. I mean on scars that are over 1 and 2 years old! Really doing a nice job flattening, getting more red out and softening the scars.
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lago, thanks for the reply. As far as the scars, can they do a revision on them? My exchange incision was right over the BMX, but not quite as long. The BMX line is almost invisible, thin & light. My exchange line is darker & wider. Sometime it is as if it is too tight if that makes any sense. It almost dents in. One side is puffy(not sure if that is what they call a dogs ear) at the end so if I'm going under I definitely want that fixed. Are you using the silicone strips that you buy OTC in Cvs?
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My PS used the same incision for my exchange as my BMX, or part of them on the sides. They are still redder but getting better. My scar on the right also indents from exchange. It's a bit better since I used the ScarAway.I do believe the BMX scar that wasn't opened up is flatter because more of it was streched with the expanders.
I bought ScarAway at Walgreens, no prescription but check with your PS when to use them.
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Update from my nipple surgery. All went well. He had to make new incisions higher up because my BMX/exchange surgery incisions were too far down (guess they "settled"). He put implants in for the nipples and they look great!! I was able to shower the next day and just had to put antibiotic ointment on them for about 3 days and then keep a waded up piece of gauze taped over the nipples. I have to keep the gauze on for 2-3 weeks until the stitches are dissolved/fall off so they don't rub on my bra. Then I'll see him in February and set my tattoo date!! I'm excited for each new step! And hopefully I won't look so Frankensteinish once the scars all fade.
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Thanks lago for the info. I am anxious to go tomorrow & get some answers.
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I bought the scar away tonight. crossing my fingers.
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Thank you lago and carrol2 and everyone who took the time to post here. Going to pick up scar away today! as well as arnica (to help with bruising). It's great to read things that work for people. This will be my 6th surgery this year - my first being in March of 2012 - and I've learned a lot along the way.
one thing that was very helpful for me was drinking coconut water before surgery. They have to do the IV in my foot and it was always difficult for them to find a vein. They say the more hydrated you are the easier it is. I tried water, gatoraid and even pickle juice - but during my last surgery, after a week of regular coconut water intake they were able to get the vein on the first try. It was like a miracle!!!
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Iago thanks for the info on the Scar Away!
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I saw my PS today & I will be scheduling my nipple construction for then end of January or beginning of February. He will be doing a skate flap, taking my skin from my c-section scar & giving me a mini tummy tuck & lipo, fat grafting to an area around the bottom of one implant & fixing a dog ear on the other. Wow....sounds like a lot. I can't wait to pass this portion of our journey & move on. I asked about spanx post op & he said that would be fine. Any other suggestions ladies???
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tenaj I had cones that I had to wear to protect the new nipples for a month, so I needed plenty of loose tops to cover them.
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Thanks Carrol2, I've been reading along for a while. I was very happy to hear you're good results with the nipples. You are very supportive & helpful to these boards. Thanks
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Hi Ladies.. Went to PS today for a follow up from nipple recon and fatgrafting done Oct 30... PS agreed with me that the fatgrafting failed.... He said it might be because of radiation and therefor ther is not enough bloodflow in the area.. Going to try fatgrafting again in six months.. meanwhile he wants me to get my tattoo in about two months then he will do what he can to "fix" me after that.. tenaj.. I used spanx after my surgery worked great.. I did not get nipple protectors but am pleased with the way the nipple looks ( as long as it does not get any smaller)
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Ossa I think most of the flattening probably has happened but I would protect them a bit longer just to be sure.
BTW anyone who uses Scar Away let us know how it worked for you. I know I was please with my results.
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starting scaraway this weekend!
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Ossa my PS said he sews a protector on for the 1st week and then lots of bacitracin for several weeks. He also said I may not need a tattoo because of the graft. I'm thinking the will look better & maybe cover some of the scars. I will get scar away when I get the ok.
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Good morning. Quick question: how long did you wait for nipple reconstruction after your exchange surgery?
Thanks
Lori0 -
Four months. Could have done it a month or so sooner but the date worked better for my schedule.
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I was told 3 months but scheduling make it 4 months
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Thanks. I just had my exchange last week and I was thinking end of March, because of what works for my schedule, so that sounds like it might be reasonable.
Lori0
