Nipple reconstruction
Comments
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lago my PS told me to get scar guard which i keep forgetting to get. IS that the same thing as scar away?
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8 days post nipple reconstruction and BMX implant adjustment my PS took off my industrial strength hospital tape. I am now in tight sports bra with a separate velcro band across top to keep implants down. Shocked to find out he did capsulectomies on both sides. He was going to adjust them but found some encapsulation or scar tissue. I am freaked out. the nipple is still covered with a flat bandage. Will get it off 13 days post nipple reconstruction. He does not use nipple protectors; he prefers pressure caused by tight bandage to compress, reduce swelling, and encourage faster vascularization. The excess skin from inframammary fold was used to create a nipple mound which he grafted onto my healed grafted areola. Sending healing thoughts. What creates encapsulation? I thought I was doing fine! My doctor was very vague. Not happy about his info transmission skills.
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Carrol My port surgeon said to get some more expensive product but he then said there was some less expensive stuff at Walgreens that works just as well. Silicon sheets is silicon sheets. I'm pretty pleased with the results.
encapsulation happens to everyone. It's when too much happens that it's an issue. Talk to your PS about how you should be "massaging" your implants daily to keep them soft.
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I had my nipple reconstruction with fat grafting yesterday - 11 days shy of my three month mark post exchange with alloderm.
It's strange how different all the doctors are but my breasts were not radiated.
Also, my doctor, who I LOVE took fat first from my waist (muffin top) but she said it was not (whats the word) as resistant as fat from the thighs, so she ended up using fat from my thighs. She does not use fat from the stomach. It sort of makes sense to me in a silly sort of way because the fat from my thighs has been around longer. I know thats not technically correct but I trust her.
Also, she did bring implants with her jut incase she punctured the implants but she said my muscle was good and covering the implants well.
My surgery took about 4 hours. I asked her to take more fat then she needed and she did!
She used alloderm in the nipples. I got a peak at them today and they look like those gummy candy's we used to get at the movie theater. I think they were called DROPS but they're much bigger. Cant see the stitching she used clear. They look FANTASTIC!!! I'm so happy
As far as drugs she gave me vicodin and valium and I'm taking both. I'm in a considerable amount of pain but hell, its worth it. this is surgery number 6 for me (in 9 months). She also took off a skin tag under my arm.
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it's amazing how different all the doctors are and my doctor always asks me what where talking about over here
I like that....0 -
oh, I have compression garments on. a long sort of girdle, and a waist thing and a funky surgical bra. I have gaze and ointment on nipples. call me crazy but I'm thinking this is going to make a great costume, just need to add some bling!
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Got my date!! I'm scheduled for 1/29 for my nipple construction, fat grafting & revision of dog ear!! Thanks everyone who posted here. I have learned so much & you gave me the encouragment to make myself feel complete!!
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tenaj, sounds very similar to my procedure! let us know how it goes.
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wishing you a great result tanaj I am thrilled with my new cherries. I am surprised how happy they make me I didn't think I would care as much as I do. Can't wait to get my tattoos.
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Ok, I need to catch up on this thread : )
I just woke up from my supposed exchange to gummy implants and nipple recon to regular implants..again...and no nips. UGH.
greenmonkey...I should have asked for valium!! All of the other meds make me throw up, and I sure could have used something to keep the edge off these past few days.
My PS wants to now do a donor site, like the tummy, to donate skin for nips. I just flat out do not want to be put out anymore!! I did have rads, so I know local skin presents concerns.
With regards to the scaraway...I swear by those sheets! My scars are flat and healed quickly with that.0 -
Good evening all,
I had my exchange surgery 11/6 and it was a relatively smooth surgery, no pocket work or Lipo. I'm not crazy about my results. I can feel my right implant move around when I bend over and there is a crease that appears occasionally. Oh and they are sooooo cold!
I will be having my nipple reconstruction surgery this Tuesday. I'm so worried about this surgery. Did anyone find this surgery easier than the TE exchange surgery?
Thank you in advance.
Peaceful night to all!0 -
FLSUNMOM my nipple surgery was a breeze. I had some lipo and dog ear fixed at the same time. I had to keep looking to see if he did it cause I could not feel it. Now I have feeling in one of my nipples. NOt like a real one but still gives me goose bumps so pretty cool. I stayed overnight in the hospital but I really could have gone home that day. I usually get queezy from the anesthesia and I cant urinate for hours after but they fixed the meds so neither thing happened this time. Also sometimes I get thrush in my throat from antibiotics but this time took diflucan and was fine. I think I am getting good at this surgery stuff lol. Makes me consider fixing a few other parts of the body or maybe my face some day.
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FLSUNMOM, yes they do get cold...ugh! for me the right foob was the one that mainly felt cold and I'm guessing that's because my BS was aggressive on that side. I'm hoping the fat grafting I received on Thursday the 13th will help eliminate that.
as far as pain, I feel no nipple pain, I do feel slight burning/pain where the fat was injected but its not terrible and its not constant. And I do feel discomfort from the lipo but my brain is so happy to have fat removed that it doesn't care what the body feels.
I see my PS later today and I'll get a second peak at the nipps
mine have alloderm in them and they look like giant dots candy. Knowing me, once they're healed I'll be focused on their placement. I wish I took more time to watch her mark me so I could approve it. Oh well... Carrol2, so glad you had a positive experience! this was my 6th surgery since March of this year so I also feel like I'm becoming an expert
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Fearless... I'm sorry to read about your encapsulation - I honestly didn't even know what it meant. I've never been told to massage, I'll ask my PS about it today (maybe because I had alloderm sutured in to keep my implants in place). I hope all goes well for you!
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My boobie prizes can be cold or even ice cold at times but I'm so numb there I don't even notice it. When I touch them that's a different story. That was the nice thing about the saline in the expanders. They stayed body temperature.
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I'm wondering if the fat grafting will help keep them warm?
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Had grafting twice. I think it does somewhat but you don't have fat transferred all over… just in spots.
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lago why did you have fatgrafting twice? Did it faill the first time? The fatgrafting I had in late October failed. Going to try again in six months.. that you had it done twice gives me hope
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I saw my PS today - 4 days post nips and fat grafting. If I didn't have to wear the compression garmet I'd be so much happier. I feel like a sausage.
lago, most of my cold feeling was only on the inside/clevage area and I did receive fat there so maybe it really will help.
Ossa, not to sound stupid, but how did it fail and how long did it take. Did it go away or did it harden.
Here is a link to my latest blog post - my version of humor: It's Nipple Time
I was warned that I can't put links to pictures of my nips here or I'll get kicked out.
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Ossa the first time my PS decided to take the fat from my love handles/tummy. I even said are you sure there's enough? The nurse told me at my pre-op that he couldn't find enough. Next time I sent him to my thighs. Still have plenty there, granted thanks to Anastrozole and chemopause I now have a bit more in the tummy/love handles.
GreenMonkey You can send someone a personal message with a photo on it but you really don't want to be posting pictures like that on this forum. This forum is highly searchable. Anybody and everybody can see the photos or "steal" photos from this site.
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Hi guys, has anyone had rads and nipple recon? I just went through fatgraft 5 and am now being told I have to use a donor site...like a skin flap from my stomach. I just cant take more surgery and was hoping for an outpatient local anasthesia procedure for nips.
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greenmonkey.. my fatgrafing looked really good at first, but then more and more it disappeared. Now my indent on my chest is right back to where it was from what I understand sometimes your body reabsorb the fat..
geewiz... I had rads and fat-grafting and nipple recon this might be why mine FG failed, my PS said there might not be enough bloodflow in the area because of rads, but am doing massage every day and going to try fatgrafting again in six months, my nipple has shrunk down to a tiny bump, but I am ok with that.. it still looks better than without it
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greenmoneky i love your blog and i think it is very informative. I had the cv flat too but no alloderm. They did look like dots mine were a little smaller maybe and they flattened out as soon as I stopped wearing the cones but just enough. They are now very nice little buttons. I hope they don't shrink too much more. It has been 6 weeks now. I have pics on the forum from 1 week out.
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thanks for the info Lago, but I have posted all my pictures on my blog. I encourage people to look. I'm very proud of what I've been through. Mind you, if these were my real breasts I'd be shy but I see them more as a badge of honor. This is a personal choice of course and I know I'm odd
I am working on a post now that lines doctors notes with my actual photo's - so you can clearly see the lies. "Patient looks good.... patient complains that she's unhappy with results but I think her results are excellent, stuff like that". I think I'll use photo's of the doctors notes as well so you can tell I'm not making any of this up.
Also, did any of you see the documentary "the education of dee dee ricks" - We had the same PS and there is a photo of her, post BMX, while she's still in the hospital, with drains. It's her first look at herself. I want to put my photo next to it so you can see the difference. I am going to contact Dee Dee personally to ask if there was any makeup/coverup. He also didn't open up the pocket below the natural fold, which he did with me and that was a big part of my problems.
sorry to rant so much, thanks for listening...
Carrol2 how do I find your picture, one week out? Buttons sounds sooo nice!!!
Ossa, I had a big indent in my chest also (at the top, right?) I so hope the fat stays but I get it if it doesn't. Don't know if I'd do the fat grafting again. It's not fun!
Also its true what they say... if your getting fat grafting your PS should NOT be using the UAL method. It's good to check this before your surgery. I asked post surgery and luckily she did not use this method. But I guess I should save these comments for the fat grafting section.
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I am getting my uni nipple on Friday 12/21. He is going to do a graft from my inside upper thigh to do both the nipple and areola and says no tattoo will be needed?
My main question is how sore will that graft area be? Should I fill the percocet prescription? Walking, wearing hose?
Also he will be doing twilight sleep or some sort of happy juice but not general. At the exchange in Sept it took 5 hours in recovery before I started breathing without help so they don't want to take that risk. Anyone have this graft done without a general?
Thanks for any help!
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Thanks Ossa! My previous fatgrafts looked great initially also, but went away with time. I think my first was 3 years ago. I just had another one last week. if I just have a tiny button stick around I will be happy, but no skin grafting for me.
Rosie...fill that pain meds script!! I think that might a rough few days of healing otherwise. I would make sure you are on an antibiotic too. I have heard that grafts from the upper groin are more prone to infection, so maybe that will help keep you ahead of the game. Good luck to you!!0 -
Greenmonkey my pics are on the pic forum I think you have to pm Lilah to get access.
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greenmonkey loved the blog.
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Thank you Cindy!
and Carrol2, I'll try to access it
I was given the okay by the Moderators to post a link to pictures of my nipples! Here they are 4 days post surgery. Eventually, I'll put a picture of them on the blog but I want to give them a week or so to heal more.
If you're asked for a password its: monkey27
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Looking good Monkey !
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