Nipple reconstruction
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lago, Scaraway... WOW! great stuff. I see a big improvement. Thank you for the recommendation.
1/4 inch nips.... MUST GO MEASURE NOW! will report back
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Yes I think the first week I saw a huge jump/improvement. Overall my scars are flatter. They were sunken before. Also softened up and feel more like the rest of the boobie prize tissue. As far as getting less red I do see improvement but still have a ways to go. I've always been slow. I think I'm on the 5 year plan.
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Someone asked about silicone nipple protectors -- I used protectors designed for nursing mothers whose nipples are sore, or whose babies have difficulty latching on. You will need to trim them, cutting off the very tip to allow better air circulation and to reduce the projection to just what's needed to protect your nipples. I taped these to my breast and then used gauze with holes cut out to surround them, so the silicone cover did not make pointy spots in my bra.
For scars, I am using Lilypadz, which are a silicone nursing pad (not at all like the paper ones I used decades ago!). The company that makes them also markets a similar and much more expensive scar-reduction product. I asked them if the silicone was the same grade, and they kindly responded that the two products are made of the same material, but the nursing pads are thicker. So I bought the nursing pads and wore them under my bra for several months after initial recon, and they worked just as well as the silicone sheets I put on some other scars. They are quite durable, washable, and not visible under clothing. They cling to the breast all day, just fine, in a bra. Recently, I had nipple recon, and I have some new scars that I'm working on. I do not want to squish the new nipples, of course, so I cut holes in my Lilypadz, just large enough to surround the nipples.
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Greenmonkey and lago....I'm on my third week of scar away and it almost appears that they are beginning to dimple or pit. I'm wearing them 24 hours a day, changing each morning. Do they morph as they change or is it immediate improvement. I thought I noticed improvement after a week but now they seem strange to me. Wondering if I should stop or lessen the hours.
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yeah the scar away does help and almost immediately. The lighter scars are really faded now. I got it at CVS. They have their own brand of it too but I wanted to try the real deal. Pretty simple to use. Just cut the strips to fit and stick em on at night when I go to bed. Then each night i rinse them off in the morning and put on a new pair the next night.
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The first week I wore mine like Carrol2, just at night. Then I switched to putting them on in the morning after I showered. Next morning I would take them off and wash them (with soap). Then put them back on after I showered. So pretty much 20-22 hours a day. I would use the strips for a week, toss it and open new ones. My scars were already dimpled. I felt this flattened them out a lot over time. Did notice the biggest change in the first week but my scars are much older than everyone else's.
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Did anybody decide to not do nipple reconstruction? I mean I'm kind of like...well if I have no feeling and me and my husband are the only ones that see them then why put myself through another surgery just to have nipples? going to talk to my PS about this and about just getting a 3D tatoo. Don't know what that will involve either....anybody?
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I'm leaning towards tattoo only as well for same reasons. Just ordered some temp ones in mail to try colors out and see what I think. I just want to look in the mirror and not see scars. I think that would be a good thing. The scars just make me think of what cancer has taken from me.
. I'm going to talk with my ps next week about it. Stay tuned. 0 -
hwhranch I didn't think the nipples were going to be a big deal but I have to say they do make me happier with how everything looks now. The surgery was super easy too.
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I went with tattoo only and am happy with my decision. there are pictures on the forum if you pm lilah she can get you access. my ps didn't support my decision but seems to think they turned out well. I went to vinnie Meyers.
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I am seriously thinking about having small flowers tattooed in place of nipples. Looking to have something make me smile every time I look in the mirror.
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definitely an idea. remember that it's permanent and you'll have to feel the same way about your choice for a long time.
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Namaste!
I was sitting on the fence for a long time about nipples. I just didn't want to have another surgery. I also knew a lot of women were quite happy with tattoos and I have seen some very nice ones on the picture forum and even some with flowers instead of nipples. I tried the 3 D temp tatoos that I got off the net and while I liked them, I felt that I wanted a bit more definition so went ahead and had the nipple surgery. Now at 3 weeks post surgery I really really really like them. I expected to like them, but didn't know I would like them with such a feeling of empowerment. I feel so different about looking in the mirror. It is as if the scars disappeared and I am looking at something "normal". I feel so much more normal that I haven't experienced before in this reconstruction journey. I had sort of resigned myself to never feeling normal or complete and by gum I was wrong. It has happened when I was no longer expecting it. And healing is not even complete yet and I have a bit of necrosis. But I know it is going to be OK. I am just so pleased that I went ahead with the surgery.
Karla
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CMartin~ Did Vinnie or another artist do your tattoos? Was it a long wait to get an appt? The pictures are amazing on his web site...very impressive!!
HantaYo~ I am so happy for you! I haven't made my mind up yet, leaning towards tattoos but who knows??
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I know I showed my nipples to some women that were on the fence. Several of them changed their mind and decided to do them. If it weren't for the BMX scars my boobie prizes could be the real thing.
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HantaYo & Lago you make me feel reassured on my decision to go the surgical route. I am scheduled for Jan 29 & am soooo excited. I love how satisfied you sound. I long to feel finished. I am also hoping the mini tummy tuck will be a pleasant outcome. I had 2 c-sections & never liked the little pouch in made. Any info on that part of the procedure? Also, what's your opinion on returning to work? I'm a visiting nurse so I lug a large bag around & have to do a lot of bending/ getting on the floor sometimes to do wound care etc...I have a good pain tolerance, my issue is overdoing. My PS said 2 weeks, but I was thinking 3......
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Hi, I thought I'd finally jump on and ask a couple of questions. I'm post bmx and diep and am now planning stage 2 and nips. I really thought I'd just do the 3d tats but after advice from my ps and reading how happy you all are with nipple reconstruction, I am reconsidering. Besides the issue of having another surgery/recovery time, I was worried they'd end up big and noticeable all the time. Do those of you who are healed feel like they are always "on" or look erect through bras and clothing? Thanks for any input!
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tenaj I had a revision to lefty and lots of fat transfer when I did my nips (total of 3.25 hours under general anesthesia). The fat transfer was what I really had recovery from. Ask others but the nip recovery is mostly making sure they don't get bumped or knocked around. My PS didn't even what the water from the shower head putting pressure on them for the first week or so.
cg1234 I didn't have deep but as far as headlights… initially it was a little bit of a problem but not anymore now that they have flattened a bit. At the time I wore a slightly cushiony bra or No Peek by Walcoal (washable and re-useable). Haven't needed to wear those in over a year. They sell them in department stores, Amazon, etc.
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My nipple reconstruction was a simple procedure done in the PS's in-office procedure room. Recovery was a matter of protecting them for a month, as lago said. They 'arrive' rather large and prominent, but over several months they shrink. Mine settled down to a nice, very realistic size about eight weeks out from surgery. They look amazingly natural, like a nipple in the low-beam mode, and they show through a thin garment no more than a natural nipple would. I plan to get areaola tattoos sometime this year to complete the process.
Your other stage 2 diep work will add to your recovery, of course, and I'm pretty sure your nipple recovery will feel like a minor part of the overall experience.
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can someone tell me again how to get access to the pictures on this board? of nip tattoos and such?
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I feel very much the same as Carrol.. Did not think the nipple surgery would make a big difference,, but I now feel I have a breast not just a "bump" on my chest... It was as if my scar dissapeard.. Love my new little "button"
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ok def love my nips. I showed them to a customer the other day who was on the fence and she is going forward with it now. I should say I work at Soma intimates fitting bras, otherwise that could sound really weird lol.
Went swimming first time today with the new nips. They did not show through my bathing suit which was totally unlined. The only time I see them show through is very thin fabric so I could still go braless when I want to.
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Thanks so much for the feedback everyone! I am definitely glad to hear most are low beams when they settle down. Do they flatten a little in bras then? I am a little flat in the center of one breast and hope fat grafting will help, but thought having a nipple also might provide some projection (just don't want too much!).
And Carrol, you made me laugh! Context does help!
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cg123 mine kind of smoosh down in my bra and then inflate a little when I take it off. A little itty bit like the old ones.
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Namaste!
hwhranch, the picture forum is a separate deal from BC.org. You can PM Lilah or Nowheregirl to discuss getting access.
Carrol2, it is time to put a new picture on the forum of the nips.
Tenaj, I am off for 4 weeks. I did have fat grafting too. The PS said I could go back to work with restrictions, no lifting my elbows above my shoulder and lifting no more than 5-10 pounds and still had to wear the abdominal binder (where he harvested the fat), however I am a nurse and there is no "light duty" and one must be cleared to return without restrictions which includes clearance to lift 100 #. Also, we must frequently reach above our heads for monitors and IVs. So it depends on what is all included in the procedure, what type of work you do, and of course your PSs preferences. If you are having a local nipple flap with an areola graft using skin from your tummy I would think that would tend to need to be off work longer vs if only the nips were done with a local flap. Best of luck.
Karla
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HantaYo, thanks for your input. I was thinking the same thing. I am also a nurse, a visiting nurse. I lug a heavy bag in & out of patients home and have to bend over & kneel on the floor to do wound care at times. I was thinking more like 3 weeks. Did the hospital give you a binder? I asked about spanx, but the PS is so vauge at times. I just want to make sure I have what I need before hand.
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Tenaj: I'm also a home health nurse. I would plan on atleast 3 weeks. I took 4. My PS did a little lipo on my tummy and used some of the fat in my chest. This took longer to recover and was more sore than anything. It's not bad at all just hard with our line of work due to the bending and lifting. I'm finished with all reconstruction and pleased.
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I just had most of my stitches removed - had my surgery on 12/13. I am THRILLED with my nips but yes, I do feel like I'm "ON" all the time. Mine have alloderm in the center so I don't think they'll flatten out but the overall circumference is pretty big.
I also had fat grafting done at the same time. So far its holding. My PS took from my waist and my thighs. I found it VERY, VERY uncomfortable - mainly getting in and out of bed any time I needed to use my stomach area muscles. My PS said that if I need it again down the line she'll take it from my thighs only (less painful because no muscle involvement). Modern lypo is not as painful but they have to harvest the fat without damaging it.
BUT... not all of us were in a lot of pain afterwards. I think LAGO wins the prize for the least amount of pain
I took vicodin for a good two weeks - maybe I'm a baby but I was pretty miserable for 12 days, maybe more.FAT GRAFTING ADVICE - don't be shocked if you leak what looks like blood, even if it looks like a lot of blood. This is normal. It's not true blood (I forget what they call it). I thought I was dying and my nurses and husband were also alarmed. YES.. go out and get compression garments if your doctor is not going to give you them. Mine gave me one from marena - it was great but it was soooo intense. Almost impossible to get on.
And for nipple guards use the round makeup sponge pads and cut a hole in the center. Learned that here and they work great!
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HI. I love the tats but would like the projection. However, my PS wanted to graft from the inner thigh and I didn't want that. Skin from the breast would have been more appealing to me. I also thought the headlights were constant but love that Carrol wore a bathing suit with no liner and goes braless. How fabulous is that?? Oh well. I have the visual which really helps. Using Scar Away to minimize the scars and then.....DONE!
Yes, Vinnie did my tats. Could take a few months to get an appt.
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Ok I will take pics of the nips next week and post them on the forum. it's hard for me to do because I am hiding them from DH until I get the tatoos which wont be until after March. I have to take them upload them then erase them do he doesn't accidentally see them on the computer. I'll post to this thread after I do it.
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