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Nipple reconstruction

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Comments

  • lbrewer
    lbrewer Member Posts: 96
    edited March 2013

    has anyone heard about Blue Cross not paying for the tatoo?  My PS says United Health will but Blue Cross won't.

  • Chris13
    Chris13 Member Posts: 112
    edited March 2013

    Jane, yes I did have Dr. Serletti although he actually did both surgeries at Bryn Mawr which was more convenient for me. (He's on staff there, too.) 

    I won't see him until March 25. I do plan to go ahead with the tattoo, which he referred to as "putting on color." I don't have the details of who does it yet; I'll post here when I know more. Do you know who does it at HUP?

  • tenaj
    tenaj Member Posts: 365
    edited March 2013

    I'm 5 weeks out now fom my nipple construction & aerola grafts. I thought I would share my experience for those of you deciding on what to do.

    I waited 1 year between my exchange & nipples because of a new job & other personal things in my life. In that time, I changed my mind countless times on what type of procedure to do. I am happy with my decision. I love that they look real & how I perceive myself when I glance down at them in the shower or while I change my clothes. My DH thinks they look fantastic. They aren't even completely healed yet,I still need to have a nonstick pad on. I am not sure if they will need to be tattooed yet, but so far the coloring is good. The size seems to be perfect, though I'm not sure if they will shrink anymore. This choice is very individualized & no decision is wrong as long as YOU make the decision. I just wanted to share my experience & my satisfaction.

  • Janetanned
    Janetanned Member Posts: 118
    edited March 2013

    Chris - My PS recommended the micropigmentation specialist associated with the plastic surgery practice at HUP (Perelman Center).  Her name is Mandy Sauler.  I haven't met with her yet since I probably will wait for my summer break to get it done.  Before I make a decision I'd like to see her work. Of course there is always Vinnie.  He comes highly recommended and Baltimore isn't too far.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited March 2013

    lbrewer insurance will only pay for tattoos if they are done in a medical facility.

  • Chris13
    Chris13 Member Posts: 112
    edited March 2013

    Right, I believe you have to pay out-of-pocket for individuals not associated with the medical facility. Vinnie gets such raves, though! Here's Mandy's link to pix....no nipple reconstruction. http://captivatingcosmetics.com/?page=areola

    Thanks for the info.

  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 596
    edited March 2013

    Anyone ever try liquiskin make their own temp 3d nipple tattoo ? I saw an example on utube. Think I'm gonna try it with my before pics and the laser printer!

  • CMartin
    CMartin Member Posts: 237
    edited March 2013

    I beleive I read somewhere not to expose your tattoos to tanning beds.  Anyone else read or been exposed with words of wisdom?

  • Cynthie
    Cynthie Member Posts: 21
    edited March 2013

    Here's a weird one, sort of related to this thread Cool !

    On Feb 7 this year I had a "lumpectomy-plus" ("plus" meaning "bye-bye nipple").  The surgeons did a very clever job of it, with most of the scar being underneath the breast.  They also constructed a little round nipple-like skin graft to cover the hole where my teeny (~ 4mm) sleepy (G1) triple-negative monster was hiding.

    It's all healed pretty well, except that the skin-graft scar continued to be extremely irritated, hurt whenever I moved, actually.  Well, lo-and-behold, last week I discovered little sharp "wires" poking out of the scar, which screamed with pain when they were pressed.  Rushed to my gyno's office, where she pulled out and snipped off numerous pieces of sutures which either weren't removed correctly (by her Frown) or were emerging from underneath.  ???

    Has anyone had a similar experience?  It seems so bizarre!  Thankfully, there's no more pain or irritation anymore because I start radiation next week.

    Hugs,  Cynthie

  • Chris13
    Chris13 Member Posts: 112
    edited March 2013

    Cynthia....I have little dark sutures sticking out of my nipple. Either they dissolve on their own or if still in when having a follow up a month later, my PS will remove them. 

    Since I had a mast and DIEP, there is no pain.

  • ginger2345
    ginger2345 Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2013

    That may be kinda common. I had a suture sticking out that didn't hurt and I left it alone. By the time I got to my PS appt he was going to snip the suture off, but it fell off. Wires that hurt are a different matter. Hope things go well for you from here on.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited March 2013

    Cynthie I had that happed after my nipple recon. Granted I have a very high tolerance to pain but my PS did see it at my 3 month follow up and removed it. Yes it hurts when they do that but then there is no more pain once it heals.

  • Cynthie
    Cynthie Member Posts: 21
    edited March 2013

    Thanks, everyone, for the info!  I'm doing fine now, just relieved to know it's not going to fall off, haha! 

  • fearlessfoot
    fearlessfoot Member Posts: 88
    edited March 2013

    Hi, Everyone,

    I've been off the boards for awhile but just wanted to post my latest.  My nipple re-do in December (after losing to necrosis after BMX in May 2012) healed fine.  However, it is just a grafted 1 centimeter in diameter round, flat skin he crafted from excess breast tissue he removed while adjusting my implants.  So there is no projection. 

    So now I am getting the coloration tattoo done to match my own nipple saved through NS on the left.  However, I really wish there were some projection, so the PS will try injectioning under the nipple with hyaluronic acid.  HA is a type of naturally occuring fluid in the body that is used in aesthetic plastic surgery on the face sometimes to add fullness.  The downside is that it seldom lasts more than 3-6 months.  But I guess I will try it since it is largely covered by my insurance and since it is the only projection options my PS seems to think is feasible. 

    The first tattoo session took about 20 minutes and seemed to just give an uneven mottly coloration to the areola.  It did not hurt at all, mostly due to the fact that the nipple/areola complex is reconstructed and so I don't think there are any nerves there at all.  Although I did have weird sensations on surrounding areas due to the vibration of the electric tattoo instrument. The aesthetician who works with the PS uses a tattooing process that takes several sessions with two weeks rest period in between.  She has me apply Vaseline at night with a section of saran wrap over to keep the grease off of a sports bra.  I will ask her what kind of dye she uses.   I already feel positive about the effect of the coloration matching my real nipple rather than being "blank" or skin color.  I no longer feel like I need to hide or cover the breast with my arm when changing.  For some reason, the lack of nipple/areola coloration felt really disturbing to me, like I had to shield it from view.

    Has anyone had any similar experiences?

    Fearlessfoot

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited March 2013

    Fearlessfoot have you considered getting a 2nd opinion on another option? Your PS might be correct on this though. Have you considered a 3D tattoo?

  • Stix
    Stix Member Posts: 610
    edited March 2013

    yes, it seems awkward to look at in the beginning.  That is normal.. it was made by man and its different.....

    I think you should consider 3 D nipples.  I went to vinnie myers for correction in Maryland.  He also works for the NOLA group.  My PS  nurse screwed up my tattoo. He did what he could to fix it... he did a great job....

    Looking back- I would have never let the PS or any PS office do a tattoo on me again. That is not what they specilize in. Its common sense to me now. But, when your in the situation and people are telling you they do tattoos at the office all the time and have special training and they also tell you it is going to look great and show you great pictures...you believe them, because nothing has given you any reason to not believe them at that point. 

    I hope this helps. 

  • fitzdc
    fitzdc Member Posts: 755
    edited March 2013

    Fearless... I, too, was bothered by the lack of color with nipple/aerola area, Funny  thing was that my color was so light there was almost no difference with the skin that was there on the new breast from the flap and the color on my other breast, But I decided to go for color anyway. I had the tattoo done in the PS office and am very happy with  the results even though it has only been a week since the tattoo.  If I had gone the route of the 3d tattoo I would have gone to a tattoo artist however.

  • narsf
    narsf Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2013

    Hi...

    I had my nipple reconstruction done about 6 weeks ago.  I am scheduled for tattooing next Friday.  I still have tiny little scabs on the very top on my nipples.  They are not big, but also not 100% healed.  Does anyone know if they need to be before having the tattooing done?  The wait for tattooing is 1 year and I really don't want to postpone it. 

    Any input would be greatly appreciated...thanks!!

  • Stix
    Stix Member Posts: 610
    edited March 2013

    I was told you have to wait 3 months from your nipple reconstruction. Mine flattened out out at about 3 months or maybe a bit longer.  But, I would wait some time. You may want them re-done if they flatten out then the tattooing will be a lost cause and you will have to have them re-tattooed anyway. 

    I have never heard of a wait being a year for tattooing- where are you getting this done?

    Vikitoria

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited March 2013

    I waited about 3 months for my tatts.

    I think she meant she had to wait a year because of scheduling. I know my PS only does them 1 Friday per month (as well as other in-office procedures). That can get booked pretty quickly.

  • CMartin
    CMartin Member Posts: 237
    edited March 2013

    I had to wait three months. The skin has to heal first.

  • HantaYo
    HantaYo Member Posts: 39
    edited March 2013

    Namaste!

    My PS said I had to wait a minimum of 3 months, possibly 6 months and that it would depend on how the scars were healing.  At 3 months he said I still needed more time so it will be closer to 6 months for me.  I would not want to put the strength of the scars in jepoardy by getting the tatoos too soon.

    Karla

  • Chris13
    Chris13 Member Posts: 112
    edited March 2013

    MY PS said yesterday to wait a month for the tatooing. Last step in this journey!

  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 1,550
    edited March 2013

    Wow, the PS point of view is all over the ballpark.  My PS said that waiting 6 months gives the ink a better shot at staying the same color through scar tissue as through skin, otherwise it can fade a bit. I have scars that will be in the areolar tattoos, so I've been patiently waiting since nipple work in December.

  • ahdjdbcjdjdbkf
    ahdjdbcjdjdbkf Member Posts: 188
    edited March 2013

    This is all so much for all of us to deal with but we are lucky to live in a time with good care and options that didn't exist before. I'm going through a bit of a mourning period over my reconstruction. I expected to look a lot better based on photos I had seen. Also, my PS told me he strongly suggests I don't do nipple reconstruction or ANY unecessary procedures on my radiated skin for the rest of my life - that my skin was very thin and damaged. I had the scar boost radiation. So, that leaves me nipple tattooing. But, I'm not even sure I want to proceed with that. I'm not happy with the appearance of my results at all so I hate to cement anything. I'm planning to live a long happy, healthy life from here out and I think I need to let this surgery settle and take a break from all of this. I found a fantastic cosmetician to help me with my nipple tattooing and scar minimization but unfortunately despite taking all the right steps I cannot get her services covered by insurance and I can't afford it. I have a friend who didn't like her results. She waited 2 years for a revision and didn't do the nipple procedures either because knowing she was going to want a revision. She is very happy now. I'm thinking of following her lead. In the meantime I need to find some shapewear that makes my chest look decent but doesn't activate my lymphedema that started 2 weeks after my exchange. yep.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited March 2013

    Mariasnow be sure to find a bra with wide straps. It really makes a difference.

  • tenaj
    tenaj Member Posts: 365
    edited March 2013

    Is there anyone who got nipples & aerola grafts & then got them tattooed? I'm almost 2 months out & everything is healing very well. I'm not sure what color they will end up, or if they need to be colored or can they be colored?? Any help would be appreciated.

  • fearlessfoot
    fearlessfoot Member Posts: 88
    edited March 2013

    Tenaj, I have one side with nipple areola graft from excess breast tissue.  I am in the process of getting it tatooed.  The aesthestician adds mineral and vegetable coloring (not ink like real tattoos) into the outer layers of skin(not as deep as real tattoos).  She does it step by step with two week intervals.  She uses some numbing cream to make sure it doesnt hurt around the outer edges where I still have some feeling.  She is blending the coloring each time to try to reach a good match to my real nipple-areola saved on the other side.   The color fades over time but doing it this way gives longer lasting results, she says.  

  • tenaj
    tenaj Member Posts: 365
    edited March 2013

    Thanks Fearless for your response. Good luck finishing up. Please post back when your done. I had both done & the skin taken from my csection scar. It's too soon to tell the color.

  • SLKsMom
    SLKsMom Member Posts: 14
    edited March 2013

    I'm getting my nipples in 6.5 hours!!! Can't wait to look normal again!

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