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Nipple reconstruction

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Comments

  • juliaanna
    juliaanna Member Posts: 575
    edited March 2013

    SKLsMom,

    Best wishes!  Hope all goes as it should for you.

  • SLKsMom
    SLKsMom Member Posts: 14
    edited March 2013

    Does anyone know how long it takes for the nipples to heal and look normal?

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

    SLKsMom, Hmmm...good question that really tests the memory!  To heal, about a month, tops, meaning that the skin is no longer red and raw looking, sutures are well gone, and the stitch lines are knitting nicely together.  Look normal--well, a lot longer, as the nipples shrink over a few months. I suppose that depends on the method the PS used, but I would say it was a good three months before my nipples stopped shrinking. Individual experiences must differ, and it's hard to remember the timeline exactly. I'm sure others will describe their experiences for you.

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited March 2013

    3 months sounds right to me too

  • tenaj
    tenaj Member Posts: 365
    edited March 2013

    Mine are 2 months & they look unbelievably real, healed & flatter than I thought. Over all I am so happy I went this way.

  • Stix
    Stix Member Posts: 610
    edited March 2013

    I don't think they ever look the way the use to. But, I would say 3 months

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

    Ok, so 'normal' takes on a whole new meaning sometimes...

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited March 2013

    well it's been 5 months since my CV flap nipple surgery bilateral. One side came out amazing it looks very natural it projects jsut like a real nipple the other side flattened out to almost nothing it's jsut a little button. The only thing that bugs me is that they look different. I imagine the tatoos will help a lot. I see my PS for a final up next week. So not sure what he will say. I think he feels like you really only get one shot at this but I don't know. The scars are fading nicely although they are still there and I don't see them ever going completely away but most of them will be covered by the tatoo.

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

    carrol2 my tattoos don't cover the scars completely because I wanted small areolae like I had before. That said the scar is barely visible. I wish my other scars looked 1/2 that good. Now that you're to far out from chemo you will be surprised how you skin heals so much better.

  • SLKsMom
    SLKsMom Member Posts: 14
    edited March 2013

    Thanks ladies! I'm 2 days post surgery. Guess I'm rushing things a little, huh? LOL I'm just soooo ready to put this all behind me. Happy Easter to everyone.

  • Stix
    Stix Member Posts: 610
    edited March 2013

    Carrol2- Maybe ask him to re-do the flattened nipple. 

    Tattoos will help if you get them 3d- I had mine by Vinnie.

  • ashleigh
    ashleigh Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2013

    Hi everyone,

    I've just been diagnosed with DCIS and have decided as I am high risk to have a BMX.  My BS is comfortable to save the nipple on the non-cancer side, but wants to remove the nipple on the affected side. My worry is that they won't be able to match the nipple should I decide to save it.  Has anyone had a unilateral nipple reconstruction and if so, were you happy with the outcome?

    I must say, I'm very much on the fence as part of me thinks it's best to take the other nipple as well to reduce my risk as much as possible and then go for either bilateral nipple reconstruction or 3D tattoos.

    Thanks so much!

  • Stix
    Stix Member Posts: 610
    edited March 2013

    HI

    I had a unilateral mastectomy with reconst.  with nipple recons and 3d tattoo by vinnie.

    The nipple flattened.  Vinnies tattoo looks good.  I know am going to have a px. mx 3 years later on the other side due to alh.  I was going to have NS; however, now am having blood nipple discharge. UGH.  I will likely have the nipple taken off with it.

    If I had to do it all over again I would have had BX MX all at once.... 

    If you don't mind the nipples flatening after reconst. and 3 d tattoo then have both nipples removed. I would also consider your age-

  • ashleigh
    ashleigh Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2013

    viktoria,

    thanks for your reply. sorry to hear you'll be having to go through the process again on the other side. it's hard - we can only make choices based on the information we have at the time.

    i'm only 30, so i feel it quite likely if i have the nipples reconstructed they'll flatten out at some point. and if that's the case, i'm wondering if i should just go straight for 3d tattooing. how long did it take before your nipple flattened out?

  • EileenKaye1
    EileenKaye1 Member Posts: 166
    edited March 2013

    I had nipple reconstruction with a tissue graft from inner thigh 6 years ago. Nipple projection was achieved with alloderm. Beautiful result, but my PS Did fill it out with a little fat grafting. Yes, it still looks great. Eileen

  • Stix
    Stix Member Posts: 610
    edited March 2013

    You r young. I am 43-41 when diagnosed.  If I was your age I would probably take both nipples. NS and reoccurence hasn't been studied that long. You have a longer life to live than myself.  Anyway, something new may come out for nipple reconstruction in the next decade.

    I think it took about 3.5 months total to flatten.... The tattoos vinnie does are amazing. But, now that I am having both off I may decide to do nipple reconstruction somewhere else- maybe NOLA then do tattoos. But, I may get sick of the whole process and just do tattoos.

    I hope that helps.

  • Stix
    Stix Member Posts: 610
    edited March 2013

    Eilleen Kay-

    Where did you get the Nipple reconst. done?

  • ashleigh
    ashleigh Member Posts: 4
    edited April 2013

    Eileen - is the alloderm pretty standard for nipple reconstruction? i am hoping to discuss this with my PS in the next day or two...

    Viktoria - yes, i am leaning towards taking it as i think it may end up being more symmetric afterwards in addition to decreasing my risk as much as i can. does vinnie's tattoo match your native nipple very well?

  • Stix
    Stix Member Posts: 610
    edited April 2013

    yes, he can match the native. But, mine was screwed up by a ps office. So he matched it all he could.  It looks good.  But, the nipple is smaller. Compared to the ps office tattoo it is one hundred percent better.

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited April 2013

    ashleigh I did not have any alloderm in my nipple surgery. MY PS uses jsut the skin at the site on the breast with a procedure called a CV flap. He kind of rolls up and stitiches down the skin. One side looks great the other got kind of flat. I would be ok with it being flat if they were both the same. Not sure what the enxt step will be.

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

    I had the same procedure as Carrol2. Mine flattened and look like button candy.

    http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/candy-crate_2254_97416770

  • NannaBaby
    NannaBaby Member Posts: 23
    edited April 2013

    I recently had my nipple done, kinda like this picture.  No skin graft needed. It was simple and takes only 3 weeks to heal.  My tattoo was done 2 months before.  The tattooist says it's much better to tattoo a flat surface. I am very happy with the result.

  • cascader
    cascader Member Posts: 152
    edited April 2013

    I will have my nipple recon next month, getting a little nervous as I am a uni and always so difficult in regards to symmetry. In my research I found this article, I thought really informative and easy to read. Thought I would share:

    http://www.mauricenahabedian.com/resources/articles/82007Nipple%20Reconstruction%20-%20ClLINICS.pdf

  • Ondagrow
    Ondagrow Member Posts: 133
    edited April 2013

    Hi All...



    DIEP Flap 2 Thursday... Which includes nipples... What can I expect...

  • mybee333
    mybee333 Member Posts: 672
    edited April 2013

    I probably should have come to this thread sooner. I believe I have a very good PS. He has an excellent reputation. I had my nipple surgery done today. I'm a uni. He did the nipple and tattooing at the same time. Has anyone else had it done this way? Of course I still have the bandage. No special follow up. Just waiting to shower and simple things. The size looks about normal now. Does that mean it's going to shrink to nothing? I peeked at it and it has the shape of a perfect nipple and seems to match the other side as far as placement. Hoping this works out. My last exchange was last June so I waited to make this decision.

  • Stix
    Stix Member Posts: 610
    edited April 2013

    It wil likely flatten some.  Mine was about 3/4 of an inch in protrusion and went flat.

    I guess it depends on his skill, how much tissue he had to work with etc.  Just wait and see. 

    Tattoos are usually recomm. 2-3 months after nipple reconst.  Not sure why this recommendation though. If you email Vinnie he could tell you

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

    Viktoria1 Some PS actually do the tattoo first but mine did wait the 3+ months.

  • ashleigh
    ashleigh Member Posts: 4
    edited April 2013

    hi everyone,

    thanks so much to everyone for sharing their experiences.  i've talked to my PS and she uses the CV flap as well, as most of you have explained. i still have some time to think about options, but have to decide by tomorrow (surgery date!) if i want them to take the nipple on the prophylactic side which i think i will. 

    NannaBaby, I'm in Ottawa as well - where did you get your tattoos done?

  • Stix
    Stix Member Posts: 610
    edited April 2013

    ashleigh,

    I am trying to decide the same thing about NS or not the the px. side. 

    If i knew that it could be reconstructed and not flatten then it would be easy to decide. 

    ps) just because you make a date for surgery doesnt mean you can't change your mind about saving the N or not. AS far as I am concerned- I can make my final decision in preop

    Viktoria

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

    Viktoria some surgeons charge if you cancel surgery. I have a feeling it might be more for cosmetic non-insurance paid surgeries though.

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