Nipple reconstruction
Comments
-
I have had a very long recon process due to an infection aquired at the hospital that made me lose the nipples from a NSM. I had my original surgery 12/29/2009. 10 surgeries later I am ready for tattoos. I do have nipples now. MY PS used skin taken from my hips to create new areolas and nipples. I am going to Vinnie to have it done on August 22nd! I can't believe I am finally at this point. There is a gentleman that does it at Northwestern and I saw his work and it looked great but I have had my heart set on Vinnie for 3 years so going to incur the cost. My nipples shrank like they all do, but if I am braless you can see that I have them. I am going to his Baltimore location to have it done.
Pegs- due to the mess up from my surgery I had no nipples but areolas. Very lopsided as far as location and also shape. One almost full and the other really distorted. My PS moved the one up twice to be symmetrical. Then when he took skin from the hips he likened it to "sanding the existing areolas to get the new skin to stick" kind of thing. I am symmetrical and feel so much more normal. So almost 4 years from start to finish and 10 surgeries, PICC line 6.5 weeks of 2 different antibiotics multiple complications in all surgeries except three. Hang in there you will get there!
0 -
Rachel, my thoughts also. I've been struggling with the decision to do nips or not. I'm scheduled for 6/24, just after you. This will be my 4th attempt (various reasons) at getting this done. Hope I'm happy with the decision but I just decided to make one and I'm getting them. Keep in touch and let me know how you are doing.
Jenny
0 -
How do all you Uni MX girls feel about nip recon? Will I have a likely chance of one "always on" and one "sometimes on"? I will wear a bra regardless as they aren't perfectly symmetrical, I just want to know that my bra won't let the recon nip show through. Thoughts?
0 -
lala1, I am a uni also and just had nipple recon 5 weeks ago. Not sure yet how that is going to work as it still is healing and I am supposed to protect it for another couple of weeks. Maybe someone further down the road can answer this better?
0 -
Here's another tattoo question. I was looking at various websites by 3D tattoo resources that do nipples, and one mentions that rarely, the iron in tattoo ink causes problems in an MRI. It's not out of the question that I would have an MRI in the future. It seems remote, but possible, as recurrence after mx is not zero risk. Has anyone had a discussion with an MD, surgeon or tattoo artist about this?
0 -
I remember reading on a medical site (Mayo??) that tattoos can cause MRI issues. I think they can heat up or cause blurry images but definitely not on everyone who has a tattoo. They do ask if you have a tattoo when you're having an MRI. I believe knowing in advance enables them to tell you what to watch out for during the MRI. I don't really know if I'd have enough sensation in the area to be able to feel them heating up, but I can only assume they have done this many many times on breast cancer patients with tattoos so I'm not overly worried. When my time comes for an MRI, I would want to have it done at the cancer center just so they are very experienced with this.
0 -
From what I have researched they haven't put metal in tattoo ink for 20 years. The issue is yes tattoos can interfere with imaging but it depends on the location of the tattoo.
0 -
I'm a uni with nip recon. my lifted side nip shows through non lined bras but my new nip flatten out so much it cannot be seen through my clothing.
0 -
I am also a uni. My new nip is still a baby; only 10 wks. old
It definitely shows through clothes but not with a lightly lined bra. I'm pretty certain it's going to shrink/flatten some more. I do feel a little more 'complete' with it but I believe this is individual preference. 0 -
Mybee, how long did you protect it? Mine is 5 weeks old and still healing.
0 -
I stopped at two mos. only because I forgot one day and it felt good not to tape it. That was about a week ago. The PS didn't give me any guidelines, which is typical of that practice. I'm wondering what others were advised myself.
0 -
from what I have 3 heard... tattoos only cause problems with MRI's during the first
3 months before they are healed
0 -
Hi ladies,
I have a nip surgery (uni) scheduled next week and am trying to learn how things go with this one. I see that people are "protecting" nipples. How are you doing this? Is there some kind of product out there??
0 -
Hi kurorin, I had uni nip recon 6 weeks ago. I think every PS is different in what they recommend . Mine gave me a small plastic dome( think Tupperware ) that really works great and stays hidden. The only challenge I am having is the tape to hold it in place is irritating. I read somewhere here about cutting a hole in a round makeup sponge , so I tried it and that works for me during the day, no tape necessary. I plan on protecting it for 2 more weeks then hopefully I have the ok to go without. Good luck !
0 -
I'm so excited!!! Getting my nipples July 2nd. I've waited so long for this.
0 -
Cascader: thank you~ My doctor told me I will have a cone shaped object that would remind me of Madonna (Vogue) for a few days until he sees me for a followup, but he didn't say anthing about how to care for it yet... My skin reacts horribly to adhesives, so a makeup sponge sounds like something I should try. Thanks again.
cat24: Congrats! I hope they will come out great
0 -
If the sponge does not work for some reason, try nipple guards for nursing moms. I cut off the perforated part meant for the baby's mouth, leaving a raised ring of protection. The guard is silicone and soft and stays in place remarkably well. I wrapped a bit of gauze around the tip to smoothe it out under my bra and everything stayed in place and was not noticeable at all, and protected the nipple for weeks, no adhesive or tape required.
0 -
Great idea Carol! The only after care instructions for me other than protection was to keep ointment on it. Not sure for how long. Kurorin your dog looks exactly like mine!
0 -
It just occurred to me that I did not have areola grafts, just nipples, so the nursing protectors covered what I needed them to, but I am not sure they would work if a person also had areola grafts. But for my needs, they worked incredibly well and were quite comfortable.
0 -
fyi my docotr gave me the silicone like traffic cones and i ahd to wear them for about 2 months. as soonas i took them off the nipples flattened out. i dont know if maybe i should ahve worn them longer. ones side looks ok slthough very small and the other is very flat.
but in my very thin soma pajama top my husband looks over and says your nips are showing lol. Felt like old times lol
0 -
Ladies, thank you for the great info~
Cascader; my dog, Kuro, came from a dog shelter and the weren't sure what he was mixed with. What is yours?
0 -
I forgot to check back, but thanks for the responses. I had mine done yesterday - he kept them very small like I asked, but now I'm afraid they'll completely flatten! Oh well. Oddly, my PS didn't even keep them covered, and I have no restrictions. I called the nurse today and she said just don't wear anything that will be too compressing, and suggested that if I want, I can put panty liners inside my bra if I want the extra padding. Everyone else I heard from had to wear guards or were wrapped for weeks.
That said, for my other two surgeries (first recon and then exchange), I was out of the wrapping in no time, into the shower almost right away, and the results have been great, so I just keep trusting him.
I was SOOOOOO happy to peek at the new girls yesterday under the gown. I almost cried - they look super!
0 -
rachelvk, that is great, congratulations!I too like seeing a nipple. Interesting the different doc protocols. I am 7 weeks post nip recon today and still wearing the protector dome. I had a C-V flap, I wonder if the method used to create the nipple makes a difference in aftercare ??
Kurorin, I am not really sure, she thinks she is a purebread black lab so we dont tell her that she isn't
,I sometimes think I see Rottweiler and even Australian Shepard in her. We got her a 6months old, was headed to the pound, she is 8 now and has been prematurely grey for awhile now.
0 -
I recently had an MRI and as far as the tattooing goes, the tech told me they were only concerned about "prison" tattoes. I had asked because I have a large tattoo on my back.
0 -
Had my consult for new nipple and areola tatoo. I had a partial mastectomy so lost them, but not much more tissue. No need for more reconstruction than nipple. The PS does both in the same surgery. Greatful for that because I was dreading the tatoo. I'm a whimp with medical and dental procedures. She was trained as an artist before going into medicine, so knows how to blend pigment for a better result and she will be using permanent tatoo ink. My only worry is being allergic to the ink. I have problems with dyes, but not the blue used in SLN surgery. Surgery will be in a month.
Happy to finally have a female BC related doctor for once. BS, MO, RO, and opthalmologists have all been men.
0 -
Doxie the tattoo was much easier than any dental procedure I ever had including cleaning! As long as you aren't allergic you should be OK>
0 -
rachelvk congratulations on your new nips. My PS was similar to yours in his after care instructions, no restrictions. I used some rolled up gauze around the nip for a few days. Once it healed I did not put anything. I am a uni so I was worried about it flattening too much. It did get smaller but it is visible under unlined bras. Overall I am happy with the size.
0 -
Rachel - my PS was just like your's. I didn't have any restrictions or coverings. Mine are flatter than I envisioned they would be, but look so much better than without. I had mine done at end of March. They don't seem to have flattened out any since that first week.
0 -
Logo,
I'm glad doing the surgery and tattoo at the same time cuts out one more visit/procedure. Seem to be going to a dr of some kind almost once a week this summer.0 -
Surgery today! Finally got it done. Can't wait to see in one week at post op visit.
Jenny0
