Nipple reconstruction
Comments
-
B123,
Mine started out with about 3/4 -1 inch projection. The amount they shrink is amazing.0 -
Carrol2 - I'll be having my 'side boobs' taken care of early next year. My PS prefers to do an excisional removal of the extra tissue rather than liposuction. For whatever reason, he feels that excising (cutting) the tissue out gives better cosmetic results. It will result in additional scars (basically extending my BMX scars further toward my back), but I have faith that they'll eventually be nearly invisible. At my BMX my PS sutured one side and my BS the other. The side my PS sutured was nearly invisible by the time I had my exchange 9 months later while the side my BS did will never be quite that unnoticeable I think.0 -
wondering what everyone has done and what they are happy with for nipples. I am going to Vinnie for sure for the tatooing, but thinking about getting small reconstruted nipples before the tatooing. I cannot decide if i should get just the tatoos or both....anyone love or not love their decision and why????? Thanks girls:)0 -
Gracie I love my nipples and my tatoos by vinnie us had a blast in Nola0 -
Julianna, good to know thanks!
Lala, your terrific! Thank you.. How did your follow up go today? I don't see why you can't sweat? Are the sutures dissolvable?0 -
by the way who is this Connie guy everyone talks about and travels to? Why is he so well known??0 -
I don't personally plan on doing nips but I wouldn't have to worry about sweat if I did. My boobs don't sweat anymore since BMX and expansion. I still sweat heavily between, above, below and to the sides of them when working out or during hot weather, but not at all above or below the scar where the skin was really stretched. I assume the sweat glands got destroyed by the trauma.
0 -
B123--- I didn't have a followup today. Don't have another till next Tues but this is the last day that he wants me to cover with gauze. I am going to quit with the gauze pad but keep putting on the cosmetic pad for a couple more weeks I think. And I actually left the nurse a message 2 days ago (and of course she hasn't called me back which is par for the course for her!) to ask about sutures. I'm pretty sure he told me mine were dissolvable but they sure don't seem to be going anywhere any time soon!! If I were to wear my stretchy Bali bra with nothing between it and my sutures, I think they'd probably snag and pull out! I want the nurse to give me her opinion. I'll let you know what she says.
And I think the person "Connie" you are referring to is Vinnie. The most amazing tattoo guy in the US! Here's a link to a video about him...
Apparently, if you want the best tattoed nips and/or areolas, he's the man! I'm trying to get an appointment with him for tattoos, hopefully this summer.
And S&S, my boob doesn't sweat either. But it's sweats all around and I think he was worried something might run down under my bandage! Much less the trauma from bouncing around!0 -
Planetbananas - Hope everything went well today! I've been thinking good thoughts for you.0 -
lala - thanks so much for the video link. It brought tears to my eyes (in a good way). Vinnie is an angel in disguise. I know I don't want nips reconstructed and am still on the fence about 3D tats but it's nice to have a face to put with his name now.0 -
lala, very frustrating when they don't call back!! And yes thank you for the link!! Nice to see who everyone is talking about! Is it pay up front kind of thing??
Sweat special, I'm scheduled for next week to do the nips but still very much on the fence too! Worried about them sticking out, sick of going through MORE surgery ( even minor) and worried about post op, I'm super busy between work/kids and can't deal with this anymore... Sorry, frustrated!!
0 -
Julianna, thanks for the article. I will have to remind PS that I am allergic to the usual antibiotic ointments. Sure enjoyed sitting by you at lunch a while back!0 -
B123 - I decided early on that I didn't want to rebuild the nips. DH is totally OK with that (and the lack of them doesn't affect his....ahem.....'interest' in m whatsoever, if you know what I mean
). For me personally, if the newly created bumps aren't going to have any sensual sensation then I don't need them. The only reason I'll end up with tats is because I decide I want the appearance of a nipple just so the new breasts aren't blank to look at. At this point I'm really OK without even a tattoo so I'm delaying that decision for now.0 -
Gracie420
I'm not sure how much turnover there is on this post, I have spoken up before, but since you asked...
I am really happy with the nipple prosthetic (www.naturallyimpressive.com) that matches my natural nipple. A 3D tattoo might be good, but wouldn't feel like a match to a natural nipple since there is no projection. Since I only have to change it every 3 to 4 weeks, it feels like part of my body. Love looking in the mirror! I could see be totally content with this option for life!
You have bilateral, so I think that would make more sense for 3D tattoos. The thing that spooks me a bit about surgical nip recon is that you never know how well it will turn out or if both sides will have similar projection etc. I was surprised to see in the link posted that only 13% of women are totally satisfied with their surgical nipple recon! Wow!! I could see getting into a whole mess of surgeries trying to get it just right.
With my NI nip, what you see is what you get and it won't change. Sometime in the future, maybe they will come up with new more dependable, stable way (that doesn't flatten) to do surgical nip recon.....with my NI nip, I have a good sense of restoration now and if there is something better down the line, I haven't burnt any bridges.
Another option, sorry if this is repetitive, would be to get the 3D tattoos and if you feel like you are missing the projection....get some Naturally Impressive nips. Then you have the best of both worlds....you could accessorize as you wish!!
If you knew for sure, that the surgical nips would turn out just right....that would be great! Wish it was more guaranteed!0 -
B123---From what I understand, Vinnie is pay up front if you go to his tattoo shop in MD. You can then file with your insurance. If you go to New Orleans, it's done in a hospital setting so they can file it for you with your insurance. His rates have supposedly recently gone up to $600 for one and $800 for two. I just need one. I debated the 3D idea for both nip and areola but decided that if I want to look "normal" when I look in the mirror, then I want to look "normal" when I look down. And, of course, having one native nipple meant I wouldn't match regardless unless I reconstructed the nip. I'm almost 2 weeks out from recon and so far love the new nip! It's barely shrunk at all (I told him not to go too big to start with) but I'm sure it will over the next month or so. For me, it's going to be about whether it shows under clothes. If it does, he said he'll just trim it down. Ok with me, it was a super easy procedure to begin with!! One needle stick, 30 minutes of chatting, and off to lunch. All for something that makes me feel 1000% better!!0 -
lala1, I am so with you on this. I am amazed every time I look in the mirror at what a difference the nipples make. I was definitely on the fence about having it done. Like others, I was sick of surgeries and just ready to put this whole thing behind me. I had to go in for a revision on the right so decided to to do the nipples at the same time. I don't think I would have gone forward with nips if it wasn't for needing the other surgery. I am so glad that I went for it. I couldn't be more pleased and just can't believe how this makes me feel emotionally (that was a surprise for me as I really didn't have strong feelings about not having nipples). I keep looking at them and thinking wow, this was worth it. Mine have a bit more shrinking to do but each day, I see changes. I called today to schedule my tattoos with Vinnie Myers in the big easy. They are now scheduling for July and August. Britney called me back within a hour of calling. I can't wait to get to this final step...maybe I will even come home with a few beads, lol.0 -
Sharing in your excitement lala and TLR!! Very happy for you. I actually felt the same way after about 1 1/2 years without a nipple...didn't really expect it would make as much difference to me as it does. I still almost giggle after showers or whenever I look in the mirror. It takes away some of the sting / reminder of the cancer. It's good that there are different ways and different timing for each of us to get there...or decide not to. I respect your patience, sweet and special and your husband kind reassurances. Takes awhile to sort out sometimes what your personal best approach is!
Dr. Khouri actually talks about making a sensate nipple. If anyone will figure out how to do it, it's him! He's a very good microsurgeon and inventive. I'm going to wait awhile until it's perfected for sure before even considering it. I really appreciate having one natural nip with sensation though.
Wondering how it works with Vinnie regarding fading? How often do they have to be touched up and how much does that cost?0 -
Monday I went into surgery for the second half of my facial cosmetic (BROW LIFT and lower eye lifts) along with my foob fat grafting and nips....dr decided while I was Under that I had been under anethesia for 6 hours and that was ENOUGH for this old body.....so another surgery in my future!
0 -
lala and TLR, yes agreed with Wisconsin, very happy for you and feel your happiness! It's very encouraging! I spoke to PS office today and said, can I know what I'm getting into and what to expect??
They said I decide size and 24 hr only, no shower.. Stitches out after few weeks.. They said its like going to dentist. I didn't realize I could shower with stitches in.
So, ok one last time, even though my 2 are a bit different sizes, I'm just going for it. Thank you ladies! Your angels!! Xo0 -
Hi I haven't posted in a while. It has been quite a year and a half. I had my nipple reconstruction today. PS used what I think are trimmed syringes for nipple protectors. The new nips look huge! but after reading posts today, I guess this is probably good due to future shrinkage... My question is, how long do folks who have had this done, recommend using the syringe shield. PS says I can shower in 2 days and just no running for 2 weeks. he actually didn't advise me about the protectors and they are not mentioned in the written post op info. I think I need to protect these puppies longer than a few days. I see PS in 2 weeks... Any suggestions are appreciated.
0 -
Vinnies rates have gone up? That is a lot.
0 -
wisconsinrandi---I think that Vinnie's tattoos will eventually fade but not near as quickly as what you get done at your PS office. My PS said my tattoos with him would need to be touched up every 3 years or so but that those done with Vinnie might last 10 years. I think you have to pay again regardless although maybe insurance would cover it again with PS.
Akler53-- I wore the nip protector for 5 days till my followup. He then had me cover with Vaseline type stuff and put a large gauze pad over it and tape it down lightly. I took it upon myself to add a couple of cotten cosmetic pads with holes cut out of the middle for extra cushioning. After one week he said I could go without anything but to add some guaze if it was uncomfortable. I have dissolvable sutures that haven't dissolved so sometimes my soft bra would snag a bit on the sutures. So, I take 2 more cosmetic pads, cut the middle out of one, layer both over the nip and take 1 long piece of tape and tape it down so it doesn't move around in my bra. Can't see the pads and it keeps it more comfortable as well as more protected. I'll do this until I don't want to do it anymore since he doesn't really care!!0 -
My ps office did not charge me for the tattoos. he said it was included in
the price. However, I got a poor match to my native side....It is poss. they may do
bil. okay. I am fair skinned and I didn't get good results. Do most PS charge for tattoos?
0 -
I haven't discussed tats with my PS except to let him know I don't want them (every time he brings it up and seems to have forgotten that I've told him this a dozen times already). Since it's part of the reconstruction process I imagine that if I did have it done it would get billed to my insurance company like the exchange surgery was. So, in a way, it's 'included', but if I don't have it done there's no charge.
When I go in for my mudflap nip-tuck next year I should probably write 'NO NIPS' on my boobs so I don't wake up with something I don't want!0 -
Has anyone had their tattoos done by Amy Black in Richmond, VA? I saw this story on the news
http://wtvr.com/2013/12/06/tattooing-nipples-and-designs-on-breast-cancer-survivors/.
Looks like she does a good job and is definitely a bit cheaper than Vinnie. I am going to be up that way this summer and can easily travel to either. I know everyone loves Vinnie but I'd love to hear from anyone that went to Amy as well. Thanks!0 -
Let us know how it goes with her...if you decide to use her...
0 -
I don't see any pictures on her website... for areolar tattooing..
0 -
thank you girltravel! sorry I haven't been on the boards lately. It turned out that my left implant needed a lot of deep reconstructive work and the plastic surgeon removed so much skin from the left side that he was able to use that skin to create my nipples. The bad part is that I have a lot of pain on the left side but the good part is I only have two incisions where they did the nipples. I go tomorrow for the unveiling and I will let everyone know how it goes and I will be posting the pictures on my blog like I said.
I can't wait to see how everything turned out and I'm so excited because I can see underneath the bandages how much more even my implants are, so I think it's worth the pain.0 -
Stix--She puts all her areola tattoing pics on her facebook page....0 -
Yes, I emailed her to ask about an areola tattoo gallery and she sent me a link to the pinkink facebook page.
0
