Nipple Reconstruction

ssfoine
ssfoine Member Posts: 25
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Has anyone had nipples reconstructed through grafting? My surgery for this is on August 10th and Im scared. The plastic surgeon is grafting skin from my inner thigh. He claims I will be down for a week following the surgery. I am getting more scared as the day creeps closer.
Pray for me.
Sandy

Comments

  • cruf
    cruf Member Posts: 908
    Hi Sandy. I had 1 nipple reconstructed but he took the tissue from the breast so I had no problems elsewhere. He made the nipple a bit too large so in June I had it made smaller. It's still bigger than the other one but he says it wioll still shrink. Thurs., I go for my tatoo, then, hopefully, I'm done. Had 5 surgeries and tatoo. This is a breeze compaired to what you've already been through. Good luck! Keep in touch! Cathy
  • cruf
    cruf Member Posts: 908
    Hi Sandy. I had 1 nipple reconstructed but he took the tissue from the breast so I had no problems elsewhere. He made the nipple a bit too large so in June I had it made smaller. It's still bigger than the other one but he says it wioll still shrink. Thurs., I go for my tatoo, then, hopefully, I'm done. Had 5 surgeries and tatoo. This is a breeze compaired to what you've already been through. Good luck! Keep in touch! Cathy
  • ssfoine
    ssfoine Member Posts: 25
    cruf said:

    Hi Sandy. I had 1 nipple reconstructed but he took the tissue from the breast so I had no problems elsewhere. He made the nipple a bit too large so in June I had it made smaller. It's still bigger than the other one but he says it wioll still shrink. Thurs., I go for my tatoo, then, hopefully, I'm done. Had 5 surgeries and tatoo. This is a breeze compaired to what you've already been through. Good luck! Keep in touch! Cathy

    Thank You Cathy. Its been a long drawn out affair. This will be my 8th surgery and I hope it is the last one.
    I will keep you informed.
    Sandy
  • blackbandana
    blackbandana Member Posts: 64
    Hi Sandy, I've just had my nipple reconstructed last Monday (16th), I was at the Dr's last night to have the stitches removed.... and was quite taken aback when I saw it.. it look's so good... now I know the swelling and bit's are still there, but in about another month or so it will look great. Good luck with your surgery... there's nothing to be scared of... look at it this way... this is like getting the icing put on a very beautiful cake. Take care.
  • ssfoine
    ssfoine Member Posts: 25

    Hi Sandy, I've just had my nipple reconstructed last Monday (16th), I was at the Dr's last night to have the stitches removed.... and was quite taken aback when I saw it.. it look's so good... now I know the swelling and bit's are still there, but in about another month or so it will look great. Good luck with your surgery... there's nothing to be scared of... look at it this way... this is like getting the icing put on a very beautiful cake. Take care.

    Thanks for your reply. Did you have Grafting involved?
  • This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • ssfoine
    ssfoine Member Posts: 25
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Thank you .
    Email me
    SSfoine@aol.com
  • steph
    steph Member Posts: 3
    Sandy,

    I had nipple reconstruction with full thickness skin grafts, and it really was a breeze -- the easiest surgery I've had. The plastic surgeon took the grafts from the "bend" where the torso & legs connect. I had it done from/for both sides. I was very scared too & thought that the pain would be terrible, but it wasn't. I barely needed the pain pills after the first few days, and really only used them for discomfort & itching rather than pain. I have saline implants & the nipples really helped them look more like breasts. Don't stress over it -- it's not bad. I had the nipples done last September, and I don't ever notice the loss of skin there. My hubby was afraid I'd hurt from the grafts, but I never have --but for the scars down there I'd never notice I had it done. I was told to "tan" the nipples/aerola next & now they have a good natural color. The doc said if I want them perfectly colored, I could have them touched up with a tattoo.

    I'll keep you in my prayers on the 10th,
    Stephanie
  • ssfoine
    ssfoine Member Posts: 25
    steph said:

    Sandy,

    I had nipple reconstruction with full thickness skin grafts, and it really was a breeze -- the easiest surgery I've had. The plastic surgeon took the grafts from the "bend" where the torso & legs connect. I had it done from/for both sides. I was very scared too & thought that the pain would be terrible, but it wasn't. I barely needed the pain pills after the first few days, and really only used them for discomfort & itching rather than pain. I have saline implants & the nipples really helped them look more like breasts. Don't stress over it -- it's not bad. I had the nipples done last September, and I don't ever notice the loss of skin there. My hubby was afraid I'd hurt from the grafts, but I never have --but for the scars down there I'd never notice I had it done. I was told to "tan" the nipples/aerola next & now they have a good natural color. The doc said if I want them perfectly colored, I could have them touched up with a tattoo.

    I'll keep you in my prayers on the 10th,
    Stephanie

    Gee Thanks Stephanie. You have eased my fears. Im scheduled for the surgery on Aug 10th..
    Email me at SSfoine@aol.com
  • Pink755
    Pink755 Member Posts: 16
    steph said:

    Sandy,

    I had nipple reconstruction with full thickness skin grafts, and it really was a breeze -- the easiest surgery I've had. The plastic surgeon took the grafts from the "bend" where the torso & legs connect. I had it done from/for both sides. I was very scared too & thought that the pain would be terrible, but it wasn't. I barely needed the pain pills after the first few days, and really only used them for discomfort & itching rather than pain. I have saline implants & the nipples really helped them look more like breasts. Don't stress over it -- it's not bad. I had the nipples done last September, and I don't ever notice the loss of skin there. My hubby was afraid I'd hurt from the grafts, but I never have --but for the scars down there I'd never notice I had it done. I was told to "tan" the nipples/aerola next & now they have a good natural color. The doc said if I want them perfectly colored, I could have them touched up with a tattoo.

    I'll keep you in my prayers on the 10th,
    Stephanie

    Nipple Reconstruction
    This may sound like a crazy question but.. with nipple reconstruction and skin grafts is the nipple permanently erect? I need to decide which nipple surgery to have. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
  • Clementine_P
    Clementine_P Member Posts: 518 Member
    Pink755 said:

    Nipple Reconstruction
    This may sound like a crazy question but.. with nipple reconstruction and skin grafts is the nipple permanently erect? I need to decide which nipple surgery to have. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

    I didn't have the skin graft nipple surgery
    but instead had the Local flap (with no skin grafting) and tattooing. The nipple is raised, in my case, only slightly. You cannot see it through shirts at all - even if you are not wearing a bra.

    Clementine
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    Pink755 said:

    Nipple Reconstruction
    This may sound like a crazy question but.. with nipple reconstruction and skin grafts is the nipple permanently erect? I need to decide which nipple surgery to have. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

    Nipple visible
    Hi Pink, I am quite pleased with my nipple recon and skin graft. The nipple is small (my natural one is small as well so he made it to match) and it does show through a blouse but only slightly and looks quite natural. Since it is not the real thing it does not react to cold as the natural one does. My graft was taken from my belly below my belly button and above the hair line. Once it all healed the color was a good match with the other side so nothing more needed to be done. Hope this helps you.

    RE
  • Pink755
    Pink755 Member Posts: 16
    RE said:

    Nipple visible
    Hi Pink, I am quite pleased with my nipple recon and skin graft. The nipple is small (my natural one is small as well so he made it to match) and it does show through a blouse but only slightly and looks quite natural. Since it is not the real thing it does not react to cold as the natural one does. My graft was taken from my belly below my belly button and above the hair line. Once it all healed the color was a good match with the other side so nothing more needed to be done. Hope this helps you.

    RE

    Nipple Reconstruction
    Thank you. How long was the recovery period?
    Pink
  • lab44
    lab44 Member Posts: 2
    RE said:

    Nipple visible
    Hi Pink, I am quite pleased with my nipple recon and skin graft. The nipple is small (my natural one is small as well so he made it to match) and it does show through a blouse but only slightly and looks quite natural. Since it is not the real thing it does not react to cold as the natural one does. My graft was taken from my belly below my belly button and above the hair line. Once it all healed the color was a good match with the other side so nothing more needed to be done. Hope this helps you.

    RE

    nipple reconstruction
    Hi:
    I'm having my nipple reconstruction done w/skin from my abdomen in a couple of weeks. Wanted to find out how your recovery was and any tips you might be able to give me. Also, are you satisfied with the results?
    Many, many thanks!
  • lab44
    lab44 Member Posts: 2
    RE said:

    Nipple visible
    Hi Pink, I am quite pleased with my nipple recon and skin graft. The nipple is small (my natural one is small as well so he made it to match) and it does show through a blouse but only slightly and looks quite natural. Since it is not the real thing it does not react to cold as the natural one does. My graft was taken from my belly below my belly button and above the hair line. Once it all healed the color was a good match with the other side so nothing more needed to be done. Hope this helps you.

    RE

    nipple reconstruction
    Hi:
    I'm having my nipple reconstruction done w/skin from my abdomen in a couple of weeks. Wanted to find out how your recovery was and any tips you might be able to give me. Also, are you satisfied with the results?
    Many, many thanks!
  • butterfly222
    butterfly222 Member Posts: 3
    lab44 said:

    nipple reconstruction
    Hi:
    I'm having my nipple reconstruction done w/skin from my abdomen in a couple of weeks. Wanted to find out how your recovery was and any tips you might be able to give me. Also, are you satisfied with the results?
    Many, many thanks!

    Nipple reconstruction

    Hello,

      I too am having the same procedure but in March 2013.  do you have any advice and I hope all went well.

  • butterfly222
    butterfly222 Member Posts: 3
    lab44 said:

    nipple reconstruction
    Hi:
    I'm having my nipple reconstruction done w/skin from my abdomen in a couple of weeks. Wanted to find out how your recovery was and any tips you might be able to give me. Also, are you satisfied with the results?
    Many, many thanks!

    Nipple reconstruction

    Hello,

      I too am having the same procedure but in March 2013.  do you have any advice and I hope all went well.

  • butterfly222
    butterfly222 Member Posts: 3
    lab44 said:

    nipple reconstruction
    Hi:
    I'm having my nipple reconstruction done w/skin from my abdomen in a couple of weeks. Wanted to find out how your recovery was and any tips you might be able to give me. Also, are you satisfied with the results?
    Many, many thanks!

    Nipple reconstruction

    Hello,

      I too am having the same procedure but in March 2013.  do you have any advice and I hope all went well.