Update on "ornaments"

Clementine_P
Clementine_P Member Posts: 518 Member
edited February 2011 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi, since a couple of people expressed interest in knowing the results of nipple surgery, I thought I would post a quick update. I had my nipple flap surgery last Friday. It was easy, took about an hour, only local anestetic, and I was in the hospital's operating room (not the doctor's office). After the surgery they taped on some plastic "shapers". Today I got the shapers removed. Aside from being bruised and discolored, they look really good! The PS basically took a flap of skin (from my breast - he didn't take the skin from elsewhere on my body) and made a nub out of it and then with stitches made an areola. In about 2 months, he will tattoo them pink (before my double mastectomy he took photos of my breasts and so knows the color my nipples used to be). So, by the time I am completely through with the reconstruction, it will be almost exactly a year from when I was diagnosed. I know it is different for everyone, but I am really happy that I went forward with the reconstruction to the end. I didn't have conviction with my choice for quite some time but now seeing the almost finished product, I am thrilled. What a year!

Clementine

Comments

  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
    #2
    Just amazing what they can do now
    So, so happy you are thrilled with the results. Hope you heal beautifully.

    Hugs, Renee
  • mollyz
    mollyz Member Posts: 756 Member
    #3
    missrenee said:

    Just amazing what they can do now
    So, so happy you are thrilled with the results. Hope you heal beautifully.

    Hugs, Renee

    O my
    You had me going with the subject your Ornaments!!LOL glad everything went well. MOLLYZ
  • Clementine_P
    Clementine_P Member Posts: 518 Member
    #4
    mollyz said:

    O my
    You had me going with the subject your Ornaments!!LOL glad everything went well. MOLLYZ

    LOL
    Ha ha, sorry about that. I just couldn't bring myself to write nipples as a subject header. :)

    Clementine
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #5
    Clementine_P said:

    LOL
    Ha ha, sorry about that. I just couldn't bring myself to write nipples as a subject header. :)

    Clementine

    It is amazing what can be done for us ' Breast Cancer'
    WARRIORS ... Nipples and all. Thank you for sharing.

    Strength and Courage.

    Vicki Sam
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #6
    VickiSam said:

    It is amazing what can be done for us ' Breast Cancer'
    WARRIORS ... Nipples and all. Thank you for sharing.

    Strength and Courage.

    Vicki Sam

    Seriously, when I read the topic .. and there was a
    word ... ornament in the subject matter - I thought to myself, aha poor thing .. Christmas has passed and she want to get in on our 'Ornament' exchange... LOL ... Thanks for being a smile to my face.

    Vicki Sam
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    #7
    mollyz said:

    O my
    You had me going with the subject your Ornaments!!LOL glad everything went well. MOLLYZ

    Glad that your results are
    Glad that your results are so good! Thanks for explaining this to your pink sisters.


    Hugs, Megan
  • CandaceMM
    CandaceMM Member Posts: 68
    #8
    Megan M said:

    Glad that your results are
    Glad that your results are so good! Thanks for explaining this to your pink sisters.


    Hugs, Megan

    Awesome
    Great news Clementine! Tonight I unwrapped my two newly repaired assets. Surgery was one week ago and this week has been very rough. I've been really questioning myself and my docs. However, as of a few hours ago, they look Mahhhvelous!! I'm very pleased.
    Whew!

    So, here's a toast to us and our latest additions!

    Candace
  • Clementine_P
    Clementine_P Member Posts: 518 Member
    #9
    CandaceMM said:

    Awesome
    Great news Clementine! Tonight I unwrapped my two newly repaired assets. Surgery was one week ago and this week has been very rough. I've been really questioning myself and my docs. However, as of a few hours ago, they look Mahhhvelous!! I'm very pleased.
    Whew!

    So, here's a toast to us and our latest additions!

    Candace

    Yay!
    Candace, I am so happy to hear that you are happy with your new assets as well! I was worried about you this week when you had said the trouble you had had.

    I'll drink to your toast any day. Um, amaretto sour, anyone? :)
  • pinkkari09
    pinkkari09 Member Posts: 877
    #10
    Congrats Clementine!! So
    Congrats Clementine!! So happy your new additions are shaping up nicely :)
    Miles of Love,
    ~Kari
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #11
    Clementine_P said:

    LOL
    Ha ha, sorry about that. I just couldn't bring myself to write nipples as a subject header. :)

    Clementine

    LOL Clementine! Wishing you
    LOL Clementine! Wishing you good luck and keep posting to update us!

    Hugs, Kylez
  • jo jo
    jo jo Member Posts: 1,175 Member
    #12
    Hi Clementine
    Im glad your
    Hi Clementine
    Im glad your happy with your results. I was wondering how most of them turn out cuz really havent heard alot of good news about it. I have been doing some research on nip reconstruction cuz i am approaching that stage as soon as my implants even out. Yet i decided i dont want any skin graphs and it seems talking with my PS about it theres really no getting around it so i may be just going to be getting the 3D tattooing. Im undecided right now on what to do but hearing positive things about it is a good thing for me to concider.
  • Clementine_P
    Clementine_P Member Posts: 518 Member
    #13
    jo jo said:

    Hi Clementine
    Im glad your
    Hi Clementine
    Im glad your happy with your results. I was wondering how most of them turn out cuz really havent heard alot of good news about it. I have been doing some research on nip reconstruction cuz i am approaching that stage as soon as my implants even out. Yet i decided i dont want any skin graphs and it seems talking with my PS about it theres really no getting around it so i may be just going to be getting the 3D tattooing. Im undecided right now on what to do but hearing positive things about it is a good thing for me to concider.

    Don't know how
    to send a Private Message, JoJo, but am happy to discuss further if you want more info. My plastic surgeon even has before and after pix on his website (I feel like I am sounding like a salesman!). Anyway, I am happy to answer any questions if you PM me, or I can call you to chat if you would rather do it that way. Either way I hope that whatever you choose to do that you are very happy with the outcome! More than anything, it is good to just feel like we are in the home stretch for now (*knock on wood* I don't want to tempt the fates!).
  • jo jo
    jo jo Member Posts: 1,175 Member
    #14
    Clementine_P said:

    Don't know how
    to send a Private Message, JoJo, but am happy to discuss further if you want more info. My plastic surgeon even has before and after pix on his website (I feel like I am sounding like a salesman!). Anyway, I am happy to answer any questions if you PM me, or I can call you to chat if you would rather do it that way. Either way I hope that whatever you choose to do that you are very happy with the outcome! More than anything, it is good to just feel like we are in the home stretch for now (*knock on wood* I don't want to tempt the fates!).

    I sent you a PM and by the
    I sent you a PM and by the way i love your pic...where was it taken. I will be so jealous if you tell me in Africa on a safari...always wanted to do that.
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #15
    jo jo said:

    I sent you a PM and by the
    I sent you a PM and by the way i love your pic...where was it taken. I will be so jealous if you tell me in Africa on a safari...always wanted to do that.

    I'm still stalking ... each and every topic with any posting
    relating to nipples, and tattoo's. While its been 4 months since my 'lift', right breast dropped ... I feel that 8 major surgeries in 13 months was a bit much, so here I stand or sit .. waiting, stalking ... no decision on to 'nipple' or not.

    Thanks for sharing your experiences, good, bad or ugly.

    Strength and Courage,

    Vicki Sam
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #16
    jo jo said:

    Hi Clementine
    Im glad your
    Hi Clementine
    Im glad your happy with your results. I was wondering how most of them turn out cuz really havent heard alot of good news about it. I have been doing some research on nip reconstruction cuz i am approaching that stage as soon as my implants even out. Yet i decided i dont want any skin graphs and it seems talking with my PS about it theres really no getting around it so i may be just going to be getting the 3D tattooing. Im undecided right now on what to do but hearing positive things about it is a good thing for me to concider.

    Yippee for your results!
    Yippee for your results! Isn't it amazing what the doctors can do? Very happy for you!


    Hugs, Diane
  • Clementine_P
    Clementine_P Member Posts: 518 Member
    #17
    jo jo said:

    I sent you a PM and by the
    I sent you a PM and by the way i love your pic...where was it taken. I will be so jealous if you tell me in Africa on a safari...always wanted to do that.

    Welllll, I have to admit, it was in Africa on a safari
    It was last year for my 40th birthday. I swear, if there is any way you can get there, you have to do it! Pretty much the most amazing vacation I have ever had. When that elephant put her trunk on my shoulder I almost died of fright at first thinking I was about to be pummeled to death (LOL!!!) but then I realized that she was just being my friend. So incredible! I love that picture now, as it just floods back memories of that great trip. :)
  • Different Ballgame
    Different Ballgame Member Posts: 868
    #18
    Something for you to consider
    Dear Clementine,

    FYI the tattooing can lessen in color as the years progress. Insurance will pay to your tattoos redone within one year at no cost to you. After one year, it would cost you $500 per breast per tattoo (at least that is what it would cost me,) I had them redone just before the year was up because I wanted the color to last many years. So...consider going a little darker than what your normal color was so it will last many years (since it fades over time).

    The nipples and the tattoos make a hugh difference in how the reconstructed breasts look. I am so happy that I did it all the way!!!!

    Lots of Hugs,
    Janelle
  • jo jo
    jo jo Member Posts: 1,175 Member
    #19
    Clementine_P said:

    Welllll, I have to admit, it was in Africa on a safari
    It was last year for my 40th birthday. I swear, if there is any way you can get there, you have to do it! Pretty much the most amazing vacation I have ever had. When that elephant put her trunk on my shoulder I almost died of fright at first thinking I was about to be pummeled to death (LOL!!!) but then I realized that she was just being my friend. So incredible! I love that picture now, as it just floods back memories of that great trip. :)

    That is sooo awesome
    That is sooo awesome Clementine and to be that close to wild animals instead of ones behind bars at the zoo...it just couldnt be the same. I would love to do that and some day im going too. Theres alot id like to do and go see...kinda like the 1000 places to do or places to go before you die... Diffenately on the top 10 list!
  • Clementine_P
    Clementine_P Member Posts: 518 Member
    #20
    Different Ballgame said:

    Something for you to consider
    Dear Clementine,

    FYI the tattooing can lessen in color as the years progress. Insurance will pay to your tattoos redone within one year at no cost to you. After one year, it would cost you $500 per breast per tattoo (at least that is what it would cost me,) I had them redone just before the year was up because I wanted the color to last many years. So...consider going a little darker than what your normal color was so it will last many years (since it fades over time).

    The nipples and the tattoos make a hugh difference in how the reconstructed breasts look. I am so happy that I did it all the way!!!!

    Lots of Hugs,
    Janelle

    Thank you very much, Janelle!
    I will definitely bring that up to my PS when I see him next. $500 per breast??? WOW, that is incredible. I feel like I could go to a tattoo parlor in Times Square and get it for like $50 per breast. Ha ha. Seriously, though thank you very much, that is going to be very valuable advice, I am sure. So glad you like your outcome as well!

    xoxo,
    Clementine

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