RECONSTUCTION RE IS HAVING HOPEFULLY ONE FINAL SURGERY

RE
RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Today I went to see my reconstruction surgeon so we could evaluate how things are coming along (notice I said “WE”). Well if you have followed my other reconstruction posts you will recall he and I had discussed some sanding (remember the car ref) to smooth a few rough edges out. Now in addition to that I wanted to know what is needed to reconstruct a nipple and areola for my new breast. He said it is a pretty simple thing to do, but it does involve grafting from the lower area of my belly (don’t worry I have enough to spare). This skin is circular and it is grafted around the nipple and skin and bandages will be sutured into me around the new nipple he will create for me. I was told that sometimes this type of graft will darken on its own and look quite natural so tattooing will not be needed, we shall see. In addition to that I have noticed that when I lay down the new breast tends to slide a bit to the side (how odd is that). He stated that that sometimes occurs with big breasted women (trust me I was not that big breasted) so he is going to go in while he is doing all this other stuff and resucture that side to reinforce it to better stay where it is supposed to be which will help it to better stay where it is supposed to be. The whole thing should take a little over two hours. I do not have a date yet but it will be soon, I’ll keep you all updated.

Hugs to all,

RE
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Comments

  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #2
    Hey
    Re, that sounds like a plan. A confusing and complicated one, but, a good plan. I know Ohilly finally got her nipple and tatooing done and was so happy with it. Your surgeon sounds like he knows what he is doing. 2 hours doesn't sound bad for all of that. Yes, let us know when you have a date. We will be praying and waiting to hear the good news that you are out of surgery! Thanks for letting us know.

    Lex♥
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #3
    Alexis F said:

    Hey
    Re, that sounds like a plan. A confusing and complicated one, but, a good plan. I know Ohilly finally got her nipple and tatooing done and was so happy with it. Your surgeon sounds like he knows what he is doing. 2 hours doesn't sound bad for all of that. Yes, let us know when you have a date. We will be praying and waiting to hear the good news that you are out of surgery! Thanks for letting us know.

    Lex♥

    Hi I am new here, but, I
    Hi I am new here, but, I wanted to wish you good luck with your upcoming surgery. And, to tell you what a beautiful baby you have. Just looking at that pic makes me smile.

    Sue :)
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    #4
    Ritzy said:

    Hi I am new here, but, I
    Hi I am new here, but, I wanted to wish you good luck with your upcoming surgery. And, to tell you what a beautiful baby you have. Just looking at that pic makes me smile.

    Sue :)

    :-) :-) :-) :-) ;-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
    Thank you Ritzy, she is my newest grand one and she is a joy!!!! I love your dancing Garfield. This will be surgery number three on the reconstruction road and it should be the last, as usual I will keep you all posted.

    RE
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    #5
    Whew....
    Didn't realize so much was involved to get a nipple! This is what went through my head about reconstructing a nipple the simple way.....they took suctures and did a basting stitch in a circle where they wanted the nipple to be, both ways, then pulled tight together to pucker it, and let it heal like that! Of course, everything in my head is simple!! ♥ Pammy
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    #6
    Akiss4me said:

    Whew....
    Didn't realize so much was involved to get a nipple! This is what went through my head about reconstructing a nipple the simple way.....they took suctures and did a basting stitch in a circle where they wanted the nipple to be, both ways, then pulled tight together to pucker it, and let it heal like that! Of course, everything in my head is simple!! ♥ Pammy

    Hi Pammy
    Yes, I figured since I have gone this far I might as well finish it and get the best results possible for me. I will be glad when it is all done.

    Hugs,

    RE
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #7
    RE said:

    :-) :-) :-) :-) ;-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
    Thank you Ritzy, she is my newest grand one and she is a joy!!!! I love your dancing Garfield. This will be surgery number three on the reconstruction road and it should be the last, as usual I will keep you all posted.

    RE

    Well, she is beautiful! She
    Well, she is beautiful! She looks like she loves her bathtime. A darling granddaughter!

    Glad to hear that this will be the end of your reconstruction. I bet you can't wait.

    Glad you like my Dancing Garfield! Thanks!

    Sue :)
  • GreeneyedGirl
    GreeneyedGirl Member Posts: 1,077
    #8
    RE said:

    Hi Pammy
    Yes, I figured since I have gone this far I might as well finish it and get the best results possible for me. I will be glad when it is all done.

    Hugs,

    RE

    I'm thinking of you~
    ~you got alot goin' on there RE. But it sounds like you and your doctor discussed it all in detail. Keep us posted. It does feel good when it is all done and over with.
    Melanie
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    #9
    GreeneyedGirl said:

    I'm thinking of you~
    ~you got alot goin' on there RE. But it sounds like you and your doctor discussed it all in detail. Keep us posted. It does feel good when it is all done and over with.
    Melanie

    :-)
    Thank you Melanie, I truly appreciate the positive words you give. It won't be much longer, they will prob. schedule it within the next two weeks. My doc says it is not too invasive so the recoup time should be no greater than 3 weeks and more like 2 so here we go again!

    RE
  • tommaseena
    tommaseena Member Posts: 1,769
    #10
    RE said:

    :-)
    Thank you Melanie, I truly appreciate the positive words you give. It won't be much longer, they will prob. schedule it within the next two weeks. My doc says it is not too invasive so the recoup time should be no greater than 3 weeks and more like 2 so here we go again!

    RE

    Meeting with mine
    I am meeting with my plastic surgeon on 9/9 to see when the exchange surgery will be. I was told 3 months after chemo treatment so maybe end of October or early November. I want to get it done before 2010 so I won't have to meet another deductible and right now my insurance is paying 100% since I met my out of pocket for this year.

    Good luck to you RE!

    Hugs,
    Margo
  • lolad
    lolad Member Posts: 670
    #11
    tommaseena said:

    Meeting with mine
    I am meeting with my plastic surgeon on 9/9 to see when the exchange surgery will be. I was told 3 months after chemo treatment so maybe end of October or early November. I want to get it done before 2010 so I won't have to meet another deductible and right now my insurance is paying 100% since I met my out of pocket for this year.

    Good luck to you RE!

    Hugs,
    Margo

    Im glad things are moving along good for you. Good luck to ya

    laura
  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    #12
    Wow, RE
    You are amazing. I appreciate your sharing your journey...as you know, I am following you! Best wishes for one last uneventful surgery and a quick recovery. xoxoxoxo Lynn
  • Jeanne D
    Jeanne D Member Posts: 1,867
    #13
    lynn1950 said:

    Wow, RE
    You are amazing. I appreciate your sharing your journey...as you know, I am following you! Best wishes for one last uneventful surgery and a quick recovery. xoxoxoxo Lynn

    Sweet RE ♥
    This will be your last phase of the reconstruction! So happy for you! Please let us know the date when you find out. I will pray for a successful surgery and a quick recovery for you!

    Love, Jeanne ♥
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #14
    Jeanne D said:

    Sweet RE ♥
    This will be your last phase of the reconstruction! So happy for you! Please let us know the date when you find out. I will pray for a successful surgery and a quick recovery for you!

    Love, Jeanne ♥

    You go girl!
    Re, happy to see that everything is moving along for you and that soon you will be finished with your surgery! I know how happy you were when you first had it done! Let us know what the date is!

    ♥ Noel
  • dbs1673
    dbs1673 Member Posts: 203
    #15
    Sharing info
    Thanks for the update Re. So much to consider. I had my expanders removed in April with silicone implants. Had some rippling problems so had them redone 2 weeks ago. I'm much happier with the results. I was small to begin with but it seems a little more volume helped this time. I am so conflicted about the nipples. Maybe it's just too soon to think of another proceedure right now even though it wouldn't be for months until my new girls are ready. I know they will never be "twins" but I do want them to be good "bosom buddies". It's been 15 months since this started and I never would have guessed the saga would be this long. Then again, maybe getting the nipples is just the "period" I need to end this story.

    dawn
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #16
    dbs1673 said:

    Sharing info
    Thanks for the update Re. So much to consider. I had my expanders removed in April with silicone implants. Had some rippling problems so had them redone 2 weeks ago. I'm much happier with the results. I was small to begin with but it seems a little more volume helped this time. I am so conflicted about the nipples. Maybe it's just too soon to think of another proceedure right now even though it wouldn't be for months until my new girls are ready. I know they will never be "twins" but I do want them to be good "bosom buddies". It's been 15 months since this started and I never would have guessed the saga would be this long. Then again, maybe getting the nipples is just the "period" I need to end this story.

    dawn

    Good luck with your upcoming
    Good luck with your upcoming surgery Re!
  • taleena
    taleena Member Posts: 1,612 Member
    #17
    dbs1673 said:

    Sharing info
    Thanks for the update Re. So much to consider. I had my expanders removed in April with silicone implants. Had some rippling problems so had them redone 2 weeks ago. I'm much happier with the results. I was small to begin with but it seems a little more volume helped this time. I am so conflicted about the nipples. Maybe it's just too soon to think of another proceedure right now even though it wouldn't be for months until my new girls are ready. I know they will never be "twins" but I do want them to be good "bosom buddies". It's been 15 months since this started and I never would have guessed the saga would be this long. Then again, maybe getting the nipples is just the "period" I need to end this story.

    dawn

    RE... wishing you my friend the best... wow ... after all you have been through to reach the final surgery... do keep us posted on when they finally schedule you for it... I will be thinking of you.

    ♥ & hugs,

    ~T
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159 Member
    #18
    Hooray!! It does indeed
    Hooray!! It does indeed sound like a plan! I was just going to say, being as I am such a giving person, if you'd like, I will GLADLY donate my excess tummy skin for your grafting. No need you having to go through more than the breast surgery, please, please, let me! LOL You sent me such beautiful earrings to get me through my Dr appointments; it is the very least I can do for you! LOL

    Hugs,
    Chen♥
  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    #19
    taleena said:

    RE... wishing you my friend the best... wow ... after all you have been through to reach the final surgery... do keep us posted on when they finally schedule you for it... I will be thinking of you.

    ♥ & hugs,

    ~T

    In my prayers RE ☻
    You are right there at the finish line RE. I am so very, very happy for you! Let's get this done!

    Kristin ♥
  • chickad52
    chickad52 Member Posts: 497
    #20
    Happy for you that this is almost over for you. Good Luck with the final surgery. Hugs , Diane
  • outdoorgirl
    outdoorgirl Member Posts: 1,565
    #21
    that sounds like a good plan! Keep us posted for when your surgery will be.
    We love you,RE!

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