Nipple Reconstruction Poll

contrail said:

Nipple Construction
I can't believe how timely this conversation is for me. I just had the second round of reconstruction surgery this last Tuesday. I had a DIEP Flap surgery in December on my right side where I had had the mastectomy, and after several setbacks with abdomen problems where they took the tissue, etc. for the flap, I finally was able to get onto phase 2. It was a three hour surgery where they evened my left side up with my right, got rid of the "dog ears" on my abdomen and did some refining on the flap itself. The surgery went great and I was home that night, but I have another drain. Hopefully that will come out this next week. Now I'm looking ahead to nipple construction and tattooing. I had no idea how they made the nipple, so this is all very interesting. I was leaning toward no nipple and just the tattooing. This procedure that you're discussing sounds like something I could handle, but I sure don't want any skin grafting. I guess my next step is to see what my PS says. Right now, I'm just trying to recoup from the latest surgery.

This is exactly why I love this discussion board. I don't get on very often, but when I do, I always find answers to the questions and problems I might be having. Thanks ladies! You truly are my sister/angels. Connie

cvolk821 said:

Yup. I've got'em
I just got my new nipples on May 27. I just got the stitches out on Wednesday. They are very cool, and look downright sexy under a t-shirt. I get my tatoos on July 20. It didn't hurt at all. Plastic Surgeon says if they flatten out on me just let him know and he'll do an injection to perk them up and get them back to waving to Jesus. Apparently, women with perfectly healthy breasts get this injection to perk up their nipples. OUCH! At least I couldn't feel it at all.