Tents for the nipples

at least a week
maybe more. They do their job, though. You don't want to squish the new little nips.

Clothing is a bit difficult. Had mine done last December so at least I could wear bulky sweaters. hang in there! of all the reconstruction, getting my nips made me feel the most physically whole. i hope the same for you! xo

Mariannemm said:

Thank you
Haven't been able to find much info about this subject. I have these little cylinders, I had to peek at them. I have been having more pain with this procedure because my cleavage tissue failed in the last surgery. So I had to have everything redone and add the nipples too. I can't lift my arms at all! Crazy times!

Enjoy your night! Marianne

hang in there!
Dear Mariannemm - Are yours sewn on? I've read about a few women that have had their nip protectors sewn and when they had the stitches removed, the protectors came off. I didn't have the nip protectors ... my PS had me use gauze and ack! I went through boxes and boxes of gauze and tape too. I had to cut little circles out of the gauze to provide a place for the nip and then put more gauze on top and then tape ... it was a hassle. I think the nip protector is the way to go.

Of all the surgeries it was the grossest recovery ... they ooze, they bleed, they scab over ... just gross. So it's good that you don't have to deal with all that ... they've covered at least for now!

I'm sorry you've had such a time of it ... I hope everything goes well and uneventfully from here on out.

It's strange that you can't lift your arms. Were you having problems before the nip surgery? Were you completely out or did they just give you a local? I'm wondering if they knocked you out ... if they had your arms in a strange position? Hmmm.

Rest! Hope you heal quickly and uneventfully!

VickiSam said:

Ladies .. Thanking you both for posting this value
information, and research data. I will be receiving my 'nipples' in a few weeks -- so my mind is filled with information, concern and questions. Thank you for answering many of my concerns and questions.

I've been told by my PS .. 2 hour surgery (going under, again) .. rest, recover then released to go home. 24 hours later, follow up appointment at my Plastic Surgeon's office.

Question: how long does the oozing, bleeding and scabs last? Ugh! I've heard stories that sometimes our new nipples .. turn black?


Vicki Sam

VickiSam
The best illustration I can think of ... is remember when you were a kid and you fell off your bike and scraped your knee pretty good? Get a pretty deep gash, scabs over, it hurts ... and the scab lasts for a few weeks ... that's kind of what it is like with the nip surgery.

Of course, there are different types of nip surgeries ... I'm talking just the nip, not a graft, but some form of the CV or skate flap.

I had to change my dressing every day, no nip cover, so my story may be different than what you experience. But I had stitches and put neosporin and gauze on my nips every day. The stitches came out at about 10 days, I think. My left nip did go black and I thought for sure it 'died' ... that it wasn't go to make it. After the stitches came out and the scab came off, there was nice, pink skin underneath. My left side doesn't have the projection that my right side has, but it is still a little nub, albeit a tiny one.

The worst of it is the 10-14 days after and definitely with the stitches; it is pretty gross. After that ... there is a little oozing, but it is not bad. I used the gauze to cover the nips for six weeks because it hurt to have anything press directly on them. I couldn't work out and sweat for two weeks because my PS didn't want sweat to get on the new nips. Couldn't work out until the stitches came out.

Best advice I can give is stock up on gauze & paper tape (I developed an allergy to the adhesive on most other kinds of tape) if you don't have those fancy nip covers , rest, eat well so you can heal well!

I begged my PS to give me a local because I didn't want to be knocked out again ... anesthesia makes me CRAZY! So I was awake the whole time ... don't really recommend it because it is a really bizarre feeling ... felt like I was being quilted ... it is good that you're going to be knocked out.

Are you getting any grafting done (grafted areola?).

Best wishes to you, vicksam! good luck and keep us posted!

P.S. I'm FINALLY getting tats the week of Thanksgiving. I'm so excited!

Dawne.Hope said:

Nip Projection
Also a note about the projection of the nips.

Don't be concerned if you have major headlights after the surgery ... your PS will overcompensate and they will seem really large after the surgery. But don't fear because you WILL lose projection. About 80-90% of the projection will be lost within the first six months.

I've read about some docs using alloderm to make a nip and then wrapping the skin flap around the alloderm so it doesn't lose projection. Not a lot of PS's are doing that right now, but I think in the next 5 years or so, it will be the norm.

Until that happens ... we deal with the ever shrinking nip! Not really, because you shouldn't lose more after six months ... just don't want you to freak out and think, "They're HUGE" because they WILL shrink.

xo

After all we breast cancer WARRIORS have
endured .. having nipples made from my tissues and muscles -- makes me a little squeamish!

I am going to ask my PS about the alloderm wrapping scenario.

Dawne ... Thank you for this very important, and extremely valued information.

Happy tattooing!

Vicki Sam

VickiSam said:

After all we breast cancer WARRIORS have
endured .. having nipples made from my tissues and muscles -- makes me a little squeamish!

I am going to ask my PS about the alloderm wrapping scenario.

Dawne ... Thank you for this very important, and extremely valued information.

Happy tattooing!

Vicki Sam

don't not do it because of me!
Dear VickiSam -

I'm going to be sad if you reconsider the nipple reconstruction simply because of my experience! Clementine didn't have the trouble I had! My reconstructed breasts are really tight ... the skin is super tight and I think that's why I lost my left nip ... skin is too tight. As I said above ... of all the reconstruction, getting my nips made me feel the most physically whole! Please don't let me & my experience change your mind!

The device I was talking about above is a Cook Medical Device. Ask your PS about it:
http://www.cookmedical.com/sur/content/mmedia/FP0054-01C.pdf

VickiSam said:

Name of procedure???
My PS out here in Southern California is on the cutting edge of everything -- so much so that you have to wait 18 months to get in and have surgery. Because I am a bc patient, my wait is 3 to 5 months .. Doctor Turpin's prioritizes 'we' bc WARRIORS into his schedule. So ... name of procedure ?? but I know that Dr. T will be cutting into my current incision sites on both breast .. pulling out tissue/muscle and twisting to create new nipples -- name of procedure/surgery ?? ??


Dawne .. surgery is a go, funny to imagine all that we have subjected to, or put our bodies thru -- this surgery weirds me out the most -- LOL !! I am serious.. I've been thru emergency C-Section, In Vitro cycles, abrupt ion of the placenta, emergency STAPH removal of 1 TE, bilateral mastectomy -- and ..... wait for it ... 18 weeks of consecutive TCH chemo infusion ..

Vicki Sam

That is what I had
and it is called the Skate Flap (but there are variations to it). I am pretty sure it was only tissue in my case, and not muscle. My skin is really tight too and, luckily for me, I did not have the problems that Dawne had. Tightness has been an ongoing issue for me during this whole process.

I have a good feeling for you, Vicki Sam. I think it is going to work out great and that you will be happily surprised (*knock on wood!).

Best,
Clementine

Dawne.Hope said:

VickiSam
The best illustration I can think of ... is remember when you were a kid and you fell off your bike and scraped your knee pretty good? Get a pretty deep gash, scabs over, it hurts ... and the scab lasts for a few weeks ... that's kind of what it is like with the nip surgery.

Of course, there are different types of nip surgeries ... I'm talking just the nip, not a graft, but some form of the CV or skate flap.

I had to change my dressing every day, no nip cover, so my story may be different than what you experience. But I had stitches and put neosporin and gauze on my nips every day. The stitches came out at about 10 days, I think. My left nip did go black and I thought for sure it 'died' ... that it wasn't go to make it. After the stitches came out and the scab came off, there was nice, pink skin underneath. My left side doesn't have the projection that my right side has, but it is still a little nub, albeit a tiny one.

The worst of it is the 10-14 days after and definitely with the stitches; it is pretty gross. After that ... there is a little oozing, but it is not bad. I used the gauze to cover the nips for six weeks because it hurt to have anything press directly on them. I couldn't work out and sweat for two weeks because my PS didn't want sweat to get on the new nips. Couldn't work out until the stitches came out.

Best advice I can give is stock up on gauze & paper tape (I developed an allergy to the adhesive on most other kinds of tape) if you don't have those fancy nip covers , rest, eat well so you can heal well!

I begged my PS to give me a local because I didn't want to be knocked out again ... anesthesia makes me CRAZY! So I was awake the whole time ... don't really recommend it because it is a really bizarre feeling ... felt like I was being quilted ... it is good that you're going to be knocked out.

Are you getting any grafting done (grafted areola?).

Best wishes to you, vicksam! good luck and keep us posted!

P.S. I'm FINALLY getting tats the week of Thanksgiving. I'm so excited!

I wanted to say thanks to
I wanted to say thanks to you for posting such valuable and informative information. I didn't know anything about this, but, now I do.


Wishing all of you the best of luck!


♠♣ Love, Susie ♠♣

Dawne.Hope said:

hang in there!
Dear Mariannemm - Are yours sewn on? I've read about a few women that have had their nip protectors sewn and when they had the stitches removed, the protectors came off. I didn't have the nip protectors ... my PS had me use gauze and ack! I went through boxes and boxes of gauze and tape too. I had to cut little circles out of the gauze to provide a place for the nip and then put more gauze on top and then tape ... it was a hassle. I think the nip protector is the way to go.

Of all the surgeries it was the grossest recovery ... they ooze, they bleed, they scab over ... just gross. So it's good that you don't have to deal with all that ... they've covered at least for now!

I'm sorry you've had such a time of it ... I hope everything goes well and uneventfully from here on out.

It's strange that you can't lift your arms. Were you having problems before the nip surgery? Were you completely out or did they just give you a local? I'm wondering if they knocked you out ... if they had your arms in a strange position? Hmmm.

Rest! Hope you heal quickly and uneventfully!

Question for Dawne.Hope
Hello Dawne,
I had my nipple reconstruct surgery 3 weeks ago. Totally agree with you regarding the gauze/tape hassle. My question for you: did you put and ointment on yours while healing? My PS assistant said I may use neosporin but I am just wondering if that has worked for anyone. I am having so much redness and ozzing - also the nipples are sticking to the guauze and then in turn pulls some of the skin off when i change my dressing. Just a nightmare... but I know it will be SO worth it.
Thanks for you help,
Kelly

VickiSam said:

My husband and I have been discussing this for the
past several days .. We have a 7 day Bahama's vacation scheduled and paid for .. week of Christmas .. we are doing something fun, just for ourselves...! So I called my PS and he feels that it may be to closed to my surgery .. November 30th -- so I may have to post pone my surgery to the first of the year --

Let's see --- vacation or nipples, hmmmmm VACATION!!!

I did contact STAPH infection --- (4/10) when my family and I visited the Grand Canyon after my Tax/Carbo chemo finished -- Herceptin of course continued for a year ... lost 1 fully expanded tissue expander -- emergency surgery ... blah blah blab ..bottom line: I do not want to have any openings, cuts to have to worry about. Besides I want to swim, wear a bathing suit, and drink myself silly -- fun in the sun -- just a good time.

Appreciate all your kind words, and surgery description -- Dawne, and Clementine!!!

Vicki Sam

Great plan, VickiSam!
Enjoy
Great plan, VickiSam!

Enjoy that vacation!

NYGMom said:

Thank You!
Dawne,

Thank you for your helpful information. It is so comforting to know that the ooze is normal. Yes, the whole process is so crazy!! OMGosh... what we have all been through! I am so thankful for this network because even though my family and Doc's are awesome... they are truly clueless when it comes to the deep down nitty gritty of this whole reconstruction stuff. And even the net and books do not give much info on the after care. I like your idea of using the cream to hold the gauze in place. Was there a certain antibacterial ointment that worked best?

Again, thank you for your help and your words of encouragement! I know things will get better, and my PS has been telling me so, but it really did help to hear it from someone who has been through it:)

Big HUG!
Kelly

Any
NYGMom - Any triple antibiotic ointment you get at a local pharmacy should be fine. I've used generic and others. You just want something on there that will fight any infection and will keep the nips moist. You don't want the scab coming off everything time you change the gauze. You could lose some of the projection of the new nip and you don't want that ... you want to keep them as plump as possible!

This is jumping ahead to tats ... but I was reading on another board about ladies who have cut a pantiliner in half, sticky side to the bra, and used to it cover their new tats, after putting aquaphor on them to keep them moisturized. Thought that was a brilliant idea. Won't work so well with nips because of all the cut-out gauze .... but would totally work with tats. When the time comes!

Big hug back at ya!
dh