Reconstructed nipple much smaller than real one

bluepeony

Any advice appreciated! I had a left uni MX, then S-GAP recon with rt side lift. Two months ago I had nipple reconstruction on the foob side. From the beginning, the fipple was much smaller than my real one on my right side. Now it has shrunk so much that it's only a bump. I'm very disappointed. What will it take to get the two to match? Is there any hope?

Morwenna

Well, I wouldn't think it is going to get any bigger!

Its one of the considerations when having reconstruction. As I understand it, they usually seem to start off by making them oversized, in the expectation that they will shrink down.

I would supose your only course of action would be to have the thing redone! What a pain! Unless they can somehow make the other smaller, but I doubt you would want that

I'm about to have a 2nd Mx and bilateral flaps. I'm strongly leaning toward not getting nipple recon, but we will see .....

doxie

Unfortunately it's usually the case that the fipple is smaller. Immediately after surgery, mine was 2x larger than the natural one, but flattened even after special care to keep it from doing so. It is still hard, so give the sensation of the other. Still it is not the same, nor do I expect it can be revised to be the same. To me gaining the areola was more important.

Ami1026

My nipple recon flattened out as well - I was really really disappointed.  My PS gave me a few options: could have it re-done (but my skin is really thin and the chance it would stretch my skin too far was a concern), he also said he could graft fat into the nipple pocket, or he offered a dermal filler (like Juvederm, etc.) like they use for wrinkle correction.  He hadn't actually done that before, but had spoken to colleagues who had.  I am so sick of surgeries, I decided to go for the dermal filler.  After all, if I hate it, it does naturally get re-absorbed by the body within a couple years.  I had it done 2 months ago, and I LOVE it!  He used a certain type that was "softer" (I think it was the newest Juvederm product) so its not "rock" hard - merely firm.  It looks and feels real and I am so happy with it.  Yes, that side is "on" all the time, but since the lift/implant on my natural side that one is "on" most of the time anyway so I don't have many problems with it.  Not sure if your PS can do this or has heard of it, but for me it was a great, easy and fulfilling option!