Nipple tattos yes or no w/ LE?

Straitlover

I have very mild LE in my left arm. I've had some breast edema, too, but I'm not sure yet if it's LE or if all the swelling from my sx is gone. I'm definitely not doing nip reconstruction, have not decided for sure on tats. Can getting the tats cause a flare or overall worsening LE on the left side or possibly developing LE on my right side?

I haven't seen the PS since I started w/ the PT, so I haven't asked him about it (I see him next week). I haven't even thought about asking the therapist; will do that on Wednesday.

carol57

Straitlover, LE cause-and-effect are incredibly hard to assess, and one person's experience usually cannot be generalized. I too have mild arm LE and some generally minor truncal issues, although not on the recon breasts. I did get nipple tattoos and I found that my arm ached like the dickens for about 48 hours afterward. The heavy, achy feeling is mostly how I 'flare' when I overdo things. Fortunately, the arm returned to (my new, post LE) normal and the LE did not advance or spread from the tats. So, for what it's worth, I sure did have a lymphatic response to the tats, but it was temporary. Now if only we could know for sure that any reaction you might have would also be strictly temporary! Good luck in your deliberations. This is the kind of thing that's meant when people say life requires trade-offs. Not easy!

Straitlover

I had said from the beginning that I didn't wnat to bother w/ ay kind of new nipples. I'm not married and most likely never will be at this stage, so no one will see me naked except me and medical folks. My PS keeps saying "oh, you'll change your mind when it's all said and done". At my last onc visit, she put some of the fake ones on where they are supposed to go (my old ones pointed kind of down because my natural tiny breasts had no fullness on the bottom pole), and I was like "those look pretty good, maybe I might do the tats" (don't want anything poking out though, so no recon or prosthetic ones). However, if there are LE concerns, I may just say forget it, and that will give me ammo to get my PS to shut up about them.

Thanks for the info!

Binney4

Strait, I agree with Carol that tats are not likely to cause any long-term issues UNLESS an infection occurs. So you'll want to be extremely careful and watchful during the entire healing process, to catch any infection promptly and treat it right away. In fact, you might talk to your PS about oral prophylactic antibiotics. Lymphatic compromise raises the risk for cellulitis, since any stagnant lymph fluid is both warm and protein-rich--a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Doctors may or may not be aware of the risk, so do bring it up. Here's information on lymphedema and cellulitis risk:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Emergencies_and_Med…

You don't sound like you're entirely sold on the idea of tats. Make sure it's YOUR decision, and then go with whatever you decide! Do, please, keep us posted!

Gentle hugs,
Binney

glennie19

I really really wanted a flower tat over my scar.  I did not do recon.  But I have truncal LE, and my LE therapist advised against it. She's afraid it will flare things up. 

Straitlover

Hmmm, cellulitis. I got it in my right two weeks after my BMX and almost lost my TE. I was in the hospital almost a week and then on IV abx at home for a month. Don't think I could handle that again!

doxie

I had nipple recon and tattoo in the same surgery on a radiated breast. I already had mild truncal and upper arm LE. Had antibiotics after surgery and still had a local infection around the stitches. Had a flair of LE which took 6 mo to get under control. Still mild, though. Hard to tell if it has made it worse over the long run.

Psychologically I needed the new nipple to move past BC. It helps to not continuously see the long scar and smidgen of areola that was left after BC surgery. I would like to get it touched up, but am very leery of triggering more LE and/or infection. Of course now LE is a constant reminder of BC.

I'd be very concerned if I had had cellulitis. There are temporary nipple tattoos and stick-on ones available. It might be helpful to try them and see if they will do instead of real tattoos.

My RO wanted me to do the tat touch up in the clinic rather than at the tattoo parlor where the artist works. He's right. So if you go for it, then make sure that it is in a clinical environment with medical supervision. Also need to make sure the work is worth having. My tattoo is a little sloppy, but a good color match, still good considering it was done during nipple surgery and by a PS, but good 3D tattoo artists do much better work.