Nipples ....

Goldfish4884

Does anyone know of a good tattoo artist near Portland, Oregon. Also, I had my exchange September 7 with lateral reinforcement because the pockets from the tissue expander went clear around towards my back. So my ps put a lot of stitches in both side to make the pocket smaller, now I have large dents on the outside of each implant. Has anyone had this problem corrected with fat grafting, my ps said he thought it would be too hard to fill it all in with fat grafting. Hate to think after all these surgeries this is the best result. Also, is fat grafting usually covered by insurance. Thanks for any info, sure hate looking in the mirror

Imkopy2

Goldfish- I’m sorry the exchange didn’t go as planned. My initial exchange also was ‘botched’ in nature. My original PS blamed the radiation and told me it wasn’t that bad and I should just move on. That didn’t sit well with me and I knew I could get a better result so I started looking for a new surgeon. I found him and 13 months after my original exchange I had my boobs redone. He fixed all of the issues and I’m very happy with my results. I’m having additional FG in March (my surgeon isn’t a busy one)

All of this was covered by my insurance revision surgery and my FG procedure in March. About 40% of the fat transferred will take FYI which could explain his response to your concern. You are still pretty early in you’re recocery and things will change. If you are truly unhappy then go seek other advice...insurance covers revisions. You should be happy after all you went though

Shoregirl

Goldfish, I have a dent on one side, along my ribcage beneath my underarm. Mine was due to ps taking too much tissue while correcting a "dogear". And it was on my prophy side! New ps said he will try some fg there, as I now have just skin on bone, not a good look. As Imkopy said, it is a little early to assess the final outcome. That being said though, if it looks dented now that probably won't improve without some intervention. I know lumpectomies are greatly improved with fg, so there may be some hope for us! I agree with Imkopy to seek another opinion if your current ps doesn't feel confident in the fg. I am now under the care of the 5th ps I have consulted with, two of the previous 4 did work on me. The two that I didn't allow to work on me were with the very prestigious Johns Hopkins. Credentials aren't everything. Be very selective now that you are on the revision side of all this. Best wishes to you!

yougotthis21

I had a unilateral mastectomy (nipple sparing) around a year ago and just had my reconstruction. I hate to complain but I am unhappy with how much my natural breast nipple protrudes now with the placement of the implant. My mastectomy side nipple is flat and never really "poked' out again following mastectomy but now my natural breast side looks so different. Is there any type of revision to be done so that my nipples are somewhat symmetrical again?

7of9

thanks to the women and coach Vicky for sharing their stories...I am 6 1/2 yrs after initial diagnosis. Over 2 1/2 yrs after bad axillary recurrence. I had original expanders, exchange, then after recurrence, oophorectomy and hysterectomy, radiation, taxoterrible and grade 4 capsular contracture on radiated side, so revision surgery ( and a chin lift!) last year. I think I'm finally ready to do the nipples. My PS thinks my tissue should do fine and since wanting very mild "bumps " ...I would LOVE to say what coach Vicky said...walk out of the doctors office and say " I'm done!". Anyone recommend a great tattoo artist in Ohio or how much is this Vinny guy/ his apprentices...? My coverage will pay for recon and part out of network provider for tattoos. I've waited a long time ( a 4th ultra sound, 2 CAT scans showing nothing is back ( yet) so want to do this right. I'm hoping to forgive my boobs for almost killing me. Being completely rebuilt, the phonies ( which my husband reminds me will never look like golf balls in tube socks) will at least be one part of me that will be indestructible no matter through the ages or anything else. Being borderline stage 3c stage 4...I've overcome my fear and am waiting for my surgery date ( with fat grafting and nipples) to be set soon. God bless you all.

coachvicky

God's blessings to you 7of9. You have had a long, long walk.

Coach Vicky

Shoregirl

7of9, I believe Vinny charges $400 each side. I did a Google search for nipple tats in Ohio and there are studios that do them. This one in Cleveland looks promising. I definitely feel you on wanting to be able to declare "I'm done!!" Best wishes!!

7of9

Wow - shoregirl...that was a great article..I'm think I'm going to check this place out! Thanks!

Careninnj

i decided after my exchange surgery in jan im done. I dont want any more surgery. Im not getting nipple tattoo. Im remaining nipplesless! And proud of it.

Shoregirl

70f9, yes indeed! Glad to help! Funny thing, I did a search online for nipple tats in Maryland that isn't Vinnies and only found 1!!! Page after page of Vinnie!! Nothing against him, he is known as the "Michaelangelo of nipple tattoos" after all!! Let us know how you do!!

meg2016

I got my Vinnies over the summer and I can't say enough about them. I really don't consider myself to be someone too invested in "cosmetic", so was completely unprepared for how much if a difference these tattoos would make in feeling complete. Its something I can't describe well, but every time I pass a mirror I don't see the scars, I see these amazing nipples. Strongly recommend! I have filed with insurance but got denied, I want to appeal but wondering if anyone has had any success with coverage?

Leslienva

Meg2016,

I wasn’t able to get mine covered because they weren’t done in a doctor’s office. So ridiculous

meg2016

Whats interesting about mine is they were Vinnies but done in my PS office.... so.... I will appeal and appeal- it is completely absurd.

joy2

hello Bella2013! I live in fl too, what is the name of the tatoo artist that comes to your PS office?

bella2013

Joy2,

https://www.reneemaschinot.com/re-nee.html

joy2

bella2013 Thank you so much!

TaRenee

Sooooooooo excited! I’m getting my tattoos done on Monday!!!!!

I called my Dad all kinds of excited today after I got my appointment set upand said, “Guess who is getting tattoos on Monday!?!!!” My Dad said, “Oh no, don’t start doing all that stuff...”

I said, “No Daddy, my Nipples!!!!!” He laughed and said, “Oh, ok then. That IS exciting!” LOL

Shoregirl

Awesome TaRenee!! I bet its a great feeling knowing you are doing the final step!! Your enthusiasm is great!! So sweet to share with your dad and his response. Let us know how it goes!!

CaliKelly

So funny, TaRenee, your Dads response 😄 You will enjoy the tattoos, it makes quite a visual difference. I had the tattoo not long ago, going for a retouch next month. Looks pretty darn good😉 When I told a few people I was going for my nipple tattoo, they said, "that's great, what are you getting?" 😂What??? So, I variously said,"I'm getting an American flag in the middle, with Make America Great Again !, or Resist! ,depending on who i was taliking to😉😄Took a beat before they realized i was joking!

Lorri70

I'm having my nipple tattoo done on the 20th November I'm feeling very excited but emotional as well I cried when I got home it hit me this is the end of a long road also same phone call my mammogram is clear done last month. I don't live in the US but in Ireland, so mine are covered I have a nipple reconstruction its wee bit flatter than I hoped but I'm very happy with it and the tatoo really is the cherry on the bun

Peregrinelady

I understand, Lorri. Getting the tattoos had a huge emotional impact on me, because now if I catch my reflection in the mirror, I just look normal. Before, my brain would always say, hey you’re incomplete. That feeling of closure is great.

coachvicky

I cried when I was alone and looking at the finished product. I felt whole again.

Lorri ... I got customized color. I wanted them to look like the girls in the nasty magazines ... all rosy pink!

Coach Vicky

Shoregirl

Wonderful news Lorri, the "all clear" and your tat date all in one. You're on the home stretch now!! Please keep us posted with your progress! Many blessings

Perigrinelady & CoachVicky, I bet I will cry too. I think the hardest part of the mx for me was losing the nipples. The mirror doesn't get much attention from me now but I know I will feel complete and that sense of closure you describe after tats are done. I decided not to get temp tats or silicone nips but it is so cool that they are available for those who don't want to wait or just choose not to get tats at all. I will be finishing up my recon within the next few months. Can't wait to make that tat appt!! Truly will be the cherry on top!! Until then, I will be checking in here to see how everyone is doing. Thank you all for sharing, it means so much!!

3bears

Has anyone regretted getting nipple reconstruction done? I think I want them but I'm afraid they'll stick out too much. Or flatten completely within months. Is it worth it?

coachvicky

Yes, they will flatten 3Bears.

And every time I shower and feel them, I feel normal.

I feel complete.

Coach Vicky

star2017

hi everyone! I've seen posts here about temporary nipples used after mastectomies. If you have good experience with any, please share. Thank you.

CBK

Question to anyone that wishes to chime in... why tattoo vs. reconstructing nipples with your own tissue? Everyone seems wildly pleased with their tattoos;sounds divine!!

star2017

CBK, I have not finalized what I'm doing. The ps suggested using my existing nipple to reconstruct the other one. While that's what I've thought I'd do, now that the time has come I kind of hate the idea of hurting the one part of my breasts that's still in tact. There's a a chance it won't take bc of radiation as welll.

CBK

Star2017

I can totally understand your position. My PS wants to take tissue from another part of body (inner thigh) and create nipple. I didn't have nipple sparing BMX ! Hope you are healing well from your recent exchange surgery, when did you PS want to attempt nipple reconstruction? Mine is not even mentioning much about it yet, but I've had one of the most drawn out reconstructions!!

christina0001

Exercise guru, your post from June may answer a question I have wondered about. I had tattooing done after nipple reconstruction at my PS's office and was surprised at how quickly it faded. I went back this past January and had it redone. Didn't have to pay a dime! Which was awesome, but I noticed fading within 2-3 months and now, 10 months out, it's quite faded. It's so disappointing. So it sounds like if I went elsewhere they would use different ink that wouldn't fade so much? Is there a way of knowing what ink is being used that won't fade? It's really frustrating to me, I had a good outcome from my surgery but my nipple is disappointing.