Post Bilateral Mastectomy Symptoms

yougogirls

Hi everyone- I had a nipple sparing bilateral mastectomy last Thursday. I was hoping that someone out there who has had a similar procedure might have some insight on some symptoms I'm having below:

1. The tips of my nipples are dried and purple. I've heard they will scab and then scab off. Is this true?

2. The area under my left breast looks a little purple (looks like increased veins, not bruises). Did anyone have this after surgery too?

3. Some angular edges are poking out of my skin. I'm assuming these are the expanders?

Appreciate any insight. Thank you so much!

SLL101984

yougogirls....wish I had some insight for you but I am 12 days post nipple sparing BMX as well. I came across your post looking for information about nipple scabbing too lol! I've been using bacitracin or aquaphor on them and seems to help keep them moisturized. There are some rough spots and some small scabs have come off, but the nipples are warm to the touch and pink so I will take that asa good thing!

I have edges where the expanders are sitting too. One of them has made such a crease I have a little sore from it, luckily since that area is numb now I can't feel it! Keep bacitracin on that also

DebAL

Hi there, keeping aquaphor on the nipples will really help. I still do twice a week and i am almost 4 months out. Angular edges are normal. I had one near my cleavage that was to a point. Once you start getting fills those edges will go away.

SLL101984

DebAL, did you have scabbing on the nipple? I really can’t find much information on it but my bs and ps have said from last week a few small spots may come off. Things definitely don’t look they are dying just healing. They have been through a lot

DebAL

I guess you could call it scabbing. The areas were definitely darker and rough to touch. More like healing, I was never concerned they were dying. Then one day after I dried off in the shower it was gone!

SLL101984

DebAL thanks, I woke up today to a little blood on one of them. I think from some of the drying skin coming off. I guess if they were dying there would be no blood flow so I’ll take that as a good sig.....I’ll def keep an eye on them and I go back to the dr Tuesday.

OCDAmy

the tip of my nipple got black and it did eventually flake off. I was scared I would lose it but it was fine!

DebAL

SLL, yes, I agree and OCD that is how mine looked. With going through chemo and the potential for dry skin I still coat my nipples with aquaphor twice a week and I'm 4 months out from surgery. Also funny story and you probably won't appreciate unless you are older ....but about 6 weeks after surgery I looked down and found 1 hair around each nipple, normally I would have been mortified!!! but hey, hair =blood flow LOL so I was happy! Since then nothing, maybe just a sign all was well!

yougogirls

Thanks everyone for the insight! Glad to see it’s a common occurrence. I’m happy to report that the purple turned into scabs that have started to peel off now. The purple tint on my skin started to fade too.

Great aquaphor tips! I’ll have to try it on my drain tube scabs too.

My right breast seems slightly higher and smaller than my left. Also it seems closer toward my chest in placement. Anyone else? Hoping this won’t effect final implant placement!

DebAL

you go, "aquaphor is your friend" is what I was told in the office. I used it on drain sites also. I was told by PS in recovery room that one side may be bigger, nipples a little off etc and reassured this is not the finished product. Expanders are there to stretch the skin for final implant. However, I can't complain and could almost stay how I am now as things look better than i expected. You will notice differences with each fill too especially with the angular edges you mentioned. Once filled it should round out. I had one that was to a point towards my cleavage, skin was ok but I couldn't feel it. After filling it was totally gone. Best of luck to you!

SLL101984

DebAL- that is too funny! However I’m Armenian so I am no stranger to hair in all places lol!!! But yes that’s a good sign! I woke up again with some blood on the on the other nipple, it’s from my shirt rubbing and taking off some of the dried skin. But again if there was no blood flow it couldn’t be there, so I’ll take it as a good sign again!

DebAL

SLL, hysterical! All signs point that we are healing nicely! Best wishes to you!