Problem with nipple after surgery

AnnieSF

Hello,

I’m new to this site - first time posting and looking to see if anyone else is experiencing what I am experiencing. I had a prophylactic mastectomy on October 31 with immediate reconstructive surgery but didn’t have a fill (50 cc) until Nov 15, when I also got 2 of my fours drains out. The following week, I noticed a scab on the bottom of my right nipple. This is the breaat that had the cancer. My nipples did not have scabs after surgery. I immediately went to the doc and my NP was concerned so put me back on antibiotic. She also had me get an ultrasound because of slight swelling. The ultrasound showed nothing unusual. I went back a few days later and she thought it looked better but only took out the left remaining drain and had me keep the right one to be safe. Since then I’ve noticed that the areola seems a bit swollen - not red but just puffy and sensitive to touch. I don’t have a fever. I’m worried now I won’t be enable to get my second fill Tuesday because of the nipple. I also still have the scab. Is it normal to have a nipple that is slightly painful to touch and a bit swollen?I don’t have it on my left side but also don’t have much feeling on the left nipple.

I am a very small person and was barely an A cup prior to this especially on my right side where I had 2 lumpectomies previously. (2004 and 2014) The expanders are so uncomfortable and worse on my right side. I can’t stand them and can’t wait to be done with this. I’m hoping that the fills will make them better, however I’ve heard that it doesn’t always for some women.

Anyway, if there is someone out there that has had a similar experience with her nipples, I would appreciate to hear from you. I’m constantly worrying.

Thank you!!

AnnieSF

borogirl

I had prophylactic BMX with TEs put in on 11/12.  I had nipple sparing, but my incisions go around the top half of the areola and extend laterally about 3 inches.  I have always had an inverted nipple on the left side (PS said he can fix that at time of exchange surgery).  The right side nipple looked like always after surgery, but I noticed at about 11 days there was a little scabbing on that right nipple.  This morning in the shower I noticed the scabbing had grown a little larger but some of scab was starting to flake off.  Left side inverted nipple had darkened areola (not necrotic looking) that PS called a small ecchymosis (a type of bruise) and it feels like a type of scab.  I have read that the breast heals from the inside out and sometimes there can be some leakage, pus or blood seep out of nipple during healing, and that you may get some scabbing.  Apparently once the scab falls off on it's own the nipple/areola may not be a dark in color as originally (pinkish now) but it heals up fine.