Nipple Reconstruction Cylinder, anyone?

I had alloderm--with full graft.  Worked great. Good Luck, Eileen

I've been wondering what to do as nipple areola surgery is supposed to be my next surgery, but I'm hesitating because I see so many flat nipples. I'll see my PS for a consult tomorrow. His office spoke with me a couple weeks ago saying that he wants to do "large scale" fat grafting during the nipple surgery and that just freaks me out. I already had to have an implant revision, as there was so much extra skin that there were too many ripples (the PS said) to fix with fat grafting. Now that I've gone up two sizes larger he;s saying he requires to perform "large scale" fat grafting. I don't get it, but will ask tomorrow. And am determined to wait it out. I've also written tonight to the man who is in charge of the Cook Biodesign cylinder and hope to hear back. I'll also take the print out of it to my PS tomorrow. After five surgeries, and 20 hours under general anesthesia this past year, I feel burned out! and also, rather lost. I ordered those three-D temporary nipple tattoos and have a pair on now - they are fun, but since I don't have a boyfriend or husband at the moment it's me looking at them in the mirror. I've decide that the tattoo route won't make me happy or feel fulfilled or completed. Let's hang in there and see what we can drum up in the nipple department, ladies...

My PS says he does regular lipo, and will use it not just on the upper pole but all the way around to create a more natural looking recon. I told him about the Cook Biodesign Matrix (cylinder) and he is very interested. He also told me he will go to train with Dr. Kouri in Florida in July. I asked if he could re-do me afterwards, but he said he didn't want to touch my revised implants - they look really good - but would be very interested to learn of the Cook cylinder. I've written an email asking the man at the Cook headquarters to contact my PS. I want to wait to see if he can use it on me. The clinical trial using the cylinder will probably start in July. They are waiting for cleareance from the FDA.

mtks: what type of FG does your PS do? Does he use the cylinder for nipps?

EK1: what is full graft? how is your result so far? Are your nipps still standing?

I emailed someone at cook, and no clinical trials have not started. I'm keeping an eye on it though. Sounds promising.

Trisha you aren't the only one. I want my nipples to look "unexcited" if you know what I mean because lets face my old ones were only "excited" much less often than not.

Just had my exchange so I haven't had that conversation yet but my PS also uses the skin from breast site. No stealing it from someplace else.

Oh gosh DaisyinAustin, that's so exciting! Are you one of the first your surgeon has used these on? They told me they hadn't started trials of them....but I noticed they are easily ordered. It's a medical device, so controlled differently.

I do not have another surgery in me that cuts me anywhere else....not happening. So fingers crossed this works! Trish, congrats on your results holding so long. I hear so often that women who have the twist lose projection, so you are very lucky. I had rads, so I think that's a double whammy for my odds of flattening quick. I have heard good results with fat grafting to the area under the nipple to create a mound, then using alloderm in a twist.

Not an issue I had Lago, lol. He took one look at me and said "oh yeah, we have plenty to work with here".

I actually hated the lipo. I amazingly had never had cellulite. The fat grafting on my thighs has made them look a little lumpy in the right light. It's a little perturbing. I know if I go back, it can be smoothed, but anesthesia and immune systems have issues. i am working very hard on keeping my bloodwork high right now.



I am ok with getting the nipples done because I know it is done without general anesthesia. I guess the cylinders though might require general?

I've heard that the Cook cylinder failed a few times.  How is it working for you?

Everyone: Thank you soooo much for your info. . . .  I had been waiting for "Poppy" to respond as there is a thread that she started re: Biodesign Nipple Recon Cylinder but the thread never got updated, so I assume she didn't go thru with the cylinder.  I had my BMX Sept. 2010 and nipples origamied(ha-ha)  and I had asked my PS will the projection shrink alot.  I got the answer "some".  Well, they did shrink a bunch......definitely 50% or more.  

My PS doesn't do the cylinders.  I'm still going to bring her the Cook Biodesign cylinder literature that I printed off the web and see what she says, but I have a feeling she might not be interested in doing the procedure.  I am wondering even if they could do an implant after a nipple has already been surgically formed?  Wonder if I should just ask for Alloderm - or can you do Alloderm after the fact?  Any info is greatly appreciated!!

DaisyinAustin:   Thanks for starting this thread and hope you are doing well.  Keep us posted on the shrinking, k?

Orchidgal:  Have you found out any info from the guy at Cook Biodesign HQ? Did he contact your PS and discuss?

I had nip reconstruction and like many others are disappointed when they went flat. I had aerolas tattoos done 2 weeks ago and they helped make the nips look a little better.

 My question is if this cook cylinder becomes the norm and creates great nips,I am wondering if I can get mine done again. And what would become of my tattoos? Can they be fixed as well?

I know I am jumping ahead here but if I can improve how I look, I am all for it

daisyinaust:  thanks so nice of you..

Good luck

Thanks to everyone for all your input!!

Orchidgal:  Was Dr. Kouri recommended by the Cook Biotech Rep?  Or how did Dr. Kouri come into the picture?  Do you have a full name on Dr. Kouri in Florida?  On the web, I see one Dr. Koui that is a General Surgeon and Neurosurgeon in 2 different locations.  The reason I ask is becuz I am located in Atlanta and if insurance will pay - maybe that's the route I might go.

Thank you very much!

Deb 

Just a little input ya'll about my nipps:

I am into my 7th month after my nipple recon [nipple mound made with my stomach skin from the TRAM flap - sorry, can't remember the "Name" of the type of oragami she used, I will find out tho ]  Even tho I have a tiny bit of projection, I am somewhat disappointed.  I haven't had the tatoo's yet.  Mainly, because I need another minor surgery to tweek one breast(radiated one) as it is pulling my skin down a bit and I am not even.  Anyway, I am sending my PS's nurse an email with the Biodesign scanned documents I got off the web and keeping my fingers crossed that my PS will look into it, but hesitate at the same time becuz she hasn't done a cylinder implant - but she is very talented.  What do you all think?  If she says yes, do I take a chance?  Or, go to someone that has already done it?  Doing my homework/research and I am leaning towards wanting the cylinders put in.  

OMG!  Small world, right?  I'll send you a PM.....

Everyone:  I contacted Cook HQ and asked for a rep to call me.  He asked for the zip code of my surgeon so he could get me the correct rep.  I am hoping she can give me all the doctors names in the Atlanta area that have been doing the Biotech Cylinder procedure.  The guy on the phone said they have been selling them for about a year.  So, maybe we can get some more input.