Nipple reconstruction

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited October 2012

    I didn't but one is lighter than the other. I'm sure I'll need a touch up when I see my PS in the spring

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  • alliesmom15
    alliesmom15 Member Posts: 106
    edited October 2012

    I had my tattoo done twice, she made me lighter the first time, just because I am light to begin with.  I just had the second touch up this June.

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  • CMartin
    CMartin Member Posts: 316
    edited October 2012

    msbelle....I'm curious as well.  I'm flying to NOLA in two weeks and had prefer to err to the dark side.  I can't afford two trips!

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  • New-girl
    New-girl Member Posts: 358
    edited October 2012

    I haven't  heard of anyone going twice to Vinnie.  I did read though he would err on the light side rather than go too dark and have one of us disappointed with the outcome.  I am totally trusting him with color selection and darkness.  One of the reasons I so didn't want my PS doing it was the nurse said that I would pick the colors as not to be disappointed.  I have no idea what to pick or how it blends with my skin.  I really want an artist to complete the look.  BC has certainly given me an opinion on how I want the finished product to look. So happy that my appointment wasn't this week with all the disruption in air travel.  I wonder how the East Coast sisters managed who had appointments with Vinnie in Baltimore?

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited October 2012

    I had my PS pick the color. He went darker knowing it would fade. He did a perfect job. I think he likes doing the tattoo. You just can't talk to him when he's mixing colors

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  • mspradley
    mspradley Member Posts: 129
    edited October 2012

    I asked Vinnie about the need for a touch-up/second trip when he did my nips. He said that most PS and medically trained aesthetists use a high quality medical grade vegetable dye, which fades over time and will likely need touch-ups. Vinnie, however, uses traditional tattoo ink that should not fade over time unless you are going topless out in the sun for the next several years!

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  • CMartin
    CMartin Member Posts: 316
    edited October 2012

    Good to know!

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  • lisagwa
    lisagwa Member Posts: 232
    edited October 2012

    Mspradley - thanks for that info. I was curious about it as well.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited October 2012

    My PS uses tattoo ink. I say the catalog. The who thing cracked me up. My PS is the antithesis of tattoo artist. I remember when the resident asked him who did the tattoos. He replied "I do. I wear my Harley Jacket"

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  • Incogneato
    Incogneato Member Posts: 23
    edited October 2012

    I was told that a good rule of thumb on what color nipple to pick is this method: Pull your lower lip down andlook inside at the skin .  There are differnt shades of the color that will best compliment your skin tone. Choose from that pallet.  Either a combination or the lighter or (right at the inside lip line) the darkest. Supposedly our original nipples where one of these colors.  I have not had my nip recon yet,  I am waiting to see if this 2nd set stays put.  I pulled some stitches.   Hope this helps. 

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  • JamieB86
    JamieB86 Member Posts: 397
    edited October 2012

    Thinking of you Carrol!

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  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited October 2012

    Just got home from hospital got my nips and lipo done yesterday. Piece of cake. No pain really just sore.

    They look a little frankenstein with all stitches and I am chipping way trying to get all the antiseptic and markings off my skin. They look fatter than my old ones were. I know they will shrink a lot and that should make them look better. I had a bit of blood oozing doc says that is normal. He said once it gets crusty I could put vaseline on them. He put these little clear cones over them to protect them. I am wearing a surgical bra I'll probably switch to a sports bar tomorrow.

    I wanted to also do fat grafting on my upper pole this surgery but the hospital did not have the tools that my PS likes. So since he said he would do ti he will do it for me for free at his private practice after everything is all done, I just have to pay for the anesthetic.

    Not sure how to judge the lipo. He took 40ccs out on my sides and under my non cancer side. I think it's swollen now so cant tell. He says that is about 3 golf balls.

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  • SuzyBlue
    SuzyBlue Member Posts: 125
    edited October 2012

    Hi, I had nipple reconstruction in June, which I'm very happy with, though it needs a slight revision at the base which I am waiting for an appointment to have done. It was made from the skin graft that was put in place during the mastectomy and Diep reconstruction using skin from my stomach which makes it quite pale.



    I was going to have the tattooing done at the PS clinic shortly but, have since accepted the offer by my daughter for her to do it for me. Now before you all worry haha, she is an artist with four years study of painting and fine arts at university, but more than that she is an accomplished tattoo artist who designs beautiful one off pieces for her clients. She spent her third year at uni painting the most beautiful breasts, areola and nipples so I know she is amazing with the colors and shading. How many mothers can say their daughter tattooed their breasts for them! She does insist, however, that we wait longer because she says the scars need to soften and fade more first, otherwise you can end up with streaks and it won't tattoo well over them yet. I'm prepared to wait and find the prospect of her doing it for me quite exciting. She has already done a beautiful one on my ankle.

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  • JamieB86
    JamieB86 Member Posts: 397
    edited October 2012

    Suzy - I hope she didn't put a nip on your ankle! Wink  It is exciting that she is perfecting her craft.

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  • CMartin
    CMartin Member Posts: 316
    edited October 2012

    Suzy...exciting!

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  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited November 2012

    4 days since my nipple surgery. I look very frankenstein still but it looks like it's healing nicely. I am also bruised on my sides from the lipo. Hard to tell if the lipo worked could be just swollen. 

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited November 2012

    Carrol you sound like me about a year ago. I had the nip recon with fat transfer 10.6.2011. I'm sure some of it took.

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  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited November 2012

    lago he ended up only doing lipo to slim down my sides but did not do the fat grafting. Apparently the hospital did not have the tools he felt would get the best results for that so he said he would do it for me at his private practice after everything is done. He wanted to take fat from my belly. I was disappointed but respect him trying to the best job possible.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited November 2012

    Carrol it might be a PITA to go again but I think you will be better off in the end.  Your PS sounds awsome

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  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited November 2012

    lago yeah I think I am very lucky that he takes such pride in his work and that he has a big heart. I'm kinda getting a crush on him i know weird right?

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  • Likeachickadee
    Likeachickadee Member Posts: 116
    edited November 2012

    Hi everyone...I haven't been spending much time on bco, but I'm glad to see this thread.  It will be 4 weeks on Thursday for me with my new nips and I LOVE THEM!!!  It was like Christmas morning when I looked in the mirror and saw the little nips poking through the cone protectors.   What a difference they make - completely transformed to almost "normal" from barbie boobs.  My PS held stencils up and drew a "C-V pattern" for cutting and twisting and sewing.  I'm completely amazed at the outcome.  Even the circular Flap scar was pulled in so it is basically the size of the aerola that will be tattoed.  The procedure was a piece of cake.  He used a local and also lipoed the sides of each breast a little more for me and on my hips next to the abdomen scar again as well.  We chatted the whole time...I even had his assistant snap a couple pictures of him working on me with my iphone.

    He inserted pig collagen cylanders into each nipple when he was finishing up.  It looked like a small cigarette filter.  He said it provides a scaffold for your body to build into and that will help the nips keep protrusion.  They are a little more pronounced than I would normally want (looks like I've been in the frozen food section at the grocery store), but with a little shrinkage, they will be perfect.  I'm enrolled in a trial so he'll be monitoring and photographing them over the next year and I'm wearing donut hole cones to protect them.  He said to try to wear them for 4 weeks and it hasn't been bad.

    I am getting the tattoos from Vinnie on January 25 and can't wait.  I'm only about 25 miles from B'more and am praying we don't get a nasty snowstorm. 

    Does anyone else have the pig collagen inserts?  He said they're on the commercial market and would have used them even if I didn't want to take part in the trial.

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  • CMartin
    CMartin Member Posts: 316
    edited November 2012

    I believe that is the product that txmomof2 has referred to. Glad you're thrilled!

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  • GreenMonkey
    GreenMonkey Member Posts: 666
    edited November 2012

    regarding the pig collagen, do they also use alloderm? is that an option? If so is there a link. Thanks!

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  • CMartin
    CMartin Member Posts: 316
    edited November 2012

    txmomof2 posted a link on her post, probably 3-4 weeks ago.  I'm just getting to work or I would find it for you.  Smile

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  • JamieB86
    JamieB86 Member Posts: 397
    edited November 2012

    so - today I get my tat. A little scared I must admit. I hope this final step helps me to move on. Wish me luck ladies!

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited November 2012

    Jamie the tat is easy. My PS numbed me so I didn't feel a thing. Not sure if I would anyway. I'm pretty numb in the middle.

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  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited November 2012

    I don't think I will feel anything when I get my tats just had nipples done and I had to look to see if he did anything cause I did not feel it.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited November 2012

    like

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  • GreenMonkey
    GreenMonkey Member Posts: 666
    edited November 2012

    got it, found it! thank you! :) 

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  • JamieB86
    JamieB86 Member Posts: 397
    edited November 2012

    I didn't feel anything, but I'm a little sore now, not the tat area, the whole breast. Wonder if it was from the vibration.  Can't wait to see it tomorrow.

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