DIEP 2013

Just wondered if anyone has heard from Kat-ski? Hope everything is going well for her. She is 10 days out and probably thinking about her return trip to Michigan now. Heal well Kat-ski.

Hi everyone. I've been away from this Board for a few months. Hope everyone is doing well. I had a revision in October following DIEP in August because of some necrotic tissue. Everything healed really well after that. It has taken a long time to even start to feel like these changes are normal but getting there and overall I am very happy with the results. I will need one more revision to do the finishing touches....fipple, getting rid of the "wings" on my hips and just some fine tuning. I don't have a date yet but hoping it will be this spring. I am actually looking forward to getting this done and am not nearly as frightened as I was at the beginning. Despite the 12 hour surgery and challenging recovery, I am very happy that I have gone this route. Everyone here has been so supportive and I really appreciate that. In addition, what I learned from the women here meant that I had no surprises. 

Hrf....glad all is going well for you, and that you are getting on .... with getting on!  good luck with your last revision....  

Christina....nice to "see" you......

butterfleyez, so good to hear from you! Sorry work has been a struggle - it will get easier. {{{hugs}}}

butterfleyez, some of us are mostly on the Moving On....After the Flap thread.

Wow, I remember when this thread was so busy it was almost impossible to keep up with! It makes me feel good that hopefully most of us have moved on with other things.

I had my nipple tattoo done today. Even with the nipple being 90% in an area that is mostly numb, and even with numbing cream, I thought it still kind of hurt! And I'm achy tonight. Nothing unbearable, but I just can't believe anyone gets tattoos on purpose. lol I'm definitely not ever getting one now! The tattoo is definitely darker than my other, natural nipple, but the gal who did it assures me it will fade and should match well. I go back in four weeks for her to do any touch up coloring. And that should be my last recon appointment... it's so hard to believe that finally I am almost done with all of this.

Christina, good to know! I wondered why I was given numbing cream for my numb nipples. I will heap it on thickly. I think it's wonderful that you are mostly finished. We are all getting there!

Cross posting - I've been off the boards a couple weeks and am so far behind in your posts.

My recovery is coming along pretty well. I started exercising and am doing a diet plan called Shred.

For gals who did the DIEP with tummy tuck incision -
jeans - every pair I own slides right off down onto my hips. Any
suggestions (beyond a belt, hate those things) on styles or materials
that you've found work best with our new or interim shapes?

It's
nice to be smaller below the belly button, but my torso is off balance
as I have a good bit of fat over the belly button area (I call it my rib
meat). It looks like I was hollowed out down below.

Christina, love the new pic!

Deb, I hear you. My nips will be late June, then tattooing won't be until after Christmas! I am going to fly to England to get the proper tattooing done (the guy trained with Vinnie) but he won't do it until 6 months after nip recon. This is the  s l o w e s t  train I've ever been forced to ride.

my PS said he was not happy with my belly button.  It is off center and has developed a hypertrophic scar.  It looks spidery.  I said it looked evil!  He put fat in my ab wound and wants yo fix that.  I wonder if I'm just being too vain fixing all these things. 

Hi ladies!  I'm with you Mammalou and Jeannie.  We just want to look normal, not like fashion models.  I have my appointment for lipo, fat grafting, and nipples, May 23, 2014.  It's the same day as my BMX last year.  Christina, love the avatar!  I think spending the winter in Florida made the time pass much more quickly.

I'm also looking at hair transition systems.  I didn't have chemo, but the Femara is definitely causing thinning hair.  I think it is the male pattern baldness in my mother's family that is helping this along.  Mammalou, I thought the same thing about being too vain.  There was an article in the Indianapolis Star today talking about breasts and hair being the things that are a big part of being women.  My husband said, with tears in his eyes, "you go ahead and get that hair system" after reading how other women feel.  He realized it wasn't just an over reaction.

I hope everyone is doing well.  I'm still getting caught up.  Love you all!

I want to know about this hair transitioning system too!!  My hair hasn't grown more than half-inch since last February)2013)!!

Hi ladies,

I didn't realize there was activity on this thread.  I must have missed it.  Sorry!  I hope those that are interested will check out Hair Transitions of Indiana.  They have salons all over the US.  It is a hair piece that is hand made with real hair to match my color/highlighting.  It is attached to a mesh base. It will be bonded to my hair on top.  They re-bond it once a month or so.  It will blend in with my real hair on the sides and in the back.  I think some of the hair line in front will be mine, but I have bangs so it really doesn't matter.  It can be clipped in, if that is what is preferred.

They made a form of the top of my head.  My hair isn't thick, so that wasn't an issue.  They make it to cover the thinning areas.  It's one of those things that others say they can't tell my hair is thinning.  I said I don't want them to be able to tell.  Then I have waited too long.  I know my hair line is receding on top and on the temples.  It feels thinner on top in the back, too.

It takes 9 - 12 weeks for it to be made.  I will show them different hair styles that I like and they will help me have what ever style will be reasonable for me.  I opted for a piece that is above shoulder length and will be cut to the style I want.  That's about all I know so far.  

Please PM me if you have any questions I might be able to answer.

Hope you all are well!  Love, Julie

I have an office job, I am an IT consultant so I am usually at a desk but do float around the office. leading and attending meetings. I am curious what to expect about going back to the office from those who went through this and any suggestions/lessons learned on recovery. Thanks!!!!

Bosum, Goldie's surgery is Monday.