Double Masectomy with no Nipples

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Lillp07
Lillp07 Member Posts: 124
edited February 2015 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

The doctor said that I wont have any nipples after my masectomy. He said some can be made later on but thats another surgery on top of all the other stuff I have had. I have large nipples and they are very low. He said thats why they wont be kept :(

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  • Obxflygirl1
    Obxflygirl1 Member Posts: 377
    edited December 2014

    A lot of woman are not able to keep their nipples. I am one of them. The good news is that the nipple surgery is usually out patient and relatively easy. Then you can get tattooed for the areola or they can make you areolas, I believe. Search this board and you will find all kinds of info. Some girls don't have nipple surgery but have 3-D tattoos for nips and areola and they look amazing. I had the nipple surgery and then tattoos for the finishing touch. I am very happy with the way they turned out.


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  • Straitlover
    Straitlover Member Posts: 124
    edited December 2014

    I was not able to keep mine because my tumor was right behind mine on the right side. On the left, the papilomas I had were right behind the nipple, too, so it had to go also. I do not pan on having nipple reconstruction. I want no more surgery than necessary, and sometimes they flatten back out anyway. Also, they always stick out, so no nipples means no haivng to hide them under your tops, LOL.Right now, I don't plan on any tattoos, either. No one will see them but doctors anyway, so why bother?

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  • LauraW68
    LauraW68 Member Posts: 100
    edited December 2014

    I was not able to keep mine either due to the size of my breasts and I had nipple involvement with the cancer in my right one.

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  • Lillp07
    Lillp07 Member Posts: 124
    edited December 2014

    thanks for your replies. It's quite a way down the track for me. I have my chemo and then double masectomy isn't until mid next year. I have so much to take in.

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  • kamm
    kamm Member Posts: 140
    edited December 2014

    I'm with you straitlover. Thought I would want the tattoos but after everything was said and done I found that nipples were overated and I really didn't care. I think it helps that my scars are in the center of my breasts from pursestring incisions and so there is something there. Certainly not pretty like a good tattoo but who sees them except my husband and I? The only thing I have to be aware of is undressing at the gym and being aware that it might freak somebody out. Don't want to do that!

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  • Akitagirl
    Akitagirl Member Posts: 142
    edited December 2014

    Lillp07 - Have you talked to your doc about doing a skin sparing mastectomy and then just "coring" out the nipple? That way, the incision is beneath your breasts, will not show if you plan on doing reconstruction, and all they do is take out the nipple, but leave the areola.

    I had to have my left nipple taken, but on the other side, she did a full skin/nipple sparing mastectomy. My PS will now take half of my (rather small) right nipple and give it to my left side.

    Even with that, I still plan on doing a really pretty flower tattoo over the left breast. There are some amazing pictures on Pinterest. Just look up "mastectomy tattoos" and you'll be impressed!

    Good luck!

    Akitagirl

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  • SunnyC
    SunnyC Member Posts: 75
    edited December 2014

    Mine had to be removed with the bmx as well. My plastic surgeon actually created fake ones on that same day. But... as one other member said "they always stick out".... and mine are not even. Kind of wish I would have just gone with 3D tattoos.

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  • Lillp07
    Lillp07 Member Posts: 124
    edited December 2014

    I need to investigate 3D tattoos. I haven't seen them.

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited December 2014
    Check out vinniemyers.com or pinkinkproject

    I have 3d Vinnies. The cost of the tattoos and the trip to Baltimore was less than my deductible last year.
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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited December 2014
    Akita - You might check out Travis Koenig at Bound by Design in Denver.
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  • Lillp07
    Lillp07 Member Posts: 124
    edited December 2014

    Wow, those tattoo photos look great.

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  • Scottiemom11
    Scottiemom11 Member Posts: 1,298
    edited December 2014

    Going to have to investigate the 3-D tattoos. For now my plan is nipple reconstruction and tattoo in about 9 months. The 3- Deepti would avoid a third surgery.

    Scottie

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  • Shelly74
    Shelly74 Member Posts: 24
    edited February 2015

    Think I will be skipping nipple reconstruction and the tattoo. Found a website for prosthetic nipples when I feel like having them. Pink-perfect.com... They look very real. No point having permanent headlights when I have implants and can go braless.

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  • bobogirl
    bobogirl Member Posts: 2,777
    edited February 2015

    Lill, I feel your sadness and I am sending you hugs. There are lots of options, and you don't have to decide right now. I have decided, after a long and hard road for me, to go to Vinnie. He is the best! My visit to NOLA will be a celebration. It is not a surgical procedure, and the risk of infection is extremely low. I cannot wait!

    Sending you hugs.

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