Trip to see Vinnie

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  • grammakathy
    grammakathy Member Posts: 407
    edited April 2015

    good for you AZ! And our original diagnosis was two months apart. We have travelled a similar road. We'll both be posting on the Picture forum in July. I've gradually settled down after my exchange surgery and am looking forward to looking ahead.

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  • ironmagnolia
    ironmagnolia Member Posts: 85
    edited April 2015

    My appointment with Vinnie is Friday May15th at 9:30 am!!! Been waiting a long time for this. We re flying into Maryland from San Antonio and have friends there, so will make a fun weekend of it.

    Only slightly concerned about discomfort, I do have some feeling in my breasts but my origami nipples are pretty numb. I figure if there's pain, then thats a good sign of sensation!! I'll be taking along some analgesics with me and will be drinking plenty of wine that weekend.... :)

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  • AZ85048
    AZ85048 Member Posts: 2,613
    edited April 2015

    ironmagnolia - NICE! 5/15/15 - that has to be a good sign! Please don't waste your energy worrying about it ahead of time, because the end result is SO worth any temporary discomfort. (Really it is.) And like lala1 mentioned above, tattooing is not Vinnie's only skill. He's a very proficient storyteller and deftly diverts your attention with his arsenal of anecdotes. (It's his second lesser known talent - but VERY effective. LOL!) He's chatting away and before you know it - you'e done! (But just in case of emergency, there's a liquor store right next door to the tattoo parlor!)

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  • lala1
    lala1 Member Posts: 1,147
    edited April 2015

    I hear he has a large selection of vodkas IN the store!!

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  • uds17
    uds17 Member Posts: 183
    edited April 2015

    hartrish- it was a bit uncomfortable, but not bad (especially compared to what we've already been through!). On the side where my tumor was, it felt like a rug burn. I felt nothing on the other side. It's totally manageable and soooooo worth it! Who knew that two little circles could make such a difference?!

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  • Piano-girl
    Piano-girl Member Posts: 59
    edited May 2015

    Getting excited and nervous for my Vinnie appointment! My husband and I are going to make a long weekend of it and check out Monticello while we are there (we are coming from Oregon). I also have thin skin and less common incision lines so I hope that won't be a problem. I know I can head to California for a touch up if needed. I have quite a bit of feeling so will be counting on stories to distract me and we have plans of wine and crab cakes for dinner! My appointment is May 18th at 3pm if anyone wants to come hold my hand!! Hotel and restaurant suggestions?

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  • Lorbgoo
    Lorbgoo Member Posts: 213
    edited May 2015

    mine was a little painful first time and I just went again today for a touch up and it hurt less. Non cancerous side hurt more.

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  • notadaygoesby
    notadaygoesby Member Posts: 21
    edited May 2015

    On Friday, May 1, I completed the final hurdle. I got my "Vinnie" tattoos. Yes, it did hurt on the radiation side due to thin skin and tattooing on the scar line. On a scale from 1 to 10, 10 being the worst. I would have to give it a 4 to 5 in some sensitive areas on the radiation side and a 2 on the right side. Absolutely no pain from that day forward. It was well worth it. This was my second round with Vinnie. My first visit was in September 2014 and Vinnie felt that the scar line was not healed enough, it was dry and flaky, so he had me wait another 6 months. That day was such a let down, driving from MI to MD - 9hours, just to have him say I needed to wait another 6 months was devastating! But now, after 2.5 years from my diagnosis it is complete and looks great. My next hurdle is working on the nerve damage that starts about 6 inches below my under arm (right side) and down the side and radiates to my back to the point I can not wear a bra the pain is so intense! Massages have helped a lot but I see another DR today so review options.

    Good Luck to all you Ladies who are venturing out to see Vinnie. I didn't realize how important this step was until I looked in the mirror and looked like my old self again. Guess it really did affect me not have the nipples! It's all good!

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  • uds17
    uds17 Member Posts: 183
    edited May 2015

    So I'm sitting in the waiting room at my plastic surgeon's office.... I had bumped into him at an event a couple of weeks ago and he asked me to come by and show him my tattoos. I'm so proud of them - had I had 1 more glass of wine the night I saw him I would have flashed him then!

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  • PinkHeart
    PinkHeart Member Posts: 1,193
    edited May 2015
    Uds17,

    I'm having a glass of wine now laughing at your post. :). I will prob go to my PS office to show mine off -- whenever I get scheduled to get them done. 😊
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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited May 2015
    Uds - lol! My DH said I should charge admission b/c I showed them to so many people.
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  • AZ85048
    AZ85048 Member Posts: 2,613
    edited May 2015

    uds17 - LOL! Flaunt 'em if you've got 'em!

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  • uds17
    uds17 Member Posts: 183
    edited May 2015

    I knew you gals would understand!! :)

    Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!

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  • macb04
    macb04 Member Posts: 1,433
    edited May 2015

    HI MartyJ

    Can you tell me what kind of lasers you had done to the scars? Was it pulsed dye?

    want to get scars unreddened too.

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  • AZ85048
    AZ85048 Member Posts: 2,613
    edited May 2015

    Looks like Vinnie made the list of "The 100 Most Creative People of 2015", according to Fast Company:

    http://www.fastcompany.com/3043937/most-creative-p...



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  • grammakathy
    grammakathy Member Posts: 407
    edited May 2015

    Great explanation!  I can't wait until late June!

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  • ironmagnolia
    ironmagnolia Member Posts: 85
    edited May 2015

    Just had my appointment with Vinnie yesterday and what a nice guy! Everyone at Little Vinnie's were so friendly and kind. Vinnie is so interesting and kept me distracted with his interesting stories. He did a beautiful job, topping off my great reconstruction by Dr Chrysopoulo at PRMA. My tattoos look so real and I only felt an occasional stinging. Before we left, my husband surprised me by getting a small pink ribbon with my name under it from Ian. :)

    Thank you Vinnie for making me whole again and thank you for all you do for breast cancer warriors!


    Sandra

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  • Jlg1067
    Jlg1067 Member Posts: 14
    edited May 2015

    Lorbgoo, Are you seeing Vinnie too? if so, where are you seeing him and if not, who did you see? I'm wanting the 3D's but having a hard time trying to find a good one in the Charlotte Area.

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  • trailrose
    trailrose Member Posts: 219
    edited May 2015

    Jlg1067- I live over here in the Bryson City area and chose Renee Maschinot with pe;tite re;treat She lives in FL. but travels to Summerville, SC (just outside of Charleston) to Sweetgrass Plastic Surgery to do the 3D nipple/areola tattoos. She trained with Vinnie. I was going to schedule with Vinnie but I was told he was booked up for the rest of the year and they had a waiting list.

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  • PinkHeart
    PinkHeart Member Posts: 1,193
    edited May 2015
    I live in Charleston SC and will be getting 3D tats with Renee when she comes here this summer. 😊
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  • Lorbgoo
    Lorbgoo Member Posts: 213
    edited May 2015

    I went with a lady from Pink Ink tattoo. She is a survivor as well and met her in support group. She did an amazing job. She is in Raleigh.

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  • Warrior_Woman
    Warrior_Woman Member Posts: 1,274
    edited May 2015

    OMG! My trip to see Vinnie is scheduled for 1/22/16! The light at the end of the tunnel appears! YEA!!!!!

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  • PinkHeart
    PinkHeart Member Posts: 1,193
    edited May 2015
    For those of you who may want to get tattoos finished sooner (for insurance before end if year), you may like to consider an appointment with Renee Maschinot. She was trained by the best (Vinnie) several years ago and also devotes her practice to breast cancer survivors. Her studio is actually in Fort Lauderdale, FL, but she travels to Charleston, SC, Jacksonville, FL where you can get an appt there at PS offices. (just as Vinnie goes to NOLA PS office). I believe she also goes to NYC. I will have mine done in Charleston. Can't wait!!
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  • AZ85048
    AZ85048 Member Posts: 2,613
    edited May 2015

    YAY, Warrior_Woman! So happy to hear that you have a 'finish line'!

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  • Piano-girl
    Piano-girl Member Posts: 59
    edited May 2015

    I've got Vinnie's!! After waiting so long for the appointment, I began to wonder if the travel, wait etc were really worth it... I am so glad I did it! I will say it was much more painful than I had expected I did have a good two weeks of "zingers" after my BMX as the nerves regenerated so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Apparently my skin was pretty resistant to the ink so I may have to go in for a touch up. I hate seeing ink on the bandage -- all that beautiful detail work-- but the ink seems to be staying put now. After my appointment, my husband and I went to a place for crab cakes and much needed drinks (!) that Vinnie had recommended - (D&G's I think). I'M DONE!!!

    Warrior_Woman: you and I were in the same surgery group on this site way back when ... glad to hear you're doing well!

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  • AZ85048
    AZ85048 Member Posts: 2,613
    edited May 2015

    YAY, Piano-girl! (I think the restaurant is called G&M - the crab cake place, right?) I swear Vinnie must own stock in it!

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  • Piano-girl
    Piano-girl Member Posts: 59
    edited May 2015

    AZ, that's it! Good luck with your second pass... I am interested to hear how it goes as I may need one too. How long was it before they stopped fading?

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  • AZ85048
    AZ85048 Member Posts: 2,613
    edited May 2015

    Piano-girl - They honestly haven't faded that much from where I sit - but Vinnie was very concerned that my skin was so thin that he wouldn't be able to get much ink retention the first time around. (So much so that he nearly sent me home tattooless!) Thankfully, I never had any of the ink come off onto the telfa pads; so what he got on there stayed. We didn't even try for the Montgomery glands the first time because things were so tenuous...so maybe this time. (I recently posted a collage of the progression on my thread in the picture forum, if you're interested.)

    It will be nearly six months by the time I see him again, and from what he said, the second time around the idea is to build on whatever color is already there. Like you, mine wasn't the most pleasant of experiences pain wise, but I'm so glad I did it! (Evidenced by the fact that I'm actually going back for more!)


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  • Alibeths
    Alibeths Member Posts: 656
    edited May 2015

    How much are tattoos with Vinny? I only need one!! : ) Has anyone shared pics?

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  • lala1
    lala1 Member Posts: 1,147
    edited May 2015

    I've got pictures of my uni tattoo on the picture forum if you'd like to see how closely he can match a native boob and a foob! He charged me $600 for one last June. I was told it was $800 for two. I had to put down a $400 deposit. Don't know if prices are still the same but it was worth every penny!!


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