Skin Too Thin for Nipple Reconstruction?

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LAS123
LAS123 Member Posts: 28
edited August 2017 in Breast Reconstruction

Has anyone else been told that their skin is too thin for nipple reconstruction? 

My 1st reconstruction surgeon that did my expanders and implants told me after, no reconstructed nips, just 3D tats. I've since gone with a new surgeon, switched to smaller implants due to bubble looking breasts, assymetry and tightness (375cc down to 190cc) and had 1st round of fat grafting. I'm hoping I might now be a candidate for nipple reconstruction once finished with the "mounds".

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  • mawhinney
    mawhinney Member Posts: 1,377
    edited December 2011

    I would definitely ask your new PS what the end results would be if you had nipple reconstruction. He may have a better feel on how your skin and tissue will react.  I am thin and had a c-v nipple procedure done.  The initial results were hug and angry looking. The new nipple quickly shrung to almost nothing. Just a little bump. The areola was tattooed.  Even though the new nipple has shrunk & is almost flat, it definitely helps make my breast look more normal & distracts from the zig zagging scar that runs across my breast. If I had to do it all over again, I would do the 3D tattooing.  In my case the flap procedure was not worth it.

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  • Fearless_One
    Fearless_One Member Posts: 3,300
    edited December 2011

    I have never heard of a woman not being a candidate for some kind of nipple recon, especially now that they are using alloderm and all sorts of things.   My reconstructed nipples are too large, but I prefer that to no nipples.   Perphaps get another PS opinion?

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  • lizcarolan
    lizcarolan Member Posts: 46
    edited December 2011

    Have you asked about nipe grafting? I'm thinking of going that route.

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  • LAS123
    LAS123 Member Posts: 28
    edited December 2011

    Thank you, ladies. I asked my ps on first meeting, he was enthusiastic abt amazingly realistic nipple prosthetics bc he said the reconstructed ones rarely look normal :/ I've seen quite a few decent looking reconstructed ones. My nips protrusions were pretty small originally, so a little bump and tattoo coloring would suffice :p  I plan on asking him again next visit :)

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  • LAS123
    LAS123 Member Posts: 28
    edited December 2011

    Do ps' ever use labias anymore? is that what people mean when they say "groin"? 

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  • Fearless_One
    Fearless_One Member Posts: 3,300
    edited December 2011

    I think a few do, but it is rare - not sure why - maybe it's painful or the hair grows back or something?  

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  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,891
    edited December 2011

    my PS wouldn't do labia grafting, he didn't care for it or something?  He also told me with my skin he didn't have much to work with but he would give it a try.  They were huge to start, I wore protectors for 2 months and as soon as they came off, poof!  They went to almost nothing.  They protrude now as much as a mole would.  But I didn't have my hopes up.  I guess skin does make a difference.  I just went for my final consult and won;t see the PD again for quite a long time because I am "done"  I asked him about using alloderm etc and he said he would research it.  I believe him when he says he will keep me in mind and look for options as they develop in his world.  I'm ok with it- I tried, he tried and I have a small bump but can go bra less in shirts if I want.

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  • Fearless_One
    Fearless_One Member Posts: 3,300
    edited December 2011

    Laurie, what about the width?   Are you happy with that?   Mine are too wide - 3/4" in diameter.   I was wanting 1/4".

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  • DiDel
    DiDel Member Posts: 1,329
    edited December 2011

    Laurie I agree with those above...get another opinion. I have never heard of not being a candidate for nip recon. I think most PS dont like to use grafting since it is higher risk of infection and failure. Also the use of Alloderm also increases risk of infection. I know a lot of PS use it but I would discuss risk factors with PS. To me I didnt want Alloderm on my mx side due to increased risk of infection. I didnt want to do anything to risk losing my implant or damaging skin.

    Good luck!

    Diane

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  • kmur
    kmur Member Posts: 912
    edited December 2011

    Hi Everyone,



    I just happened to see this thread . I had nipple/areola reconstruction using a skin graft taken from the groin area ( just at bikini line. This has given me a very realistic areola and nipple. In my case . I had BMX first with immediate recon with TE. I then had drains and had to wait for them to come out before chemo could begin. So while this was going on. The PS did as many fills as possible ..long story short. I had the TE's during chemo then 28 rads. After healing from rads the switch to silicone I still had some issues with rippling at that point as I am also tall and thin skinned. So the next surgery was fat grafting to add some natural slope and the nipple/areola. They look very real now. Very happy with the result. I may do a little more fat grafting down the road. Have not done tats yet. Anyway.....just wanted to say do get some opinions I think I could have been one to suffer with infection or failure due to rads but I have not had one infection ( knock on wood) so I hope this helps some to know there are some of us out here that have had much success with nipple recon. I wish you much luck and hope you will get the results you are looking for.



    Take care

    Kim

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  • Shrek4
    Shrek4 Member Posts: 1,822
    edited December 2011

    I am actually a lttle worried for my next PS appointment. the skin on the left (prophylactic) recon breast seems normal, but the one on the right (BC one) feels very very thin. When I pinch it it's like a couple mm at most. I hope he can use the scars to reconstruct the nipple.

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  • LAS123
    LAS123 Member Posts: 28
    edited January 2012

    Hello, ladies :) At my last follow up with my new surgeon (Dr Khouri), he says I am now fine to do nipple reconstruction. That's after reducing implant size and 1st fat graft session. I'll be doing another fat graft session Feb. 10th. Once I'm "happy" w/breast mounds then I hope to have nipple reconstruction :)

    Day, good luck to you! :) 

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  • Jenbunny
    Jenbunny Member Posts: 2
    edited August 2017

    Hi,

    I just got told the same thing, my skin is too thin ! I asked the doctor months ago about a nipple he just said after your reconstruction. I just got my water balloon out a week ago and silicone implant placed. Now he says I can't have a nipple and should just get a 3D tattoo.

    I want a small protrusion not a huge nipple, just not going to be happy with out it. I didn't get a large implant just a B cup. I'm very upset I feel like Frankenstein's monster with all these scars! I don't get why these doctors don't understand how important it is , after chemo and losing my long blonde hair and my eyebrows didn't come back right. I want to feel whole again ! I had left breast mastectomy, they would do both , I will never be even. Cancer Sucks!

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  • anotherNYCGirl
    anotherNYCGirl Member Posts: 1,033
    edited August 2017

    Jen, - my nips were formed with a skin graft from my upper thigh/panty line. They are amazingly real looking!! Maybe you can find a ps who can do the same? Sending best wishes your way!

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