Black hard nipples

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LBG10
LBG10 Member Posts: 34
edited June 2018 in Breast Reconstruction

Iam a little over a week post op, bilateral skin/nipple sparing mastectomies with direct to implant reconstruction! Drains are still in place, and I'm still pretty bruised! But both nipple aereolar complexes are very dark and have a "dried" up look and feel to them! Is this normal?

There is no signs of infection or pus!

I see my plastic next week for follow up and drain removal!

Anybody know the signs of nipple necrosis??

And does anybody know how painful it's going to be getting the drains out??

Worried and scared


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  • OCDAmy
    OCDAmy Member Posts: 873
    edited June 2018

    The tip of my nipple got black and flaked off. I was afraid I was going to lose it but it was fine. My PS had me put Vaseline on the nipple.

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  • OCDAmy
    OCDAmy Member Posts: 873
    edited June 2018

    And I had no pain when they took the drains out.

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  • VegGal
    VegGal Member Posts: 507
    edited June 2018

    It does sound as though they are compromised.  Mine stayed soft and pink through everything.  Maybe send an email with a photo to the on call doc to get some guidance.  That said, I've read about others who had that happen and some were fine eventually and others had varying degrees of nipple loss.

    Good luck.

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  • cupcakez
    cupcakez Member Posts: 28
    edited June 2018

    I had necrosis on both of my nipples. It happened immediately after the mastectomy. The doctor wanted to remove them ASAP, but I had developed some other complications. And it was delayed, which was a very good thing because they ended up surviving. They were black, looked like scabs, took about two, three weeks for them to come back!!

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  • CaughtOffGuard
    CaughtOffGuard Member Posts: 1
    edited June 2018

    My NSM was on 6/6 and on 6/8 I started noticing very dark, purple nipple, and the color started slowly spreading around to areola.  My first post op was 6/13 and the surgeon did not seem concerned, said it was very normal to see the bruising and discoloration. Following NSM there may be some circulation compromise, and the top layer (or even layers) of the nipple, areola, and in some cases skin, may be receiving inadequate blood flow, and the top layer may "die off" causing the dark color and dry layer. In many cases this resolves on its own, the dry layer sloughs off and new, pink skin reveals. Over the next few weeks, the skin will continue to change, peel, and hopefully everything will heal nicely. 

    My second post op was yesterday 6/19. Surgeon is still not worried about the color or dryness. He told me not to touch it, not to pick, just let the healing take its course. I asked if I should moisturize, he said not yet, but he did advise me to get some bacitracin and to apply to the crusty parts in case they break and to prevent any infections.

    Also, the drains came out - and I was so surprised that I did not feel a thing :)  The surgeon had me take two deep breaths in and out, and on the third breath he had me hold my breath while he pulled both drains out at the same time...I didn't even feel them coming out. While they were in, they were so annoying, and I barely moved my shoulder so I would not move my arm and accidentally move the drains. I was going in cringing, prepared for pain, or at least pressure...but nothing. Since yesterday and today, I went from barely moving my shoulder and arm, to being able to extend my arm fully and almost above my head. 

    Sending good luck for your recovery and hope the nipples and areolas heal nicely. 



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