Nipples ....

star2017, I've tried temporary tattoos from several companies. I'm pretty amazed how much better I feel wearing them. Looks more complete. They didn't last but a few days, sometimes ten days, but it's worth it to me.

The lady company I bought them from was tatatattoos. Just Google it. You'll find lots. They're very inexpensive, too.

I had my nipple reconstruction done at the end of August. My PS just made cuts where the nipples were going to be and used that skin. No taking from other places. At first I was freaked out. But the Frankenstein Nipples don’t stay like that. He said there would be 60% shrinkage and that’s about right. My nipples are smallish, like I wanted them.

Today I had the tattoos done. I was pleasantly surprised that it hurt because I didn’t realize that I would really feel it. But the good thing is that she used lidocaine and it was fine. I got to pick size and color and all I did all day was grin. Once the bleeding stops and it heals I’ll know how the color looks for sure. But I’m really happy with them. Looking in the mirror when we were done was so empowering. I’m me again. I don’t think I realized what a big deal this really was going to be. But it’s huge. I swear I’ll probably smile all week. Who cares about the rain?!? lo

it is so encouraging to hear good results. They have to remove my right nipple on 12/11 and it has made me really sad

HPFULL, to overcome my emotional attachment of losing my breasts...and it is a BIG deal to lose my breasts...I would remind myself that my breasts were trying to kill me. It helped me keep things in perspective.

I am nine months out from BMX with DIEP Flap. I was just thinking last night that I am so grateful that I have breasts again. Today I go for my 3D nipple tattoos.

You will get through this and the sadness you are feeling is completely normal. Remember the goal is to be cancer free. You will be cancer free and you will have beautiful breasts again.

Blessings for a quick recovery.

I have nipples!!! I have nipples! I love them! I look and feel so normal!!!

Renee Maschinot did my 3D tattoos today in my PS’s office. She is great and did a great job! She lives in Fort Lauderdale and travels around the country.

I couldn’t be happier

it’s what I’m going to do. I had revision surgery Tuesday and the ps asked me if I wanted to take some nipple area from my good side and bring it over. I decided not to, I don’t want to worry about the healing process. I’m just going to get a tattoo eventually

Lucyred, I heard tat artist Vinnie is adamant you wait 6 mos after surgery. Maybe others do it sooner I don't know.

Bella, a big CONGRATS on your tats!! So happy for you!!

how did you create the protrusion?

Happy, Happy, Happy news, Bella!

Coach Vicky

ok so if I have exchange surgery 5/2019 then nipple recon would be 11/2019 and then 3D tattoo 5/2020?? Gosh that is so far away!!

So happy to read about how everyone feels after recon and tattooing, it really helps to keep the rest of us going. This road to recovery is just so flipping long!!!

Lucyred, it is such a long process, AGREED! Most people that I talk to and share my story can't believe it takes nearly a year from start to finish, and that's if you have absolutely no complications or have additional treatments like chemo or rads! I have been very lucky. My bilateral Mastectomy was on 1/4/18, exchange in April, nipple reconstruction in August and just finished my areola tattoo on Wednesday!! Thank GOD I'm finished, can't thank my doctors enough as they have been amazing! Good luck to you

Bella, I totally have been walking on air the last week. I got mine done Monday and I’m so happy with the results. I told my friends that now I have normal titties again! Congrats

I had double mastectomy in June 2015, July 2015 had tissue necrosis so lost most of the right protrusion part of the nipple and a portion of the left so that now it's kind of folded over. In October 2015, I had implant exchange surgery and have, for the most part, been happy with the results. I have some feeling in the breasts which my PS said I probably wouldn't have so I'm very grateful for that. Now comes the questions though, do I go through the further surgery to fix the nipple/lack thereof (I have aereolas on both side so tattooing isn't needed) which could reduce my ability to sense touch? Are the options for protrusion prosthetics, etc good enough to at least kind of match the side that's folded over? I've spoken with a plastic surgeon about the left, he said he can do a fat transplant to build up the dented area which was removed due to necrosis but didn't give me many options about the missing nipple on the right.

This is over a year after your post, but I read your experience about the hematoma and had to chime in. I had a stereotactic core biopsy in June 2018--HUGE hematoma. By the time of mastectomy August 2018, it was encapsulated and when they cut it out, it was almost 10 cm. Like you, I had to delay my surgery because of the hematoma and it also affected planning for surgery since they couldn't adequately assess the degree of disease. In fact, I opted for mastectomy largely because removing the hematoma would have essentially been a mastectomy anyway it was so larte. I had unifocal disease, and so no special risk factors for hematoma.

My friend, diagnosed about 2 months later also developed a 4 cm hematoma (now down to 2 cm) and her surgery has been delayed as well. If you search various breast cancer threads, you will see multiple women with hematomas. My breast physical therapist said she sees them frequently, as does my plastic surgeon.

My point in writing this is that I think hematomas are underreported and it's a side effect that is minimized when women are making their decisions. There seems to be no standardization in how radiologists handle post-biopsy care (MD Anderson uses wrap compression, my friend had massage compression, I just got a tiny ice pack) and consent is lacking. Even after my experience, my friend (a lawyer) said she didn't want the core biopsy, but didn't know she had an alternative.

I think this is a huge area for patient advocacy.

macmomma,

The nipples your PS can make will be erect for a few months at the most. Then they will flatten. I have just enough nipple to feel something. In a tank top mine are barely poking thru.

Coach Vicky