Hi
I’m posting to see if anyone has had experience of a nipple reconstruction failing, and gone on to have just the tattooing?
My nipple failed when the skin died, and I’m considering just having the tatooing without the nipple itself. My implant became exposed and had to be removed and replaced with a smaller one because there isn’t enough skin for the size I had.
While I know I could have another type of reconstruction and then have another nipple done-and I know my surgeon favours this-I have really had enough of treatment and surgery for now, and providing this current implant settles ok, I plan to leave it at least for the moment.
I can make things look ok in a bra, with small prosthesis if necessary, but what I notice most is the absence of a nipple. I am considering just having the tattoo done and wondered if anyone else had done this, and how it looked, or if anyon who has had nipple plus tattooing thinks one would look ok without the other?!
Thanks
C
Hi Cupoftea
Just bumping this up for you.
I am eagerly awaiting this procedure and so sorry that your result hasn’t worked. I think your thread could possibly help a lot of women who are undecided/having complications. Thank you so much for starting it and I truly hope you get a decent ‘alternative’ soon.
Lots of love. Cathy
I am probably not going to go for a nipple reconstruction as I don’t really have enough skin. I have been told that some tattoo parlours (apparently there is one in Salisbury) who can tattoo a 3D nipple so that although there isn’t anything there it looks like there is. However, I agree you would need ‘nerve’ to do this!Or a very stiff drink beforehand!!
I’m not quite at that stage yet but I think it will be the way for me to go.
Good luck because I can quite understand not wanting further surgery.
Val x
Hi Ladies,
I went for my op to reduce my unaffected side 2weeks ago and whilst being marked in the anaesthetic room my surgeon suddenly decided to do a nipple re-con. I was shocked and stunned into silence - only for a little while and eventually he decided not to do it. I have been in 2 minds about this for some time and actually had a prosthetic nipple made from my own from the unaffected side before my op. Result is an exact replica of my own nipple which looks really good - downside is that you need to glue it into position so some will probably not like that idea but it is a good alternative to see what a recon and tattoo might look like. Hope this helps.
Marjay
I didn’t want more surgery after my LD reconstruction because I’d taken so long to heal (9 months) and was concerned the nipple reconstruction might go the same way. I opted to have just a nipple tattoo by one of the nurses in the plastics dept. However, I think the nurse who did it wasn’t very skilled and the result was awful- I wouldn’t have wanted anyone to have seen it. I went back for a check a couple of weeks later and another nurse* applied something that was supposed to remove the colour. That didn’t work but in fact the tattoo faded to almost nothing after a few months.
I then decided to go for the nipple reconstruction. I was lucky enough to meet a lady who was happy for me to see her reconstruction and talk about the procedure. The op was very successful, no healing problems at all. The nurse* tattooed it a few weeks later and took great care to match the colour. SHe applied a little more colour again a few weeks after this to get it just right. It looks great - 3 years later I still look at it every day and feel so pleased.
So, I suppose what I’d suggest is if you don’t want reconstruction, try to see an example of the work of the person who is going to be doing the tattoo. By the way, the hospital uses a pigment, rather than the ink that’s used for ordinary tattoos. The pigment is less permanent and can fade on some people, may need topping up after a couple of years depending on skin ph.
Good luck everyone.
Hi timetraveller,
Am I right in thinking this is not too painful? I also understand that the tattooing is sometimes performed in the hospital and sometimes they advise you to go to a tattoo parlour. I understand this depends on their ability or not, to provide the service.
I agree that if you can speak about or even see the end result it helps.
Marjay
Firstly I’m sorry to hear your reconstruction failed. I can fully understand not wanting to go through yet more surgery.
I’ve just had a reconstruction, and may go in for tattooing in a few months when it’s settled down so this thread is really interesting. I’ve seen pictures of a 100% tattooed nipple (if that makes sense) done by a tattooist, and it was incredibly convincing. However the tattooist was extremely skilled - I would shop around to find one who specialised in that sort of work, or you may well end up with a random pink blob!
I think most hospitals carry out this sort of tattooing themselves and I guess some are better at it than others. They should be able to show you pictures of tattoos they have done I’d have thought. They use semi-permanent ink so can adjust the colour afterwards, which a tattooist generally doesn’t and can’t.
PS: re the pain - I’ve got some tattoos and yes they do hurt, but it is bearable! They do say that generally the bonier the place you have them done, the more painful, so hopefully this would mean your breast would be one of the least painful places. Also, the tattooist applies the ink in short bursts, so you just have to brace yourself for a few seconds at a time which makes it easier. They can also apply some pain-relieving gel to the skin first if you want. I’d say if you’ve already gone through biopsy, surgery and having needles stuck in you night and day during your treatment, you will easily handle the pain of a tattoo!
Hi Marjay
the hospital give you an anaesthetic cream that is applied over the area and left for an hour before the tattooing. I wasn’t sure I’d even need that as there’s little sensation in my reconstructed breast but the nurse said it was best to use to be on the safe side. So, no, the tattooing doesn’t hurt, there is just the sensation of constant light pressure while it’s being done.
Interestingly, I was warned that if you have an LD reconstruction you can get a bit of an achey feeling in your back later because the LD muscle (holding the implant) reacts to the tattooing and thinks it’s still in its original (back) position. It’s suggested you just take paracetomol pain relief if you need to, but I didn’t find it necessary.
I think you could ask to be refered to a hospital where the tattooing is done if yours doesn’t provide that service.
Best wishes, Timetraveller
Hi Ladies
Thanks for all the advice. I didn’t know a 3D or 100% tattooed nipple was an option (I think my plastic surgeon is hoping that I will have a flap recon to replace my impant now, so hasn’t gone down that road with me!)that sounds very interesting and will definitely ask about that when I go back at the end of May. I will post an update then as well in case its useful for others on the thread. Its really helpful to hear about your experiences and wish everyone luck with the next phase of their reconstructions.
C x
not making light of the situation, but a friend who has had bilateral reconns, has just been for a fiitting of her new nipples. We had to laugh coming out of the clinic, as she was told once they were completed ,they would be posted out to her.
If I decide to have a plastic nipp , think I will take it to be pierced, just coz it wont hurt !!!
take care x