My amazing new nipple!
My amazing new nipple! Well Ladies and Gentlemen for the first time in 13 months I have 2 nipples and look as near “normal” (whatever that means) as I did before BC and am now a topless model! LOL!
My secret is an amazing man called John Buckle who works at Wexham Park Hospital, Slough. I was lucky enough to be referred to him on the NHS by my BC consultant.
His web site is www.johnbuckle.co.uk
I did discuss with him mentioning his name on this site and he was more than happy for me to do so. There are approximately 8 or 10 other people around the country who are able to provide this service so don’t worry that you’ve got to be referred to, or travel to Slough! If you contact him he can point you in the right direction for someone in or nearer to your area. I had no problems getting a referral to him but it would appear some NHS trusts are “reluctant” to refer patients to him, or his associates around the country due to cost! A lot of BCNs or consultants apparently do not mention this is available for the very same reason.
I had 2 consultations with him. In the first he measured and noted down the various dimensions, heights etc of my remaining nipple and areola. (I had left side, skin sparing mast. with immediate Lat. Dorsi & implant recon.) He then made up some silicone which was colour matched to my existing nipple and areola. He kept asking me to cover my existing nipple while he mixed the colour as it kept changing colour as it got cooler, making it almost impossible to get a match! A mould was then taken using the same stuff they make dental impressions with! I could smell the spearmint and it was green!
I walked in for the second consultation and there on his desk lay 2 skin tone versions of my nipple and areola! I knew they were mine, I would recognise them anywhere! John is so meticulous he had made the silicone versions and turned the nipple around so that they were mirror images of my existing nipple. As he said otherwise they would both be pointing right, which would look odd! He then “paints” the 2 plain skin tone versions to exactly match the colouring and marks on the existing nipple and areola. Again I had to keep warming rightie up as it kept changing colour. To watch John at work was like watching one of the great watercolourists, mixing golds, blues, maroons. I had never imagined I had so many colours on my nipple! When he had finished they looked so real, almost like they had been sliced off a living breast is the only way I describe the realism he had brought to these slivers of silicone. He keeps one as permanent colour copy the other was my 1st one to wear.
We put it on just for a try out using a little water on the back. I cannot put into words the feelings I had when I looked into the mirror and saw myself with 2 nipples for the first time for 13 months. I felt more complete. Another piece of me had been put back into the jigsaw. I looked like a proper woman again.
John then asked if I would mind having some photos taken, before & after application of the nipple, as I have had a fantastic reconstruction done (Mr Ravichandran Luton & Dunstable Hosp.) and the amazing nipple completed the picture! Would I mind if he used them to update his site? As the pictures on there were taken sometime ago and both the techniques in recon and his own in nipple recon have moved on quite a bit since then. I had no objections at all, I am so proud of the recon. and especially my new nipple and I want to show women & men how fantastic Johns’ work is, so that they have another option to choose from if they require this treatment. Plus it was my chance at 43 to acheive the dream of being a topless model! Well, OK, you cant see my face but that is not a bad thing believe me! The site hasn’t been updated yet, but I’ll let you know when it has. Still worth a look now though.
The nipples are attached using a special glue that lasts between 6 & 12 weeks depending on skin type, activities etc. I can swim/sauna/bath/shower etc with no worries. When the areola starts to lift it can be soaked off in the bath or shower and I simply apply another one, wash and remove any remaining glue from the one that has just come off and put it away to use again, or clean that one up and re-use it. But I would prefer to rotate my nipples! I will be provided with a total of 5 nipples, witches only had 3! Each lasts approximately 18 months so they should keep me going for about 8 years!
Prior to meeting John (who is the most patient, understanding & a perfectionist of a gentleman I have yet met) I was seriously considering further surgery to have my nipple built. I won’t have to go down that avenue now as I am completely happy with my new amazing nipple(s)! No more loose fitting, patterned tops or cardis, or scarves drapped over my shoulder to hide the fact I only had 1 nipple.
So there you have it the story behind my amazing new nipple, if this would be of use to other forums could the mod. please add it to them?
Hi Dawn,
just wanted to say i too had a silicone one done by John, lovely lovely man!
i dont wear mine very much anymore as for some reason i felt a bit odd having a bit of silicone stuck to me!! i’m due for the proper nipple reconstruction on 13th april.
Not sure about you but i have found that the silicone one looks fab if you were to look at that boob alone but together they dont always match in colour as my nipples are always changing colour!!!
I’m a little apprehensive now tho about having the real reconstruction as i wont be able to take that one off if i’m not happy with it!!!.
anyway, enough of my ramblings, just wanted to say i’ve had my nipple made by the same man!!!
take care
claire xx