My surgeon thinks he did a great job of removing a cancer behind my nipple, and then creating a new nipple (the original went with the cancer). He drew up the edges of the resulting hole as you would a drawstring on a purse, and then called the bunch of flesh a nipple. He is sooo proud of himself! I'm glad he got all the cancer etc, but the mess he calls a nipple is horrible. I can't imagine how I'm supposed to keep all those valleys and bumps around it clean. I'll probably need to use a toothbrush. I looked online at pictures of how this surgery usually looks and there's just a single thin scar across the breast. Not a bunched up lump. What can I do about this situation? Do I suggest he fixes it up? Can I go to a cosmetic surgeon in the future? What's the deal with expecting a woman to have a dillybag for a boob? And thank the surgeon for it as well!!

Thanks @Bravo ! I will carry the vision of a woman muttering and nuttering while scrubbing at her less than satisfactory tit with a toothbrush.Tell him you think it is an abomination. 10 years ago I went along with this shit not knowing any different when I was told that my results were 'magnificent'. Apart from some limited images available through BCNA there was nothing for me to compare my experience to. Certainly nothing like this forum. So I just assumed that what I had was as good as it got. And that it was my fault that I had complications. Complain. Get a second opinion ( though they close ranks and won't criticize each other's work) @mum2jj will get you into the breast reconstruction page if you are not already a member. Heaps of good advice about this in there.Marg

Hi important that you touch base with the surgeon but he is not a cosmetic or plastic surgeon?you have only just started the journey .Also some of us have skin that does not heal smoothly but does scar .Hoping the next surgeon is more compassionate.

Hi there @Bravo I am not sure of the procedure you had, although there are different ways of creating nipples. Mine were done with the common CV flap. If you would like to join choosing breast reconstruction we have some nipple stories in our photo story announcement. Mine are in there. With this procedure some ladies do flatten with time. Maybe what you have had may as well. Here is a diagram of the CV flap method. Paula x. PS Just request to join the group and leave a message.

I agree with the other ladies. Was wondering if a fat transfer might assist also. I'm sure there is something that can improve it's appearance but more importantly the risk of future health issues due to the dips etc. If unhappy with his response once you raise the issue, seek a referral to another breast surgeon or a plastic surgeon gor another opinion. Have you had radiotherapy yet? I know that can impact on the initial surgical outcome. I know even ones done really well look horrid at the beginning abd change quite a bit with healing time. Kath x

Thanks for the food for thought. I will definitely being asking the breastcare nurse about this. I'm not desperate for a nipple, just a smooth wound would suffice. My dear OH can't even look at it (he is squeamish about any health issues!), so I may have to make a little boob beanie for his benefit.I'm being cared for under the public health system, so any cosmetic surgery might be years away if I need to be on an elective surgery waiting list. I've yet to have radiotherapy but I'm pretty sure I will be having it. Who knows? It may smooth out the valleys! I'm a seamstress and this present stitching job would not get a pass in my opinion.

New nipple? | BCNA Online Network

15 Replies

Cherielegs11
Member
5 years ago
I just wanted to say that you are very lucky you have a surgeon that is open to a prosthetic nipple. i told mine that i had ordered prosthetic nipples from pink Perfect in the US. He wasn't that impressed and tried to talk me into going ahead with the nipple construction. Today my nipples arrived and I have to say that they look amazing, I am looking forward to wearing them and try to work out if this is it for me in terms of surgery.
Bravo
Member
9 years ago
Ha ha! I could do that.
socoda
Member
9 years ago
Hi @Bravo, You got me laughing at the boob beanie! Excellent with winter coming up.

Hoping you get some satisfaction and a better outcome. Xx Cath
melclarity
Member
9 years ago
I didn't know that about public hospitals, that you are zoned Cate. I think as my Surgeon and Plastic Surgeon are private and work out of public as well that why I went to Royal Melbourne, but Im not zoned for there. Interesting. x
jayjen
Member
9 years ago
I think I would be going back to tell him my opinion, but I doubt I would ask him for a redo. I got an excellent reconstruction done by a plastic surgeon. It is still painful at times even though there is no feeling. I did baulk at getting a new nipple and now proudly wear a fake one!! Even my plastic surgeon said to me on a follow up visit : "I didn't do that nipple did I?" When I told him it was fake he wanted to take photos to show other patients. Sorry you have this on top of the "tit trip".
primek
Member
9 years ago
@Cate64 oh how annoying. Well you'll have to be more assertive and ask for a revision.
Cate64
Member
9 years ago
@primek in Victoria you have to go to the Public Hospital you are zoned to, which is why I am stuck at the Northern. Not sure about other states..
Bravo
Member
9 years ago
I can't help wondering if they'd be happy to wear that on their own chest, or that of their partner!
Cate64
Member
9 years ago
@Bravo my plastic surgeon keeps telling me my reconstructions are a 'great result'. I disagree!!
primek
Member
9 years ago
More than one public health hospital though. You could get on several wait lists.