Thoughts on 3D nipple tattoos

Is there any reason why a nipple tattoo cannot be done at any normal tattoo place if it is clean, sterile etc? I have enquired getting a nipple tattoo at a specialised medical tattoo place and it was very expensive. On the other hand for a normal tattoo artist it is such a small procedure, one colour and no real fancy " art work" . I have no sensation so there should be no pain. Any recommendations would be appreciated! Thanks!

is there any reason why a nipple tattoo cannot be done at any normal tattoo place if it is clean, sterile etc? I have enquired getting a nipple tattoo at a specialised medical tattoo place and it was very expensive. On the other hand for a normal tattoo artist it is such a small procedure, one colour and no real fancy " art work" . I have no sensation so there should be no pain. Any recommendations would be appreciated! Thanks!

Hi Annie I'm not sure about the silicon strips. The instructions say to use them for 4 months. I bought a 15cm x 12cm piece which cost me the $150. But I cut them into 4 x 3cm wide 15cm long strips. They are really weird like plastic sticky jelly. You wear the same strips each day until the stickiness wears off. You also are supposed to wash them each day with a mild soap and leave to dry. I have since found they stay on in the shower so washing every time isn't really necessary. The stickiness returns somehow once dry but I have found that after about a month it loses it altogether so then I used the next two. My scars were both about 15cms long. I'm not sure if they would be of any benefit to you if your scars are nice and smooth. I don't think they help fade it or anything they just keep it smooth - that is my understanding probably wouldn't hurt to ask a medical professional or do some googling.

Interesting what you have said regarding the projection as this is something my surgeon mentioned last time I saw him. He said I may want to choose an implant with more projection so I will look into that further. I don't think it is vain to want to get your body right. Sometimes I think because we have had mastectomies we feel (right or wrong) that people tend to analyse or look more than they normally would. Therefore we become more self conscious. Plus is it really too much to ask - girls get new ones everyday without all the pain and suffering we must endure.

I know what you mean regarding asking more questions too but don't be too hard on yourself. I think everyone feels the same. I think we all feel guilty asking our surgeons such questions and requesting to see pictures. We know their time is precious and I find they don't really elaborate unless questioned. Perhaps this is an area Breast Care Nurses or the like could expand on. I find it is really hard to find decent images online also so it is hard to do your own research. Perhaps this site could create an area for ladies (faceless) to upload their images and details of size etc to help women in the future.

Hope that helps

Laraxx

Good advice Lara.

 My expanders went to 495 and I thought I wanted a c because I had been a dd.

 In hindsight I should have asked a lot more questions and looked at pictures with the surgeon. Instead I just said whatever you think will be OK. I would have liked more projection, to me they look too flat. I know this sounds vain but I wanted some compensation for losing my great boobs.

I had the exchange on 30th May, do you thinks its too late to start with the silicone strips? Do you put a new one on each day? Ive been putting bio oil on for a long time and the scars are ok. Smooth.

My bathroom routine does seem to take longer than it did before but its worth it.

Annie

Hi Kez I had my surgery on 30th May and woke with 150mls in each of the expanders. It was four weeks before I had my next top up of 100mls in each. My Dr errs on the conservative side and is quite meticulous with times etc. He wanted to leave everything to settle first. I have since had three more top ups of 100mls so I have a total of 550 in each. These were done two weeks apart except one where he went on holidays so was longer. At first I thought that would be way too much but my surgeon said this amount from the get go. He said because all tissue had been removed this was not a ridiculous amount and would keep me in proportion. I am trying to listen to him as he does this every day. I have also spoken to other ladies from this site who like me were nervous about going too big. They stopped at about 500mls and now wish they had gone bigger. My surgeon also said the expanders will always look bigger than the implant so if you are happy at a certain size with the expander you should go a little bigger because the implant will make it look smaller (hope that makes sense). I didn't start any creams etc until about the six week mark but in hindsight could probably have started a little earlier. Especially with the silicon strips. Speak to your surgeon and see what they say about how soon etc.

I have one side a little lower than the other and have also been told this will be corrected at the exchange. This will occur in December like I mentioned above my Dr is strict with timing and leaves everything to settle for three months after the final expansion.

I hope this answers some of your questions, anymore let me know.

Good luck

Lara xx

Hi Lara I was wondering how long before you started putting Vit E etc on yr scars and using bio oil? I too have expanders in and had my first lot of saline put in day 6 (just before I left hospital)I am only at day 9from surgery so 3 days out of hospital. I have glue over my scars still so not sure. I was worried about stretch marks on my breast skin too because it feels so tight. I too have one that looks bigger than the other and not really happy with that but he said it would settle and be fine once implants go in but that is still a while off. How far along are you with your expanders and how often do they top them up?

Hi Annie I think to even out size difference they use implants or tissue. I guess it depends on what you want and the surgeon suggests. I know my surgeon said had I not decided to have bilaterals he would have put an implant in the healthy breast and also would have lifted it to match the other side.

My scars are coming along nicely but I am putting some work into them. My surgeon suggested vitamin E and cica care silcon strips which I am doing both. The silicon strips are expensive - I paid $150 from a discount chemist but they will last at least two months. I was extremely apprehensive at first but after having used them I would recommend them. They really do help to keep the skin flat and smooth. I am also applying vitamin E oil brand name "Invite" for about $13 for a small bottle daily to the scar line and massaging it for a few minutes as the surgeon also suggested it. Then I apply bio oil to the whole breast as I am still at the expanding stage so I am trying to prevent stretch marks on the stretching skin. Then four hours later I emerge from the bathroom :0). No not really it doesn't take too long and after what we have been through surely we deserve a little me time. The only tricky bit is you can't put the silicon strips on after the oil so I tend to leave it a few hours then put the strips on (they stay on all day and night).

Good luck with your balancing and scars I too believe after what we have been through and how much it is costing us it is reasonable to want to be comfortable with the outcome.

Take care

Lara xx

Im also interested. My boobs have come out different sizes because I think they took more tissue away from the side I had the cancer in.

 I see the Plastic Surgeon in October and will find out how he is going to even them out. Anyone had this problem?

I have had heaps of people say they have odd sizes too but when you are paying a lot of money you want them to look better than they do.

How long does it take for the scars to fade?

I would appreciate your opinions ladies.

Annie

Im also interested. My boobs have come out different sizes because I think they took more tissue away from the side I had the cancer in.

 I see the Plastic Surgeon in October and will find out how he is going to even them out. Anyone had this problem?

I have had heaps of people say they have odd sizes too but when you are paying a lot of money you want them to look better than they do.

How long does it take for the scars to fade?

I would appreciate your opinions ladies.

Annie

I am also very interested in finding out about nipple recontruct/ tattoo. It is a while before I get to that point but have started to wonder about it. I only got out of hosp yesterday after a double mastectomy/ reconstruction with expanders. At the moment no feeling where nipple would be so does it stay like that? At first I thought I wouldnt bother but now I look at myself and I think it would look better than seeing just the scare.