Nipples

Great question….. Let’s address the insurance portion first. If your health insurance covers mastectomy, it must cover reconstruction throughout all phases. There are some that do not have to abide by this rule, (WHCRA 1998) but they are few and far between. Some may limit the number of times you can undergo a procedure at their expense. The best way to assure they will pay for your procedure is to call the insurance company each time and make sure you have benefits available for the procedure you desire.

Nipple reconstructions can deteriorate over time. Those that seem a little too prominent at first tend to flatten out after a while and may no longer project enough to suit a patient. Tattoos fade, especially when applied to skin that has a large amount of scar. This being said, repeat nipple reconstructions are a quick procedure routinely performed with local anesthesia and it’s not unusual to require a touch up to your areolar tattoo.

James E. Craigie, M.D. Great question….. Let’s address the insurance portion first. If your health insurance covers mastectomy, it must cover reconstruction throughout all phases. There are some that do not have to abide by this rule, (WHCRA 1998) but they are few and far between. Some may limit the number of times you can undergo a procedure at their expense. The best way to assure they will pay for your procedure is to call the insurance company each time and make sure you have benefits available for the procedure you desire.

Nipple reconstructions can deteriorate over time. Those that seem a little too prominent at first tend to flatten out after a while and may no longer project enough to suit a patient. Tattoos fade, especially when applied to skin that has a large amount of scar. This being said, repeat nipple reconstructions are a quick procedure routinely performed with local anesthesia and it’s not unusual to require a touch up to your areolar tattoo.

James E. Craigie, M.D.

Unfortunately, reconstructed nipples do not behave like natural nipples. They typically do not harden or soften with temperature changes or touch. Most reconstructed nipples also lack sensation. Unfortunately, reconstructed nipples do not behave like natural nipples. They typically do not harden or soften with temperature changes or touch. Most reconstructed nipples also lack sensation.

Thanks. How long did it taked for you to heal? When is the nipple rosy and back. Does it react like a normal nipple (HArdening and softening) or is it the same all the time? The nipple reconstruction was a piece of cake. It only took a local anesthetic and it was nice to able to walk into the OR instead of being wheeled in. I would have to go back and look up the exact procedure to get the details right, but my plastic surgeon used the star flap technique to create a nipple mound. No pain; all I felt was a little tugging.

I was able to go back to work the next day, and for the next three weeks or so he had me wear an eye patch (oval gauze pad they give you afer eye surgery) with a hole cut in the middle to cushion the fake nipple. After it healed I got the areola color tattooed in, which I was able to do over a lunch hour. I'm very pleased with the results. I know women who have skipped this step but I would have felt unfinished. I might have felt differently if I had a double mastectomy and had two scars, but I wanted to get some symmetry back. And it is a much better match with the other breast, the color is just about perfect. No one looking closely at it would mistake it for the real thing but the only people in that camp are my husband and me and we both think it looks pretty good. I'm very satisfied with my overall reconstruction. I'd consider it, especially if you had a single mastectomy.

Absolutely.

Nipple-sparing mastectomy can be performed in conjunction with any type of breast reconstruction.

Dr C
http://www.PRMA-enhance.com
Absolutely.

Nipple-sparing mastectomy can be performed in conjunction with any type of breast reconstruction.

Dr C
http://www.PRMA-enhance.com