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Nipple Necrosis After Breast Lift

I am 6 days post op and am having a horrible time. I had my implants removed and a breast lift performed. I had an allergic reaction to the adhesive on the steri strips and broke out in blisters everywhere my incision was. Day 4 my right nipple is black and the dr said I might lose it. I've been running a fever since day 2 - he has me on oral antibiotics and antibiotic cream too. Has anyone every bounced back from nipple necrosis? If not - what are your options? Right now I have a nipple with a big hole that surrounds it where the areola should be. Its totally depressing. Also - does your lift feel tight? I feel like I am about to pop out of my stitches.

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9 Doctor Answers | Asked by Kim in Maryland in Chester, MD

Doctor Answers (9)
Community Comments (1)

Nipple necrosis after implant removal and breast lift can be repaired.

But you must first resolve any infection that is present, remove any obviously-dead tissue as it is just a warm, wet, area of dead culture media for bacteria to thrive in (this requires surgical debridement), try to minimize any further tissue loss (If you are smoking, you must STOP, including any kind of nicotine gum, spray, patch, or electronic cigarette, as well as any exposure to second-hand smoke). This is critical, and perhaps is one explanation as to why you may have developed this... more

Please follow your doctors advise

I am sorry that you are going through this. You will be fine in long run. It will take time and effort to get there. The loss of the nipple areola is a known risk of implant removal and mastopexy. You will have depressed area of the nipple for while and it may take 2-3 months to heal. Make sure your surgeon is board certified and I promise you he or she is devastated with what you are going through.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Nipple Loss or Necrosis

Kim, obviously you have a serious problem evolving. Hopefully, you are in the hands of a board certified plastic surgeon who should know how to treat this well-recognized complication (although rare) of a mastopexy. At this time, it is hard to tell the fate of your nipple but this will be obvious over the next week or so.

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Nipple necrosis after surgery

It is important that your surgeon is a board certified plastic surgeon and closely involved with your problem. Tissues may be saved if treated properly and without delay. Infection control is important as well as proper wound management after tissue necrosis. Donald R Nunn MD Plastic Surgeon.

Donald Nunn, MD, DDS

3 reviews

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Skin necrosis following breast lifts

It is unfortunate that you are such difficulties after surgery, but don't despair, yet. You don't say what you consider a fever. A normal body temperature goes up and down during the day. After a large surgery it may go up to 100 or 100.5. This alone does not mean there is an infection. Two days after surgery while on oral antibiotics would not necessarily alarm me. The wound may need to be cultured to identify an infection and what antibiotics it... more

There is hope.

If you are not with a board certified plastic surgeon, I recommend you change to one, or, at the least, get another opinion. This operation can be problematic. There must be enough blood supply for the nipple and areola to survive. The surgeon must cut around it to be able to move it up. Then he/she is putting an implant under it which creates more pressure. With necrosis there is no turning back. You will have to go through this prolonged... more

Nipple Necrosis After Breast Lift

If the nipple is truly necrosed then there is no "bouncing back".It will have to be debrided and allowing time for spontaneous healing of the inflamed tissues followed by nipple areolar restoration.

Nipple and Areola Loss after Breast Implant Removals and Breast Lift

Truly sorry to hear of your condition. The operation you had, breast implant removal combined with breast lifting is notoriously prone to healing complications and especially so if done in active or second hand /passive smokers. Healing is dictated by the amount of blood supply coursing through the breast skin. Breast augmentation and especially over the muscle breast augmentation removes much of the blood supply which goes between the pectoralis major muscle and the overlying breast. A... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD

35 reviews

Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Nipple necrosis after breast lift

I strongly recommend that you urgently seek the advice and care of a competent board certified plastic surgeon for the issues that you are having.

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Comments (1)

Geminit
6 months ago

Kim You are not alone I had my breast reduction on Nov 13,2012 and after my bandages came off the next day I felt like I was gonna POP I was overly swollen, sore,and my right nipple just didnt look right. I recently went to my PS and he said your nipple is dead, I felt like I had just got shot, my PS said that he needed to cut away the dead skin and I almost broke out in tears. I as WHY DID THIS HAPPEN he asked if I smoked? NO I told him, currently I have had this hole in my breast where my nipple areola use to be and I feel so depressed, incomplete, and frustrated. I cant understand what happen I JUST WANTED A BREAST REDUCTION my other nipple aside from still being sore and somewhat swollen in fine but my other side makes me feel so bad. My PS keeps saying we can correct this with surgery...WHAT!!! I dont want another surgery, Im scared and confussed and just want to be well. I really want the healing to hurry up because I feel like I will damage my breast further if I turn to fast or lay down too quick or if I'm out and someone bumps into me...I cant take it. They say this healing will take about 2 months but Im too inpatient I WANT MY LIFE BACK! I want to know what are all of the options after my breast heals...IM SO SCARED AND MY DOCTOR only gives me each piece as it comes up I WANT TO KNOW THE WHOLE PICTURE...

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