Hi, I had breast lift (3 weeks ago) and my right areola and nipple were initially purple. My doctor said they are bruised, but as time passed, they turned into black crust. They surgically removed my dead skin today and I now have open wound and they installed this device to suck all the discharges and fluid. They are hoping whatever is alive inside will regrow so they can proceed skin grafting and reconstuct my nipple. Im devastated about this situation. Will this be okay eventually?
Answer: Nipple loss after breast reduction Hello and thanks for your post and questions. Very sorry that you are going through this! It sounds as if your surgeon is managing your issue appropriately. You may require several more prodecures in order to fully reconstruct your breast/nipple but it is absolutely possible. Again, sorry that you are going through this but with proper care you should improve. Best wishesDaniel Brown, MD, FACSBoard Certified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeonsCastle Connolly Top DocReal Self Top 500
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Answer: Nipple loss after breast reduction Hello and thanks for your post and questions. Very sorry that you are going through this! It sounds as if your surgeon is managing your issue appropriately. You may require several more prodecures in order to fully reconstruct your breast/nipple but it is absolutely possible. Again, sorry that you are going through this but with proper care you should improve. Best wishesDaniel Brown, MD, FACSBoard Certified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeonsCastle Connolly Top DocReal Self Top 500
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November 23, 2018
Answer: Nipple necrosis Dear jisueous,I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment it would be difficult to determine what is wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment. Only after thorough examination you can get proper recommendations and advice.Daniel Barrett, MD
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November 23, 2018
Answer: Nipple necrosis Dear jisueous,I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment it would be difficult to determine what is wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment. Only after thorough examination you can get proper recommendations and advice.Daniel Barrett, MD
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Answer: An unfortunate complication. Thank you for your question. I am very sorry for your complication, and I realize how devastating your situation is. This can happen in any patient, and it has a much higher risk in patients with tobacco use (which is why I don't do this operation on patients who smoke). There is a light at the end of the tunnel, however it will take some time to get through it. We plastic surgeons have many options to reconstruct the nipple since we do it frequently for our reconstruction patients after mastectomy. The new nipple will not have the same sensation as your original one, but a combination of surgical technique and tattooing can give you a very realistic appearing one.
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Answer: An unfortunate complication. Thank you for your question. I am very sorry for your complication, and I realize how devastating your situation is. This can happen in any patient, and it has a much higher risk in patients with tobacco use (which is why I don't do this operation on patients who smoke). There is a light at the end of the tunnel, however it will take some time to get through it. We plastic surgeons have many options to reconstruct the nipple since we do it frequently for our reconstruction patients after mastectomy. The new nipple will not have the same sensation as your original one, but a combination of surgical technique and tattooing can give you a very realistic appearing one.
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December 11, 2018
Answer: Skin necrosis after breast reduction This sounds like a serious complication. You must first remove all of the non viable skin surgically, which it sounds like you have done, and then heal which may take a while. Once you have healed you can have nipple reconstruction and areolar tatooing which will look real but won't have the same function. If you are a smoker, stop and this likley caused the complications and will interfere with wound healing. If you are not a smoker, work with your surgeon to identify any causes that contributed to the skin necrosis before you have any further surgery. Best wishes to you.
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December 11, 2018
Answer: Skin necrosis after breast reduction This sounds like a serious complication. You must first remove all of the non viable skin surgically, which it sounds like you have done, and then heal which may take a while. Once you have healed you can have nipple reconstruction and areolar tatooing which will look real but won't have the same function. If you are a smoker, stop and this likley caused the complications and will interfere with wound healing. If you are not a smoker, work with your surgeon to identify any causes that contributed to the skin necrosis before you have any further surgery. Best wishes to you.
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November 24, 2018
Answer: Nipple loss can happen but it is a rare complication. I'm sorry you are having to live through this but when you ask "will this be okay", it really depends on your expectations. Will you have what you had before? No. Will you have something better than a scar? Yes. Let your surgeon let you know what can be expected from healing and what steps are needed to reconstruct a nipple areola complex... and also ask yourself if this is something that you must have or can you live without? Stick-on prosthetics can work quite well if you do not require a reconstruction.
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November 24, 2018
Answer: Nipple loss can happen but it is a rare complication. I'm sorry you are having to live through this but when you ask "will this be okay", it really depends on your expectations. Will you have what you had before? No. Will you have something better than a scar? Yes. Let your surgeon let you know what can be expected from healing and what steps are needed to reconstruct a nipple areola complex... and also ask yourself if this is something that you must have or can you live without? Stick-on prosthetics can work quite well if you do not require a reconstruction.
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