My nipples disappeared after bolsters came off. Are my nipples going to come back? (Photo)

Question

I'm about 10 weeks post OP. I had to have a free nipple graft. When my PS took my bolsters off about 2 weeks after the surgery, my nipples were flat and at 10 weeks postOP, they're still flat and discolored. I'm stressing over this. My nipples are non existent. Do they grow back? I asked my PS this every time I see him and his answer is always "We have to worry about getting the burn healed first" (I was burned during surgery). I discontinued going to my PS and I'm going to see a wound care specialist.

Donald R. Revis Jr, MD · Answer

Good morning!Unfortunately you probably won't get any nipple projection without an additional surgical procedure- such as creating a nipple with a local skin flap and/or adding a piece of mesh to create the nipple fullness and projection.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Hi Actualandfactual,
  
For scars, I close all of my incisions in 5 layers and do not use absorbable sutures because they cause inflammation and worse scarring. I tape all of my incisions in the office visits once a week for six weeks after surgery to improve the appearance. After taping, I start my patients on a scar gel therapy for 3 months that they have to put on their incisions twice daily.
  
I understand you are concerned with the appearance of your scars. As your scars heal, it should flatten out and lighten. Loss of pigmentation or hyperpigmentation may also be experienced but will resolve over time. Always follow your surgeon's post operative care instructions when it comes to scar management to avoid any complications like infection and for faster healing and recovery.
  
If you are concerned, you should visit your plastic surgeon for assessment and to discuss your concerns, as different surgeons have different approaches in scar management. Your surgeon can also advice you of new innovations that can help with managing and improving the appearance of scars like lasers and other scar treatment modalities.
  
Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS
  
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
  
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
  
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question and photograph and I am sorry to hear of your surgery complications.  Unfortunately with a free nipple graft the lack of original blood flow and nerve innervation results in diminished projection which rarely improves with time.  Ultimately I would allow your results a full year to heal and then consider tattooing for pigmentation loss.  Hope this helps.

Dallas Buchanan, MD · Answer

Thank you for your pictures and questions. I do not understand what you mean when you say you were "burned during surgery?" If you had a free nipple graft, then I presume there was some problems with blood flow to the nipple and perhaps the blood flow issues also prevented the nipple graft from healing properly. In your photo, what you show is a healed wound, so I do not think you need a "wound care specialist" at all. What you need is a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss the outcome and plan future procedures. You may need a nipple reconstruction and also possibly nipple tattooing. Hope this helps!Dallas R. Buchanan, MD, FACSOwner & Board-Certified Plastic SurgeonVIVIFY plastic surgery

Ben Brown, MD (license emergency restriction) · Answer

Hello Actualandfactual,
I'm sorry to hear about your experience. You've posted in the Breast Augmentation section, but a free nipple graft is a procedure sometimes performed during breast reduction surgery. That said, whether your surgery was a breast augmentation or a breast reduction, the physiology of free nipple graft healing is the same. 
If is very common - in fact, virtually 100% - that after a free nipple graft, the nipple and areola lose color and flatten out in the days to weeks after surgery. This is particularly noticeable in darker-skinned women. Your nipple and areola actually appear to be undergoing normal depigmentation for 10 weeks post-op.
As far as the flattening of your nipple, this is a normal result of the free nipple graft procedure. The nipple and areola are essentially removed from their previous location, just like a "skin graft" from any other part of the body. Like a skin graft, it is essential to thin the graft out during surgery to make sure that it "takes." Additionally, the contractile muscles of the nipple are no longer supplied by nerves after a free nipple graft procedure, since the nipple and areola are completely removed from your body.
I recommend continuing to follow up with your plastic surgeon - while pigmentation does tend to return to some extent after several months, there are also options for recreating some of the projection of your nipple once you are fully healed.

My nipples disappeared after bolsters came off. Are my nipples going to come back? (Photo)

Answers (5)

Answer: My nipples disappeared after bolsters came off. Are my nipples going to come back?

Answer: My nipples disappeared after bolsters came off. Are my nipples going to come back?

Answer: Free Nipple Grafts

Answer: Free Nipple Grafts

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My nipples disappeared after bolsters came off. Are my nipples going to come back? (Photo)

Answers (5)

Answer: My nipples disappeared after bolsters came off. Are my nipples going to come back?

Answer: My nipples disappeared after bolsters came off. Are my nipples going to come back?

Answer: Free Nipple Grafts

Answer: Free Nipple Grafts

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Augmentation

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.