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What is Nipple Reconstruction?
Nipple Reconstruction is a surgical procedure that is done
to create a nipple similar to that of the nipple of the
other normal breast. It is usually performed at least three
months after the Breast Reconstruction surgery, to wait for
the swelling to subside and for the reconstructed breast to
"settle". Also, this will allow the surgeon to place the
nipple on the right location to match the nipple of the
other natural breast.
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Effects of Nipple Reconstruction
Nipple Reconstruction gives a very pleasing final touch to
the reconstructed breast.
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Candidates for Nipple
Reconstruction
The best candidates for Nipple Reconstruction are women who
have gone through mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction.
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Your
Consultation
During
the consultation, BHMG’s Board Certified Surgeon will take a
complete medical history of the patient and conduct a
careful examination to evaluate overall health.
Photographs will be taken before and after surgery.
Antibiotics will be prescribed at the time of surgery to
prevent infections. Also, avoid taking drugs containing
aspirin to minimize the possibility of excess bleeding.
The use of an antiseptic soap in the shower the night
before or the morning of the surgery may also be
recommended.
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The Nipple Reconstruction Surgery
Procedure
The Nipple Reconstruction surgery is an outpatient
procedure performed for under two hours with local or
general anesthesia. It is usually done by taking a flap of
skin from the breast flap. For the reconstruction of the
areola, skin may be taken from the inner part of the upper
thigh or from behind the ear. These skin areas tend to have
a darker pigment which provides a better contrast to the
breast tissue. As a second separate procedure, the healed
nipple can be tattooed to improve the color match of the
opposite normal breast.
There are several options for performing Nipple
Reconstruction. One, it is usually done by taking a flap of
skin from the reconstructed breast. The surgeon then
“cones” it into a new nipple. Most women do not feel much
pain during the surgery due to the fact that the nerves are
not connected in the reconstructed breast.
Reconstructing the areola involves taking skin from the
inner part of the upper thigh or from behind the ear and
sewing it to the new nipple on the reconstructed breast.
The skin is taken from those two locations due to the fact
that these skin areas tend to have a darker pigment
providing a better contrast to the breast tissue. Another
way of reconstructing the areola is to tattoo the skin
around the reconstructed nipple to a darker color.
Also, the surgeon can take an oval of skin from the outer
edge of your mastectomy scar or from the edge of the TRAM
donor scar on your abdomen (if you have this kind of Breast
Reconstruction). This is recommended so that there will be
no new scars.
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Recovery
Soreness at the location where skin was taken from will
last for about two weeks. There is lesser chance of pain on
the actual location of the Nipple Reconstruction due to the
lack of nerves on the reconstructed breast. In all
procedures, you will not have much or any feeling in the new
nipple when it is touched.
Patients
can usually go back to work the same day as the Nipple
Reconstruction. Although it would take about a week before
you can resume to other normal activities.
When you
have recovered from the surgery, you can have your nipple
and areola tattooed to match the color of your other nipple.
It often takes two or three sessions to color the whole
area evenly. Tattooing takes about an hour and can be done
in the doctor’s office.
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Risks
As
with any other surgery, this procedure has some risks and
complications. The risks associated with Nipple
Reconstruction are:
-
Excessive scarring.
-
Shrinkage of the projecting part of the nipple.
-
Infection of the donor site or the newly created nipple.
-
Blood
clot under the nipple, which may result in loss of all
or a part of the new nipple.
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Frequently Asked
Questions
Q: How
long after my Breast Reconstruction can I have Nipple
Reconstruction done?
A:
Nipple Reconstruction is usually performed at least three
months after the Breast Reconstruction surgery. This is for
the swelling after Breast Reconstruction to go down and for
the reconstructed breast to "settle." Also, this will allow
the surgeon to place the nipple on the right location to
match the nipple of the other natural breast.
Q: Where
will the doctor get the skin for the reconstructed nipple?
A:
One option is to use the skin of the reconstructed breast,
or for the surgeon to take an oval of skin from the outer
edge of your mastectomy scar or from the edge of the TRAM
donor scar on your abdomen (if you have this kind of Breast
Reconstruction), and the last is to get the skin from the
inner part of the upper thigh or from behind the ear. The
skin is taken from those two locations due to the fact that
these skin areas tend to have a darker pigment providing a
better contrast to the breast tissue
Q: How
will my reconstructed nipple feel like after the surgery?
A:
Soreness at the location where skin is taken will last for
about two weeks. There are also lesser chances of pain on
the location of the Nipple Reconstruction due to the lack of
nerves on the reconstructed breast. Like most procedures,
the new nipple will not have much or any feeling when it is
touched.
Q: What
do I do if the color of my new nipple does not match the
color of the other nipple?
A:
After the nipple has healed can you have it and the areola
tattooed to match the color of your other nipple. It often
takes two or three sessions to color the whole area evenly.
Tattooing takes about an hour and can be done in the
doctor’s office.
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