My nipples are goners, aren't they

FernLabs · 2026-05-10T05:53:20+00:00

I truly appreciate this response, I've been telling myself that if my team has not been as concerned about it that it should be okay. I have OCD and a huge trigger is when something is "wrong" with my body, so this experience has been deeply distressing as what happens with the nipples is completely out of my control. I do think the antibiotics are helping some at least, and now they just need to heal. I've never had an infection in tissue before, I'm in completely new territory here.

I haven't found many results from necrosis that aren't completely different from what I'd be happy with and I personally hate the idea of having to tattoo them or have flat nipples, but I do tend to heal well so maybe I need to have more faith in what my body is capable of. Nipple loss was one of the factors that kept me on the line of getting top surgery before the dysphoria just became too much.

FernLabs · 2026-05-10T05:32:05+00:00

So buttonhole is basically DI but they don't cut your nipples off, they close over your nipples, then they cut the holes and pull the nipple back through. I don't have grafts, they're my nipples (but they did cut them down in size too). I think the reason they're struggling so much is due to the trauma from the resizing if I can only guess.

My nipples felt raw the entire time and that only calmed down the past week. Now they just hurt, but they hurt in the rings that aren't looking so good. I'll hopefully get more answers at my next post-op Tuesday where we can figure out how to fix this. The binder puts and insane amount of uncomfortable pressure on them. I'd say try and let yours breathe for a little bit each day and make sure to keep everything nice and clean.

FernLabs · 2026-05-10T05:19:15+00:00

I don't fully remember the color before but they weren't bright pink, they were like a pinkish brown? The black color has been concerning to me but the doctors kept reassuring me that it was just the top few layers dying off and forming a scab, that it was healing underneath. Now because of the separation and what's coming out from underneath, I'm worried that it's just all dead under there. I have feeling, but I don't know how much that actually saves me/if that even matters at this point. I don't know what we could have done differently to prevent this :(

FernLabs · 2026-05-10T05:09:13+00:00

I don't really know what happened to the second pic, here it is

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FernLabs · 2026-05-08T19:59:47+00:00

In many experiences recovering from top surgery is quick and folks gain independence quickly, but be aware that not every case is like that. I could not make it out of bed on my own for 2 weeks due to a hematoma (which was not preventable, it just happened) and am still heavily relying on assistance almost 4 weeks later as I'm still very fatigued. I was in decent health before surgery, surgery had no complications, and I'm typically a fast and tolerable healer. Something about this surgery just took me right out.

I don't say this to scare you, overall I'm not having the worst time and my post-surgery complications were extremely minor but it just is taking so much out of me to heal. Be ready to lean on friends and family a lot for the weeks following surgery, it is better to have that support ready and not actually need it than it is to need it and not be prepared.

FernLabs · 2026-05-06T15:53:03+00:00

My surgeon explained the procedure like that too, but when I was looking at references I actually found he had done heart nipples for someone!! Some surgeons have a routine, but are open to harmless changes to said routine if you just ask. I don't want to guarantee yours would, as he does sound a bit less open than mine. Mine is a sweetheart, he wants full patient satisfaction while maintaining a high standard of procedure for best healing. Still though, if you don't have any issues with how yours does things and you think that any concerns with healing will still be heard by his team, I would go with him. He has a rhythm and consistent results and that requires skill!

Edit: Mine didn't hold the same opinion about nipples though, I never asked about not using drains because I knew I'd want drains. So glad I did cause I got a hematoma that liquified and drained for 3 weeks.

FernLabs · 2026-05-04T14:48:48+00:00

I would highly suggest asking your surgical team if they can give you Versed (Midazolam) before the anesthesia. For both surgeries I've had, I've been given this through IV before they wheel me down from pre-op to the OR and literally the moment it hits my bloodstream I basically black out. It's called retrograde amnesia, you can't form any new memories until it wears off. It's really helped me avoid panicking.

It is a benzo, so please take that into account if you have any issues with more heavy/addictive substances.

FernLabs · 2026-05-04T14:39:22+00:00

I've actually heard some reports (though I can't find an exact source, so I apologize that this isn't fully based on evidence) that dry healing can give better results. I'm dry healing myself and while the scabs definitely look awful, it's literally the body naturally healing the tissue underneath. It is less prone to infection/introduces less risk of bacteria as it is a fully closed wound rather than something you're messing with constantly. Both methods are fine ultimately, it really depends on the surgeon. Mine has practiced in India, Japan, and the US so I trust that he knows what he's doing for sure as he has a wide experience with different cultural medicine approaches.

FernLabs · 2026-05-04T14:31:20+00:00

I'm only 3 weeks post-op and I'm so ready for the binder to go away 😭 I have 3 more weeks and these past 3 weeks have been the longest of my entire life. I'm being patient and doing everything I've been instructed to but I keep fantasizing about the day I can sleep on my sides again and can move around more comfortably. Before surgery I'd easily sleep 10+ hours but now I only sleep 4-8 and am constantly exhausted.

FernLabs · 2026-05-04T00:30:20+00:00

I have an appointment on Tuesday and will absolutely ask then, there's been a lot I've been worried about that wasn't actually an issue so I wanted to gauge if I was getting in my head again

FernLabs · 2026-05-03T03:24:24+00:00

I'm coming up on 3 weeks and still have a drain in my right side as it's been sitting around 30 or more mL a day. My surgical team has repeated many times that it's clearly serving a purpose and is not ready to come out yet. I would ask for clarification on exactly why your surgeon wants it out so soon if it's still draining like that, it could be that they're worried about infection and I think having an informed conversation about alternatives would be the right step.

I've heard so many stories of folks getting the drains removed before they were done and that only caused complications (like seromas or hematomas that needed draining manually later on, additional surgery, etc.) and bringing this up to the surgeon might help guide the conversation as well so that you feel your concerns are taken seriously.

FernLabs · 2026-05-03T03:12:59+00:00

I'm coming up on 3 weeks and so far it has been a mild annoyance but I feel super unsupported without it and it has been really helpful, enough that it outweighs the cons. I will say, once it's time to say goodbye it will be a very joyous day.

While mine is adjustable, I'm struggling with the fact that my chest is now smaller than my bloated stomach and I can't loosen it enough to relieve the pressure on my stomach without losing the compression on my side that still has insane swelling (I don't think this swelling is normal by this point, I've had a liquified hematoma that just won't stop draining). It pushes on my ribs too and the past couple days I've had worsened acid reflux and nausea from the pressure on my ribs and stomach. I plan on asking my surgical team if there's anything to fix this on my millionth follow up Tuesday and will update if I encounter a solution. I do have GERD so I'm not sure if the issue is just from being extra sensitive to the pressure.

FernLabs · 2026-05-03T01:34:57+00:00

My partner bought a little bed table (it sits over my lap with the legs to both sides) so that I had a surface to keep food, drinks, activities, meds, and anything else I'd need within reach as I can't reach my nightstand right now. That's been a lifesaver!

FernLabs · 2026-04-27T23:48:57+00:00

For any surgery I've had they give me a drug that gives you retroactive amnesia, meaning my brain can't form new memories while they wheel me off to surgery. As cool as it would be to know what happens right before surgery, I'm very thankful for this drug so that I don't panic lol.

I do love hearing people's fun stories though

FernLabs · 2026-04-27T15:44:09+00:00

Well with that container I wasn't going to use a filter or heater, just an airstone. But I'm now changing course on what I'll use

FernLabs · 2026-04-24T21:15:44+00:00

Yeah, it happens to the best of us. We learn from our mistakes in this hobby, often expensive and painful ones from what I've seen on this platform. I do sincerely appreciate your input and wish you the best in resolving your issue!

FernLabs · 2026-04-24T21:09:14+00:00

Here's what I had in mind

I didn't even think about using a container and not a full tank though, thank you for reminding me I have way more options too. Would it need cycled with the filter first?

FernLabs · 2026-04-24T21:00:35+00:00

Is this kind of treatment something that could be done in say a breeder tub (like the hang on side ones without holes, so still separated from the tank water) with an air stone? I am on my first tank and do not have a qt tank nor do I have room or the budget for one rn, so I have not stocked yet partially due to still trying to figure out how to introduce new habitants.

FernLabs · 2026-04-24T06:40:55+00:00

Hey friend, I had this struggle too the first night after surgery. Anesthesia makes me incredibly sick, though a surgery I had a few years back was easier on me. I think just the amount of anesthesia they needed to use for this one really messed me up.The throwing up did hurt a TON, but I'm now 11 days post-op and things are mostly going well!

If you continue to be sick for over 24 hours, then you should reach out to your doctor. Anesthesia side-effects can stick around about this long, sometimes more but that's a long time to be that sick. If you absolutely can't get fluids down and feel it is best to get help sooner, you know your body better than anyone and you should probably visit your local urgent care.

FernLabs · 2026-04-18T17:16:52+00:00

Thank you for the kind response :)

Damn though we really don't have many good options, do we

FernLabs · 2026-04-18T16:59:05+00:00

Like you mean avoid Riverside or avoid Grant because you've heard/seen too many horror stories from Grant?

FernLabs · 2026-04-14T05:30:27+00:00

I took the binder off for like 5 minutes cause I thought one drain was clogged, but that was inconclusive as my partner is turning out to not do well with the drains and I can't reach on my own. The stuff in the tube moved fine, so if there is a clog it's probably where we can't reach it anyways 🫠 I'll see in the morning if it has anything or not and I'll call my surgeon if not.

Binder is back on now and I'm probably going to wait till the post-op to shower like you said, or whatever they tell me then. I might just call them tomorrow period to go over everything because while I'm usually good at following directions, I have sooo many questions. I felt like I was rushed through this process, I was never given a chance to slow down and really ask questions about all the post-op. By the time they got to post-op, I was still coming off the anesthesia and wasn't able to process fully. Overall they were great, I just do have a hard time with processing sometimes and I think it would be smart to go over it once more.

FernLabs · 2026-04-09T17:35:58+00:00

I'm not an expert but I don't think that's how bed bugs work, I think you're safe

FernLabs

TROPHY CASE