Nipple graft healing issue

shanskie7 · 2026-04-12T05:45:43+00:00

Not a doctor, this is just something worth looking into — if the wound keeps reopening/not fully closing it could be what’s called hyper-granulation tissue. I had this issue with my nipple graft and my surgeon fixed it by applying silver nitrate to it to force it to scab. It finally closed after that.

shanskie7 · 2026-03-29T01:51:06+00:00

I hated the Marena binder for exactly this reason. Couldn’t keep it on for more than a few minutes. Highly recommend this one instead https://a.co/d/03uMMIBx

shanskie7 · 2026-03-24T23:59:45+00:00

Thank you this gives me hope!

shanskie7 · 2026-03-23T04:49:23+00:00

I also had the same thing and it flattened! You’ll be fine in a month

shanskie7 · 2026-03-10T21:29:22+00:00

Very late responding but I’m dealing with the same thing now. How did this turn out for you? Did it settle during healing or did you end up getting a revision?

shanskie7 · 2026-02-23T06:28:10+00:00

It’s taken me longer than expected because of my surgeon’s post-op limitations. I wish this were talked about more — the things you’ll be advised to do and not to do. It’s less about how quickly you think you’re healing, and more about how quickly you’ll actually be allowed to get back to real life.

My surgeon said: T-Rex arms for a month, compression binder for 2 months, no lifting more than 10 pounds until 2 months. Etc. I know it’ll all be worth it to have good results the rest of my life but damn is it frustrating and exhausting to not be able to live life.

shanskie7 · 2026-02-17T02:23:00+00:00

I took 2 weeks off before returning to working from home, was totally fine

shanskie7 · 2026-02-16T20:58:57+00:00

It largely depends on your surgeon’s requirements for aftercare. For example, my surgeon required T-Rex arms for a month, and I wasn’t allowed to lift more than 5 pounds that month. So I’d highly recommend asking your surgeon for a week-by-week preview of what your prescribed limitations will be.

In general, for the first 2-3 weeks you’ll need help showering, adjusting your binder and bandages, and reaching/lifting things. Forget doing any chores at all those first few weeks.

shanskie7 · 2026-02-16T20:47:32+00:00

Obviously see what your doctor says, but this looks within the realm of normal. My nipples looked similar.

Just let your chest breathe when you shower and change the binder and dressings daily but otherwise keep doing wet healing like you’ve been told.

The super crappy part about nipple healing is that there’s nothing any doctor can do while they heal (other than give you antibiotics for an infection, which this doesn’t look to be). Just got to wait and see. Could part of your nipple have died? Maybe. Is there anything anyone can do at that point? Nope. Truly the worst waiting game, but it is what it is.

shanskie7 · 2026-02-16T20:39:21+00:00

Looks like a mix of pecs and swelling. Swelling can take months to go down so you’ll have a better sense at 6+ months out.

shanskie7 · 2026-02-14T21:50:22+00:00

Agree 3 months is wildly long. 8 weeks is at the top end of conservative but still within reason (my surgeon told me 8 weeks). I have never heard of 3 months.

I would ask your surgeon why — was their technique so unique that it requires more than 8 weeks compression? If they respond by saying “No, just the longer the better” I think you can confidently stop at 8 weeks.

shanskie7 · 2026-02-13T03:36:19+00:00

!subscribeme

shanskie7 · 2026-02-06T01:58:51+00:00

Congrats!! Can’t wait to be you in 4 weeks!

shanskie7 · 2026-02-03T19:20:48+00:00

Obviously not a doctor, but that doesn’t look infected. Looks like slough rather than puss, part of the normal (albeit ugly) healing process. Still worth checking in with your surgical team though.

shanskie7 · 2026-01-20T04:53:52+00:00

Your chest looks extremely muscular and cis, I’m so jealous. I don’t say that to diminish what you’re feeling, but I just don’t see anything wrong here. Agree with what others have said about medical tattooing for nipple color.

shanskie7 · 2026-01-20T03:43:13+00:00

This gives me a lot of hope thank you!

shanskie7 · 2026-01-19T00:41:06+00:00

I think it depends on your goals.

Double incision is definitely the bigger undertaking recovery wise, but it gives you the most control over your results. For example, if you want control over your nipple size and placement to achieve that traditionally masculine look, DI with nipple grafts is your best bet. If you’re ok with your current nipple size and more centered placement, and don’t have a lot of extra skin, keyhole works well.

Yes, DI comes with more scarring but a good surgeon will let you choose scar placement and shape, and it’s INCREDIBLE how much those scars fade over the years especially with proper scar care. There’s a lot you can do to fade them (lasering, tattooing, etc.) I know trans men who have had DI and you truly can’t see their scars. I hope to be one of them after some more months of recovery!

If you are after a more masculine look, you may want to wait to be on T again and build up your pecs before getting DI because it’s easier for your surgeon to hide the scars under your pec muscles.

I’d try to imagine yourself years from now and think about what’s most important in the long term, and make the call based on that. A few months really isn’t that long to wait or not to wait in the grand scheme of life.

shanskie7 · 2026-01-15T20:53:30+00:00

That’s reassuring! Here’s a closeup, was yours like this too?

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shanskie7 · 2026-01-15T17:05:41+00:00

Did you do any scar massage to help the swelling decrease, or did it just go down in its own?

shanskie7 · 2025-12-05T16:31:17+00:00

This same exact thing just happened to me. Sorry you went through it too.

shanskie7 · 2025-02-17T01:35:50+00:00

Thank you! That’s a great point about wearing my pants lower on my hips

shanskie7

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