Incision through middle of nipple!

[londonbhoy]

Dear all,

I had my revision surgery last Friday and in comparison to my 1st op, at this stage, it looked 100% better so I was in really high spirits. HOWEVER, on taking off the compression vest a few days later, to have a proper look for the 1st time, I saw, to my horror, that my doctor had cut straight through the middle of my left nipple! I really cannot fathom why this would be necessary and am looking for answers. MY 1st op was in April 2007 and he did Lipo only, claiming there was no gland tissue there. This was a complete waste of time and I felt like I not only wasted a year and a half of my life, but over £4000 in getting the surgery. I did as everyone told me to do and waited patiently for a year, but there was no change so I made another appointment and booked a surgery. On examining me the doctor still was adamant that he could not feel any glad but assured me that this time he would make the incisions around the bottom on my nipples and physically have a look. When I awoke from the surgery the doc came and spoke to me, saying that everything had went well...he had made the incisions but there was no glad to remove. However, he used the incision to remove all the fat from the area. I don't feel this was the best time to talk to me as I was still pretty out of it, having only just woken up from the op AND not having looked at my chest.

I basically want to know if anyone else has experienced being cut through the nipple, instead of below and what should I be asking the doctor when I see him. I went from being in high spirits last night, as everything looked great, to feeling physically sick at the thought of having an unnecessary scar right through my nipple, STILL being ashamed to take my top off in front of people and now facing the prospect of having to try and explain to future girlfriends why I have a f***ing big scar down the middle of my nipple!

If anyone can offer me some words of advice in an attempt to make me feel somewhat less depressed they will be received with thanks

Cheers,

LB

P.S. Have appointment with nurse on Fri to get stitches out - will make 1st inquiries Re incision then, then will make appointment to speak with doctor.

[john7heaven]

Hi Chris.

You raise a very good question in unfortunate circumstances.

I know that in female breast surgery (reduction), cutting around the outside of the nipple is done, (and sometimes in a verticle line downward, vertically along the breast, middle to bottom), unlike in male surgery).  I've never heard of THROUGH the nipple though.

I can appreciate why you feel so frustrated/angry.

Maybe with time, the scar will fade, and  if you have hair on your chest/nipple area  - this can disguise it somewhat?

Either way, best of luck for the future and I hope you get some answers from your surgeon ASAP.

[outertrial]

I hate to say it but your surgeon sucks. What kind of cosmetic surgeon would cut right through your nipple;  if he really has done this, and has still failed to resolve the gyne, then you should start talking to some sort of lawyer who specialises  in  medical malpractice.

edit:

did he charge you for the second op by the way? The more I read of these cases the more I think that hearing "theres no gland only fat" in a consultation should lead to patients running for the hills.

[londonbhoy]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing..

To be honest, I never saw this website prior to my op, but oh what I would give to go back! I got the original op in April 07 and it was a complete waste of time! Lypo only, despite him telling me he would be able to tell if there was any gland there, whilst carrying out the lypo..he still insisted there was none. My chest did not change one single bit and although I kind of knew it wouldn't, I waited patiently for the recommended one year, in order to make a full judgment. I was really scared before my revision as I feared that not only would the op not be a success but I would be left badly scarred too, as the PS promised this time to cut UNDER the nipple and physically check. I expressed my fears to the only person that knows how I feel..my wife, and she tried to reassure me that this time, everything would be fine. I'm only 4 days post op now and to be honest, my chest is looking good, but the bitter sweet irony is that I have a horizontal scar the full length of my left nipple! I can't believe it and have gone from feeling quite confident and upbeat about the future to being at my lowest ever. I want to believe that it will go away but can't see how a scar in such a delicate place could completely disappear. Like I said before, I see the nurse to have the stitches removed on Friday this week but am not scheduled to see the PS for another 6 weeks. Should I be demanding to see him then demanding an explanation or should I sit tight and see if it goes away 1st?

By the way, in case I didn't mention it before, I was with the Harley Medical Group... and, like I said, if I had seen this before I had my op, then there is no way I would have gone with them as no one has a good word to say about them. I even considered going elsewhere for my revision but unfortunately, the op cost me over £4000 and I sinply can not afford to pay this money again.

Thanks for the replies. I'll update as and when I get any news.

A very depressed bhoy in London

[outertrial]

Well I think the first thing is not to panic. Your chest looks good otherwise which is a result. Try and focus on that in the meantime and not worry to much about the nipple scar, it probably will get a lot better over time and though not ideal, I doubt other people will notice that much.

You certainly shouldnt let it go though, sounds utterly bizarre to me and completely wrong considering he told you hed be going under.

Can you put a picture up please.

[londonbhoy]

Sorry, don't have a digital camera or phone to do it with right now but will try and get it done for next week.

Thanks for the support.

P.S. Didn't pay for the revision surgery.

[londonbhoy]

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

It wasn't an incision through the nipple, it was just folded over and the black stich that look like it was going through it was a hair!!! Even on my post op appointment, the nurse thought he had cut through the nipple, only today, after my 2nd visit, did another nurse see it wasn't an incision at all! I feel like a huge weight has been lifted and the black clouds have gone! (Can I still say black clouds in this day and age?)

Thanks for all the support and encouragement.. I'll try and get some pics posted soon.

Londobhoy

[outertrial]

Phew. Glad its ok mate.

[NotFedup]

glad its sorted mate and that you can now get on with the physical and mental repairs