My regular readers know that I have been researching prosthetic nipples for some time. I have been trying to decide if I was going to buy prosthetics, if I’m going to have surgery or if I’ll decide to do both. I’ve found some amazing people who hand make and hand paint nipple prosthetics. These people are real artisans. Their work looks very close to the real thing.
They use silicone rubber to create a nipple and areolae to match the client’s skin tone. They will also take a mold of an existing nipple to create the new one if someone has lost only one breast to a mastectomy.
The thing I like about silicone nipples is that at the edge it fades out. By that I mean it gets thinner and translucent so that you can see the skin through it. That makes it blend in with the rest of the breast.
What I DON’T like about prosthetic nipples is you’ve got to use adhesive to stick it to your breast mound. That adhesive lasts 5-7 days. I’ve been told that keeping skin covered with rubber that long isn’t harmful. I’ve also been told that you don’t need to give your skin a break. I know my body though. I know my skin is sensitive to adhesive. I get a rash from surgical tape.
I have also talked to Dr. Elliott a few more times. He explained to me that it is normal for nipples to reduce by about half in size. That’s why a good surgeon will compensate for that.
With all that in mind I’ve decided that I am not going to get prosthetics. I am happy just to have breasts again. It will only be about six months until I have the next surgery and I just don’t see the point right now in spending almost $200 on something I’ll only wear for the next six months.
