After my prophylactic bilateral mastectomy in January ’13, the left breast became necrotic from the incision up to my nipple. The scab that formed as the area healed eventually fell off taking my left nipple tip with it. Just the tip. It never grew back so I have one full nipple on the right and just the areola on the left. This makes for some awkward headlight moments.

What’s more awkward than two hard nipples?

Well, ONE! Although the remaining nip isn’t 100%, meaning I don’t have full sensation as I did pre-PBM, it still responds to stimuli. Every time I drive, for example, the seat belt rubs in just the right spot, so when I get out of the car, the right nipple is always “on.” If I was wearing bras, this wouldn’t be an issue, but I’m not, so I am usually sporting one headlight. I know .. it’s not that obvious and not everybody will notice, but I know it’s there!

In an old post I went through the options that I face if I want to do something about the nip:

1. Do nothing
2. Get a 3D tattoo
3. Reconstruct the lost nipple via skin graft or skate flap
4. Remove the other nipple

I want to do something and it looks like it’ll be #4. My plastic surgeon can to this during an in-office procedure, but we will wait until I am healed from my next and hopefully last surgery in September. I am aiming to be finished by end of 2014.

In the meantime, he recommended I try Bristol Six Nippies. I have seen other women recommend this product on the various message boards and now I am recommending it too. These things are awesome! They are silicone nipple pasties that can be either inserted into a bra or cami or worn directly on the skin. I have the latter version, which is coated with an adhesive and sticks right where you put it, for many hours. Nippies Skin are seamless rounds that come in light, medium, and dark tones that blend into the skin. The medium version is pictured below.  The also come in other colors and designs, including tassels!

This is what they look like under the shirt. Yes, jerk cat IS judging you.