Just a follow-up for anyone who searches for this question and needs an answer....

I decided to have nipple-sparing mastectomy. I'm so glad I did. I woke up with my nipples and tissue expanders inflated with 300 cc's...little funny-shaped boobies...but boobies--so no emotional meltdown when I saw myself the first time post-surgery.

And my incisions are along my sides, so my breasts have no incisions or scars.

I'm in the middle of reconstruction. Done with fills just waiting for the implant exchange, and the PS will use the same incisions, which he says will be better after the implant surgery.

I'm following up with my experience in case a newbie asks this same question....

After a lot of consideration and encouragement from my breast surgeon*, I kept my nipples. And I'm glad I did.

I've had NO complications; they look great even on my tissue expanded boobies. I woke up from surgery with 300 cc's of saline in my tissue expanders and my own nipples and felt like I had boobies. I avoided the psychological implications of mastectomy.

*My BS said her patients, who kept their own nipples, were happier with the end results. She also said that my cancer was not near my nipples so the "increased risk for cancer recurrence" was less than .5% and shouldn't even be a factor in my decision. She also said she scrapes all the tissue from inside the nipple and has it verified by a pathologist--who said everything was clear of cancer!

If you can't keep your nipples, please know that a good plastic surgeon can reconstruct nipples using skin from your abdomen and the a medical tattooist can tattoo the areola. The results look phenomenal. My PS had fabulous pics in his portfolio!

Also note, I had bilateral invasive cancer but both occurrences were very small: less than 8 MM. I was also a small B cup without a lot of negative effects of gravity yet, so maintaining symmetry was not an issue for me. My plastic surgeon said it was my decision.

I hope this helps with a decision.

I also had nipple sparing bilateral mastectomy. I had a minor complication, so I did not get expanders. I have implants and am midway through chemo. If you have any questions, I'm an open book. You're going to kick ass and be more beautiful than ever!

I had a bilateral mastectomy with nipple sparing/skin sparing DIEP reconstruction and have never doubt that decision. Other than the faint scaring you can't tell I had surgery. I've been extremely happy with my results. This is only my view without implants, hope it helps!

I have one side that was nipple sparing (no cancer in the breast at all) and the cancer side they took the nipple, but left the areola. I'm torn between liking having my one nipple and not. My biggest thing is that it doesn't always soften like it used to, so I have to wear bras with tank tops (or nipple covers) and have to buy bathing suits with some padding.