1. Why do nipples fall flat after nipple reconstruction or inverted nipple surgery?  Tissue will heal in response to the position it is in and the forces placed on it.  There are two reasons why nipples fall flat after nipple surgery.  The first is that activities of daily living as simple as wearing a bra, giving someone a hug, wearing a car seat belt, or sleeping on your side or on your stomach cause the nipples to get compressed.  Once the nipple gets compressed, it begins to heal in that flattened position.  The second reason why nipples fall flat is that the scar tissue from the incisions that the surgeon makes to form your nipple pulls down on the reconstructed or inverted nipple and retracts it into the breast mound.
2. How does the nipple guard work?  The Nipple Guard protects a reconstructed or repaired nipple from compression so that it can heal in an upright position.  Additionally, the special shape of the Nipple Guard design helps to stop scar tissue, formed from the incisions that the surgeon made during the surgery, from pulling down on the newly placed nipple.
3. How do you know it works?  The Nipple Guard’s design is scientifically and physiologically sound, and women who have worn it have gotten an excellent nipple protuberance, which their doctors say they would not have gotten without the use of the Nipple Guard.  Our own testing and independent clinical testing have proven the efficacy of the Nipple Guard.
4. When should I start wearing the Nipple Guard?  For nipple reconstruction, with the concurrence of your surgeon, you should begin wearing the Nipple Guard immediately after the bandages from the surgery are removed.  The amount of time between your surgery and your first follow-up visit after your nipple reconstruction surgery depends on your surgeon, but it is usually two to five days. Typically, at the time of this visit your surgeon will remove the bandages he put on during the surgery.  Generally, for inverted nipple repair, the Nipple Guard is usually applied immediately after the surgery by the surgeon.
5. How long do I have to wear the Nipple Guard?  Tissue and scars take time to heal. Our research shows that it takes up to 4 months (20 weeks) before the shape of the nipple stabilizes and maintains its permanent shape after nipple reconstruction.  For inverted nipple repair, research suggests that the Nipple Guard be worn for a minimum of 6 weeks.  It is crucial that the nipple is allowed to heal in an upright position without any compressive forces or any pulling on it.
6. Why do I have to wear it all the time?  As tissue heals, its shape is constantly forming; and, how tissue heals is dependent on the forces that are incident on the tissue.  Therefore, it is extremely important that the Nipple Guard is worn at all times (except for when in the shower) so that the nipple does not begin to heal in a compressed position.  It is crucial that the nipple is allowed to heal in an upright position without any compressive forces or any pulling on it – ever.
7. Can you see the Nipple Guard through clothes?  No.  The shape of the Nipple Guard is contoured to the breast, so it is unobtrusive under a bra and clothing.
8. My reconstructed nipples are already flat.  Can the Nipple Guard make my nipples protrude?  Once a reconstructed nipple is formed in a flattened position, the Nipple Guard will not make the nipple assume an upright position.  Therefore, it is critical that use of the Nipple Guard be started as soon as possible after your nipple reconstruction surgery, but no sooner than allowed by your surge
9. Does the Nipple Guard work if I’ve already had nipple reconstruction?  It depends on how long ago.  If your surgery was recent, for example within the past 2 to 4 weeks, the Nipple Guard may help prevent much further shrinkage and may help maintain the size of the protrusion that you presently have.  The Nipple Guard will not enhance your nipples’ protrusion.  For this reason we recommend wearing the Nipple Guard immediately after the dressings from your surgery are removed.
10. Will the Nipple Guard maintain the size and shape of the nipple?  There will always be some shrinkage.  The Nipple Guard helps to minimize the amount of shrinkage and optimize the amount of protrusion that will remain following your surgery.