“I also felt, when I didn’t had my nipples yet, like no, this is not how it should be. They look as real as possible when you had the nipple- reconstruction and tattoo. First when they are completely flat and then having the nipple reconstruction, it looks more like a breast but as soon as you have the tattoo as well, then it’s finished, that really completes it. I really experienced it like that.”
Nienke had a breast reconstruction with tissue from her own belly (DIEP-flap reconstruction). She was interviewed for our study on how women experience a breast reconstruction, either with an implant or with their own body tissue.
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Picture: Anthony Gerace.