Hey y'all, I am about six weeks post-op and I was wondering how long y'all had to keep your nipple grafts (Double Mastectomy w/ Free Nipple Graft) covered with bandages and vaseline (or whatever ointment was advised by the surgeon) afterwards? It seems like I'm shedding my last layer of skin off my nipples (my aureola finished about two weeks ago) so I feel like maybe I should be able to go around without having to keep them covered. I'm also still in the binder for another week or so depending on how my incisions look tomorrow when I change the tape. Also, when is a good time for me to start using vitamin E lotion on my nipples and incisions? I know that too early will make the scars actually stretch and become thicker, but I can't remember the duration of time following surgery where it's not advised. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks y'all 🙂

My surgical instructions were a bit different than yours. I was given silicon strips at two weeks and was told to wear them at least 12hr a day for 3 mo. I was told to start rubbing my scars at 4 weeks and that I could stop binding. I was told to do it in the shower using the soap and water as lubricant. I didn't start rubbing the edges of my nipples until recently (week 5 - 7?). If your using any product with silicon for scar care avoid using petroleum jelly as it degrades the silicon. I got really lucky and my brother in-law gave me his old Under Armor shirts because when you stop binding your nipples maybe uncomfortable with rubbing of cotton shirts.

My scars have widened, but I'm ok with that as they were "ropey" before and that is bad. They were like 1 mm thick and now they're like 3mm thick (1/8th of an inch tops).

My surgeon had me using antibiotic ointment with gauze pads for about three weeks. I stopped covering my nipples last Friday which put me at three weeks and two days. And he said I could ween myself off the vest, or I could stop wearing all together. I chose to wear it to bed and keep it off during the day. My shirt does not bother my nipples. I can't even feel them, but I don't do too much moving around. It's the incisions that annoy me the most especially right under my arms. I wasn't given any instructions on incision care, and now I wish I had asked. Oh well. I can always call.

My grafts had a hard time healing (well, the right one did) so I had to wear the pads until 5 weeks post-op. 

I had my gauze and stuff removed from my nipples at 1 week and had to keep putting neosporen on them with a gauze pad for like 3-4 weeks.

I've heard Vitamin E is not so good on scars as it causes them to stretch. Silicone (and better silicone sheets) on the scars is best, but only after they have healed to a good extent. I waited til they weren't sore anymore.
As for the nipples, they still tend to get dried out. I don't think any sort of cream that you can use on your skin is bad fro this.

Dr Garramone has you use vaseline coated sheets (xerofoam) on the nipples for the first  3 weeks. It's a pain but the idea is to keep them very away from air and very lubricated, which it does.

--Jay