I opted to have nipples and areolae removed during my risk-reducing surgeries because I felt that I wanted to reduce my risk as much as possible and my family history was mainly ductal carcinoma.

About 18 months after the bi-lateral mastectomies, I was ready for the revision op which would tidy up dog ears and also reconstruct nipples. This can be done in a variety of ways: surgeons often favour one procedure over another but the method may depend on previous surgery or patient choice.

My previous op had left behind some areolar tissue so this was used to lift local flaps on each breast, the advantages for me being that the tissue had a good blood supply and was the right colour.

The surgeon lifted the skin and twirled the flaps round each other to make the nipple shape, then microstitched them down.

Healing took place over the next few weeks and they have flattened a little but they have transformed the reconstructions into something which really look like breasts as far as I am concerned and I am very happy with them.