"we both guessed that some women who have this surgery opt not to keep their nipples. I hadn't heard of it either...any of you? I couldn't imagine my body without nipples given that they are healthy and functioning". Don't forget decorative...Seriously, I don't mean that to be as flippant as it might sound! For example, I'm done with baby-having and nursing, but I can't imagine "disposing" of my nipples even if I were to opt for an elective breast surgery. Remember recently someone posted about a woman who had had bilateral mastectomies, had tissue moved to front to simulate the appearance of breasts, and wanted to BF/SNS-feed her baby? I had to really think hard about these "breasts", and found it really difficult to picture them without nipples. Even simulated nipples without "function". And yes, she should try using a little breastmilk on the not-healing-so-well one. Cathy Bargar RN, IBCLC Ithaca NY