My Live-Action Gyno Surgery Diary

[helpmemoobs]

So.. I'm going to South Korea next Monday for a 4 week trip (also hitting Japan and Hong Kong). I am getting my gyno surgery done on my 2nd day there (Tuesday the 18th of July) and will rest for a couple of days afterwards. I lived in South Korea last year, so this is a half holiday/half visit to old friends, with a little bit of gyno surgery thrown in!! I hope the surgery and recovery goes well for me.


I guess I only realised I had gyno 1 year ago. When I was in South Korea and the summer came, (I'm from Ireland- not used to intense heat) I had to wear very light clothing for work. I remember catching my side profile in the bathroom mirrors in the school where I worked, and noticing a breast like curve. At home, it's never really hot enough for me to be wearing such light, tight clothing to even notice. When I posted pics on the web asking people if they thought I had gyno, they all pretty much said yes. I can't believe it never dawned on me before.


So I hope my surgery goes ok and I won't be bed bound for too long. I booked Airbnb and will have 1 full week in South Korea before going to Japan. I hope I will be able to meet some of my friends that first weekend, like 3 or 4 days after my surgery. Wish me luck!!

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

Good luck -- hope all goes well.  Keep us informed.

Dr Jacobs

[helpmemoobs]

So I arrived in South Korea yesterday and was all stressed about getting the money for the surgery- the ATMs here would only allow me to withdraw small amounts of money. So I went to the clinic today- Evita Clinic in Seoul, stressed and before we even began the consultation, I asked them to try to charge the money on my card. My credit card didn't work, I was about to have a breakdown. But weirdly enough, my Visa debit card unexpectedly worked for me, thank God. So I went into a room and had my body fat measured, which turned out to be 22% which sounds kind of high to me but I do realise I have a bit of a gut that I can't shift.

I then met the surgeon and he went through the procedure with me but to be honest- I read so much on this site that I felt like I knew it all already!!! Then he drew lines and circles on me.
Next, I went to the operating room and was put to sleep. Then, (like 3 hours later) I remember being woken up and feeling really groggy and being brought back to my own "waiting room" and put into the bed there. It took a long time for it to wear off, I felt like I was extremely drunk.

When I was in the 'recovery room', the surgeon came in with my glands on a metal tray and showed them to me. They were pretty big, like each one was the size of the palm of my hand. The surgeon said he didn't expect them to be that big. I guess there wasn't much fat if the glands were so big. It's funny because on all the websites, they say you can diagnose yourself by squeezing your man boobs to see if you feel a gland. I never could feel a gland but it turned out that I had large glands. It just goes to show that there is no real way to self diagnose it correctly.

I was then fitted with the vest and sent home. I'm at home now (well, in my temporary Airbnb home) and will rest for a few days. I am afraid to take the vest off to even have a peek, in case something goes wrong. But I look extremely flat so that's a good sign I think.

I forgot to mention- I was given a prescription for pills so I went and got them. There's so many of them!!

I will post more photos as I progress.

[helpmemoobs]

Ok, so I woke up early and curiosity got the best of me- I unzipped the vest and had a peek... I look so flat, and I can't see any bruising or swelling yet. I am going back to the clinic tomorrow morning, I'm not sure why though- they just asked me since I am unavailable next week (I will travel somewhere else). I don't feel in pain, just a small bit of discomfort. I only slept for 4 hours and then I woke, which brings me here. I will just Netflix and chill today

I can see my gut protruding from under the compression vest- it gives me motivation to work out after all this. Because before, my man boobs would be jiggling around if running, etc. so at least now I won't be self conscious of that.

[helpmemoobs]

OP here-

So today I feel more pain and discomfort, it's hard to move around. I'm lying in bed most of the time. Sleeping on my back is difficult for me. I'm worried cos I have to meet friends tomorrow night and during the weekend too, I hope I will be able. I don't want them to know about my surgery though, I am going to pretend I hurt my shoulder or something.

[damian87]

Thanks for your posts. It's really helpful for us who are waiting for the surgery. I'll be in the same situation as you, going back home and seing family just a few days after, let us know how you manage on your weekend out. Also, do you have any photos with the vest and a tshirt on? Is it obvious you are wearing something under the tshirt? Best of luck with the healing!

[helpmemoobs]

OP here-

Hi, you can't tell I'm wearing a vest when I wear a shirt, even with the collar and top buttons open. But I tried a tshirt and you can see the zip through it. So I think you'll be fine just wearing a shirt. I am not good with all this waiting though, I wish 2 weeks had passed already. I am too focused on this, I should try to take my mind off of it.

[damian87]

I can imagine, but I guess when you get some mobility back and the discomfort goes down, the time will fly as you will be on your trip and as you say not focused only on this. When are you allowed to remove that padding? Keep us posted;)

[helpmemoobs]

OP here-

I am going back to the surgery tomorrow, I am guessing they will probably change the dressing, I'm not sure. The awkward thing is that I haven't been allowed to shower since the surgery so I feel kind of disgusting. Tomorrow morning, I will shower my lower body and wash my hair in the sink, so I don't look and smell like a monster!

[helpmemoobs]

OP here-

So it's been 2 full days since I had the surgery. I went back to the Evita Clinic this morning and I lay on a bed and they performed 'light therapy' for about 5 minutes. I don't know what that is, I guess it helps with healing. Then I went into the operation room and the surgeon looked at me and put some type of medical glue on my nipples, I guess it's like stitches. He said I can shower from today. I asked if I could have a 2nd compression garment because I will travel to Japan and Hong Kong for 10 days and I don't want to be stressed out trying to wash and dry and hide my compression garment everyday (staying in hostel dorms). They said it will cost 100,000 won and I can pick it up tomorrow (about €75 euros). I think it's worth it.

They then let me go into a room to put my clothes back on. There was a mirror in there and this was the first chance I got to see my chest with everything removed (I was lying on a bed earlier so I couldn't really see). I was kind of shocked, at first I felt like I looked deformed, it's hard to accept the change when you're used to seeing your body with a fuller chest for so many years. I thought there would be more blood/bruising but there doesn't seem to be much, thankfully.

Anyway, please tell me I look ok cos I feel kind of butchered right now.

[helpmemoobs]

Part 2, also included a photo of me wearing a shirt over the compression garment- you can't tell that I am wearing one.

[damian87]

I really think it looks amazing! Just out of curiosity, how much was it? Looks like they did a great job - minimal swelling and bruising and it is just two days post op. How's the pain and everything, ready for a night out? 

[helpmemoobs]

Thanks man! That's nice of you to say. I am pleased too, I just hope I don't get much swelling or fluid build up like I have read about other people getting. The pain is fine, I mean I feel like I had surgery on my chest!! But it's definitely tolerable.

It cost 2,000,000 won which is roughly €1,550 or $2,000 I guess. Much cheaper than other prices I have seen online. And the surgeon seems to specialise in this surgery, which is why I went with him instead of others.

I have tried some clothes on today and everything fits much better and looks much better!! I think clothes shopping might actually be fun now! Rather than me trying stuff on before and getting depressed when it would reveal my moobs. All I need to do now is focus on losing the belly fat and build up some muscle. I want to be one of those success stories!!

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

Look's great -- especially for two days post op.

You are correct, you now have to concentrate on your abdomen.  Diet and exercise and hundreds of crunches!

Dr JAcobs

[helpmemoobs]

Look's great -- especially for two days post op.

You are correct, you now have to concentrate on your abdomen.  Diet and exercise and hundreds of crunches!

Dr JAcobs

Thanks Doctor, that means a lot coming from a professional like you. Yes, I will concentrate hard on losing fat and building muscle now. I think it will be good because I will see progress more easily with my 'normal' chest now. With gyno, it's hard to see any progress from working out and it used to make me more likely to quit working out.