For those who had the surgery: When do you start to feel normal and conifident?

[nygiants92]

I'm only 1 week post-op, so you can probably imagine everything I'm thinking and feeling right now but I just wanna get a sense of how long it takes to feel satisfied with your result? I'm hoping to feel good about myself after I get to take this vest off in about 5 weeks. But I've read that all swelling doesn't go down for months? Is this true? Will I still feel embarrassed about my chest after the 6 weeks is up? Or is all the big obvious swelling gone by then?

[xelnaga13]

Swelling is different for everyone. So is confidence. I had surgery back in sept... I can tell you confidence does not come over night or just because your surgery went perfect. Not for me anyway. I have spent the majority of my life thinking about my chest. Since I was about 10 there has not been a single day where I have not thought about my chest a few dozen times. Im hoping this summer will allow me a chance to walk around with my shirt off and build some confidence that my condition is no longer an issue!

[nygiants92]

Ok but approximately around what time frame is the look of your chest likely going to stay that way?

[hammer]

Guys I never had surgery for gyne but many other things, and I am a double "D" and I am very confident! My self esteem is as high as it has ever been!

So today is the day to begin to feel better about yourself! The surgery is done, the healing has begun, today is the first day of the rest of your life! Don't let the little things get in the way any more! If you have a earth shattering experience then we will talk about the nervous back down.

Good luck to all of you!

[nygiants92]

Main reason I'm not feeling confident now is because wearing this vest pretty much makes me look even bigger in the chest than I was.

[Paa_Paw]

I am another of those that has not had the surgery and probably never will for a variety of reasons.

The people you are looking for probably are not here. Once the surgery is over, they lose interest in the site and we never hear from them again. That said, they do communicate for a while. Especially in the early post operative period. Some experience a change that is almost immediate. Others have post operative swelling that takes a while to diminish. In rare cases, it could take over 6 months to see the final result.

While some describe their experience as being very liberating and have a very different outlook, some do not change. You must honestly ask yourself if your shyness and lack of self image was due to the bit of surplus tissue on your chest or was it simply your true nature. 

[cduub]

Listen mate,dont listen to that Double D guy. No regular guy wants to walk around with double D titts. I had surgery in Jan so im 3 months post-op and my swelling hasnt went down. Sometimes im positive and other times i'm alittle scared because it still looks the same pre op.My surgeon says it takes months to show results as well as other people who has had the surgery done says it months because scar tissue takes forever to go down. The only thing that keeps me going is that my surgeon showed me all the tissue removed,plus after the initial swelling went down,its just soft with puffy nipples that he says is scar tissue and to give it time. I also copied a post here I found of a guy that was going through the same thing,he was very angry and frustrated he vented on this site for months then all of a sudden in month 5 he said his chess went flat,assuming all the scar tissue went down. So I saved those comments and read them whenever I start to worry.

[cduub]

I understand your pain! If all that happened to me I wouldnt be thinking about man boobs either,but you have to understand thats not HIS case. For you with all the things you have been through and the risk/reward is not worth it so it falls waist side as a priority. But for this guy its priority number ONE!! Listen brah,your story is very sad,but unfortunately this is not the same case for everyone. Sorry about your lost......

[xelnaga13]

Listen mate,dont listen to that Double D guy. No regular guy wants to walk around with double D titts. I had surgery in Jan so im 3 months post-op and my swelling hasnt went down. Sometimes im positive and other times i'm alittle scared because it still looks the same pre op.My surgeon says it takes months to show results as well as other people who has had the surgery done says it months because scar tissue takes forever to go down. The only thing that keeps me going is that my surgeon showed me all the tissue removed,plus after the initial swelling went down,its just soft with puffy nipples that he says is scar tissue and to give it time. I also copied a post here I found of a guy that was going through the same thing,he was very angry and frustrated he vented on this site for months then all of a sudden in month 5 he said his chess went flat,assuming all the scar tissue went down. So I saved those comments and read them whenever I start to worry.

Some guys don't have a choice in the matter. Not everyone can afford or qualify for surgery. I've come to respect Hammer as one of the most open and helpful members on this forum. Hammer continues to preach acceptance as an option for men dealing with gynecomastia. This may be the best/only option for some of the members here.

Please don't be so quick to dismiss people offering alternatives to surgery.

[xelnaga13]

Well double "D" guy buried a son when the son was 6 years old! Had a heart attack at 37, forced to retire on disability at 40, both knees replaced, very bad back with surgeries fussing the back, uses a wheel chair to get around and at one time this was the same guy that jumped from helicopters with full SCUBA gear on, 22" biceps and could do anything he wanted, had his own construction business and had perfect health!

I am a lucky man as there are a lot of people that I know that have it worse then I do. they are friends of mine, and when I do feel down I remind myself how good I do have it! I still fish and deer hunt, they can't even do that, so I count my blessings.

And you think man boobs are the end of the world, get real!

Try putting things into perspective!

I hate to see how most of you will ever handle a life changing event! and having boobs are not life changing! They compare to a hang nail to a lot of things that CAN happen.

Agreed!

[hammer]

xelnaga13,

Thank you very much for your support!


Bob aka Hammer

[theone111]

listen i just removed my hue boobs ,,, the compression vest dosn't let the swelling get bigger u shouldn't remove it keep it on ,,, and i don't think that they are getting bigger !! :s

[jazzer]

...Try putting things into perspective!

I hate to see how most of you will ever handle a life changing event! and having boobs are not life changing! They compare to a hang nail to a lot of things that CAN happen.

Well put Hammer, however please don't dismiss out of hand the serious psychological effect that gynecomastia can have on one's life. "Manboobs" aren't life threatening but breast reduction can indeed be life changing. I think too little credence has been given to the impact that this condition can have on the psyche.

I was plagued with gynecomastia since I was a teenager. This condition has cost me opportunities and major embarrassment all my life, not to mention my low self-worth and suicidal ideation. But after having surgery, a whole new life opened up to me. My self-esteem skyrocketed. It was life changing to me.

I've had it tough too. I have lost a child, been unemployable for 18 years with a double disability and live on a very meagre fixed income. But this operation has lightened the load somewhat. I already feel a confidence that I never had before. Breast reduction surgery can indeed make a difference.  

[thetodd]

Unless you've had surgery, you just wont understand what the recovery process is like. Its a mixture of emotions.

The day after surgery is the most flat your going to see your chest, depending how the surgery has been performed when you take off the bandages youl be left with a smooth chest. This is down to a few things but it comes out un-naturally flat and its a huge change. Its sort of euphoric and you go to bed thinking "well thats sorted then".

A few days pass, you look in the mirror and see some swelling. This is where i first had my doubts

"have i wasted my money?"
"Is it reoccuring?"

Few weeks pass, you're losing sleep due to the vest and the swelling goes and now you can feel scar tissue when you are massaging. That initial euphoria has long gone and your feeling worse than before the surgery. All i can say is there is just a point where your emotions balance out and you accept your chest, and then all of a sudden you notice your chest is now "Normal" and you can carry on living your life. I mean if you look at my thread surgery threads youl see my have doubts and then just realise that im actually gyne free.

Its not a case of personal loss, or how hard your life is. When a part of your body changes overnight your brain just doesnt adjust to it that quickly. Ive seen lads who have been whipping there tops off in three months some take a yaer or so. But you will get there

[ap123]

Listen mate,dont listen to that Double D guy. No regular guy wants to walk around with double D titts. I had surgery in Jan so im 3 months post-op and my swelling hasnt went down. Sometimes im positive and other times i'm alittle scared because it still looks the same pre op.My surgeon says it takes months to show results as well as other people who has had the surgery done says it months because scar tissue takes forever to go down. The only thing that keeps me going is that my surgeon showed me all the tissue removed,plus after the initial swelling went down,its just soft with puffy nipples that he says is scar tissue and to give it time. I also copied a post here I found of a guy that was going through the same thing,he was very angry and frustrated he vented on this site for months then all of a sudden in month 5 he said his chess went flat,assuming all the scar tissue went down. So I saved those comments and read them whenever I start to worry.

Do you thnk u can post the link  here I would like to see this. thanks
And I am 2 months post op, my nipples are still puffy right now but in a diffferent way. It was weird because the swelling started about a week later so it went from looking pretty good to back to the way it looked pre op, but it has went down since then and i still feel some hard tissue under the nipple areas and some softness, resulting in puffyness. I was also wondering the same question as you so this caught my attention. Hoping by the summer i can feel good shirtless.