Healing from Gynecomastia surgery in New Zealand (middle earth)-advice from Drs?

[khanbaloch]

Healing from Gynecomastia surgery in New Zealand (middle earth)-advice from Drs?

so I had my bilateral mastectomy where they excised the breast tissue via incision through the aerola about 10 days ago. It was covered by the public health system and i didn't get a say on the choice of drs.

I had drains for 6 days and only given a compression dressing for the first 24 hours. About 150 grams of breast tissue was taken out from each breast.

I didn't have any bruising but have started to discover hard painful mass underneath both aerolas and to the sides near the arms.

I've attached both pre-and post pics here. I would be happy to help with any queries.

In return , may I please get some advise from the learned folk here and the Drs (especially Dr Elliot Jacobs who would have been my first choice had I been in the US):

1. I asked my surgeon and 2 other surgeons who came to review post op whether I needed compression vest. Every time I was said no. Except for the first 24 hours, I have had no compression, and have been moving without any support.
How bad is it to go without compression? I'm on the 10th day now, should I go for an underarmour option?

2. I am quite pleased with the profile contours but the angles still look really weird and there is tenderness there where i feel the hard lumps. Should I be massaging this area or just leave as is (considering i'm not wearing any compression).

3. would you think i still need to get lipo done to get rid of the fat (hopefully not gyno anymore!?) that you can still see in the post pictures?

greetings from the Shire

[khanbaloch]

post pics

[khanbaloch]

the weird angles post op... scar/swelling/messed up for ever/need lipo?

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

From the photos, you do appear smaller -- though the photos are small and dark and hard to discern much else..

Can't comment on the tender areas that you have -- they could be areas of localized swelling or even small collections of blood.

As for compression, I generally recommend at least one month of compression -- I feel very strongly about it.  But other docs may differ.  Certainly, I think you cannot harm yourself if you were to wear a snug Under Armour shirt (or the like).

How does it feel to be on the "other side?"

Dr Jacobs

[siphon]

The surgery is a start, but you've got a really big belly, ie you have excess fat on your body. Losing that will help with your profile everywhere. Surgery is not a replacement for eating well and exercising. Looks good now, but the rest is up to you.

[khanbaloch]

From the photos, you do appear smaller -- though the photos are small and dark and hard to discern much else..

Can't comment on the tender areas that you have -- they could be areas of localized swelling or even small collections of blood.

As for compression, I generally recommend at least one month of compression -- I feel very strongly about it.  But other docs may differ.  Certainly, I think you cannot harm yourself if you were to wear a snug Under Armour shirt (or the like).

How does it feel to be on the "other side?"

Dr Jacobs

Thanks doctor Jacobs. I'm happy I've had the operation but still a bit bittersweet in that I feel I may still need some lipo down the track. I'll post better photos in a couple of days.
The area underneath the nipple is still very hard and so are the sides closest to the arms. Though the pain has gone away, I still feel swishing of liquid in the left side.

[khanbaloch]

The surgery is a start, but you've got a really big belly, ie you have excess fat on your body. Losing that will help with your profile everywhere. Surgery is not a replacement for eating well and exercising. Looks good now, but the rest is up to you.

Too true brother. The first thing I noticed too after the operation was how big the belly now looked. Fully intending to start p90x in 2 more weeks wheN its four weeks after the operstion.
Not sure if i should wait more time before starting p90x
Also keen to know what diet helps post operation healing