Surgery with Karidis. Pre and 5 day post Op pics

[whufcboy]

Hi all,

Just thought I'd pass on my experience with Dr. Karidis.  Mainly because after reading posts on this website, particularly Blue2 (cheers mate) this gave me the kick up the @ss to book up a consultation with him a couple of weeks ago. Needless to say after the consultation went well and after many years off putting this off, I decided to bite the bullet and go ahead with corrective surgery.  I was fortunate enough to get a spot for today, two weeks after the initial consultation (I'm not sure if this was a cancellation spot).
I checked in at the Hospital St John and St Elizabeth at 08.30 this morning and after signing in at reception I was escorted by a patient coordinator to my room.  I was there for a couple of minutes before a nurse came in and introduced herself and explained that I was due to go Theatre at 10am and I would have the opportunity to see Dr. Karidis before surgery to ask any further questions.  I chilled out for a while watching TV in the room before another nurse came in to take me to Theatre.  As I walked along with the Nurse my nerves really started to kick in at this point and I had visions of bottling it.  Don't get me wrong I knew I was in safe hands and was confident in Dr. Karidis' capabilities but I've never had an OP and was kind of wary of having the anaesthetic more than the procedure itself.  I need not worry because before I knew it I'd seen Dr. Karidis, had some photos taken and was ready.  Next thing I know I was coming round in recovery with my compression vest in place with 3 nurses checking over me.  I was then wheeled back to my room to relax.  An hour or so later I had some lunch during which time the nurse was coming in every 15min to half hour to take my blood pressure and to check I was ok, which again made me feel I was being well looked after.  About 4pm I was seen by Chandelle (Dr. Karidis' assistant to explain how the OP went and what to expect over the next few days. Once all the formalities were out the way I was then allowed to check out at my leisure.  I would have left earlier if it was up to me but looking back I don't think this would have been wise as it takes a while for the aesthetic to fully wear off.  I was home a half hour later as I live in East London.  It's well early days for me so it will take months to see the final result but my opinion to anyone out there that has been diagnosed with gyno and it really bothers them, do not hesitate to go and have a consultation with Dr. Karidis.  At the moment my chest feels like I've been bench pressing the weight of a bus, feels like severe muscle soreness and I have restricted movement.  I haven't yet felt the need to take the pain killers....might be a different story tomorrow!  I'll be putting up before and after photos later this week once I can take my compression vest off for a shower, ouch!.

[Blue2]

Great stuff mate! Just take it easy now and relax. It will take time but it will all be worth it in the end.

[whufcboy]

I hope so mate.  I felt good enough to go work today, I've got a desk job and don't have much of a commute so thought it better than sitting around the gaff.  Haven't touched the pain killers yet but don't want to speak too soon, might need them after my shower later!  Btw did you put new dressings on the next day?

[Blue2]

Yeah, I just kept putting fresh ones on until they had all gone!  No harm in doing so and you are protecting the incision site for a while longer I suppose. They are a bitch to remove first time round though.  Don't know if mine were on a bit too firm but it nearly made me pass out ripping them off!!!  Just take you time doing it! 

[Redfox]

Hi whufcboy

Well done on getting the surgery - I got mine done a little over two weeks ago with Dr. Karidis. Sounds like you got the same looking after I got.

I removed the arm plasters about 3 days after surgery and didn't replace them as the incisions were closed over really well.

It was five days after surgery before I tackled the patches on the nipples. As Blue2 says, taking them off was a bit of a 'sicky' moment! They were well on and some hair had started to grow back, which didn't help. The chest just feels strange between being numb and sore - the last thing you want to do is mess with it but the patches have to come off! Anyhow, I got them removed and applied two new patches. A few days later (one week after surgery) I took them off and didn't need any more!

The amount of patches needed depends on the weeping/bleeding. I had very little and didn't need re-dressing every day.

I've just stopped full-time wearing the compression vest at the 2-week period and now going for one week wearing it a night only (I figure night time is when swelling occurs more?). Have also started to massage the area as advised by Dr. Karidis. There's certainly lumps and bumps in places, along with some tender areas (ouch!!) but it's early days.

For what it's worth, I was advised to get pineapple into me by the hospital - helps healing? So, dutyfully, I've been taking it every day since!

Good luck with the healing!

RF

[WXYZ]

Glad to hear it went well.  I think I'm going to see Karidis as it seems he does a good job and you're treated well as a patient.

Some questions - how long do you have to take off work to recover? Is one week enough? Also how long does his consultations last and is it still £75?

[Blue2]

A week off work should be plenty. I had about this long off myself but to be honest I could have gone back a bit sooner if it had have been necessary. The consultation takes about 10 - 15 mins which is plenty long enough to get your questions in and for him to do your assessment. I don't think you will need long to make your mind up after that!  The consultation was £75 when I went and the op was £4100 and I don't think this has changed but you can always email or call him to ask.

[whufcboy]

You were rights lads, thanks for your accounts, it was nice to know I wasnt alone.  It was a proper strange/gross feeling taking the plasters off yesterday (esp over the nips) but as you say, I just needed to take my time and be very careful.  Was nice to have the vest off briefly and have that shower.  Did the same again tonight and I've been taking snaps everyday so will post them up at weekend when I have more time.  I've left the plasters off under the arms as these wounds have healed well enough already but I'll be leaving on the ones over the nipples as they are still v tender and don't want to start poking them about unless I really need to replace them.  So far I'm pleased with the results, there's a fair amount of bruising but thats not surprising, Chantelle said I had about 500cc fat plus gland removed!  I'm amazed how flat my chest is NOW, even looks a bit withdrawn?  I remember Blue saying the muscle in the chest seems to disappear and I think this is because the vest is doing it's job thoughout the day.  I did get some Pineapple juice in today - thanks for the tip Redfox, a couple of glasses of that will become part of my daily routine from now on.  On my recovery WXYZ - Apart from the day of the OP I haven't felt the need to take any time off work (suppose this is depends on the individual though and how physically demanding your job is.  My range of movement in my arms is slowly coming back.....so far so good. 

[whufcboy]

Hello.  Please can someone tell me how to upload my pics onto this thread.

[fraustolike]

when u write post below box u can see additional options.click it and attach pics.file should nt be big.
bye

[whufcboy]

Thanks v much.

[whufcboy]

Just found the max image size to upload here is 128KB.  Whats the quick way to do this without losing image quality?  Cheers

[Blue2]

Because of the size of the photo, you won't loose pic quality even with this low resolution. Just use any of the photoshop type programmes to adjust the file size and you should be fine.

[arnoldswart]

Hi all,

Just thought I'd pass on my experience with Dr. Karidis.  Mainly because after reading posts on this website, particularly Blue2 (cheers mate) this gave me the kick up the @ss to book up a consultation with him a couple of weeks ago. Needless to say after the consultation went well and after many years off putting this off, I decided to bite the bullet and go ahead with corrective surgery.  I was fortunate enough to get a spot for today, two weeks after the initial consultation (I'm not sure if this was a cancellation spot).
I checked in at the Hospital St John and St Elizabeth at 08.30 this morning and after signing in at reception I was escorted by a patient coordinator to my room.  I was there for a couple of minutes before a nurse came in and introduced herself and explained that I was due to go Theatre at 10am and I would have the opportunity to see Dr. Karidis before surgery to ask any further questions.  I chilled out for a while watching TV in the room before another nurse came in to take me to Theatre.  As I walked along with the Nurse my nerves really started to kick in at this point and I had visions of bottling it.  Don't get me wrong I knew I was in safe hands and was confident in Dr. Karidis' capabilities but I've never had an OP and was kind of wary of having the anaesthetic more than the procedure itself.  I need not worry because before I knew it I'd seen Dr. Karidis, had some photos taken and was ready.  Next thing I know I was coming round in recovery with my compression vest in place with 3 nurses checking over me.  I was then wheeled back to my room to relax.  An hour or so later I had some lunch during which time the nurse was coming in every 15min to half hour to take my blood pressure and to check I was ok, which again made me feel I was being well looked after.  About 4pm I was seen by Chandelle (Dr. Karidis' assistant to explain how the OP went and what to expect over the next few days. Once all the formalities were out the way I was then allowed to check out at my leisure.  I would have left earlier if it was up to me but looking back I don't think this would have been wise as it takes a while for the aesthetic to fully wear off.  I was home a half hour later as I live in East London.  It's well early days for me so it will take months to see the final result but my opinion to anyone out there that has been diagnosed with gyno and it really bothers them, do not hesitate to go and have a consultation with Dr. Karidis.  At the moment my chest feels like I've been bench pressing the weight of a bus, feels like severe muscle soreness and I have restricted movement.  I haven't yet felt the need to take the pain killers....might be a different story tomorrow!  I'll be putting up before and after photos later this week once I can take my compression vest off for a shower, ouch!

Hi, I am glad everything has gone well for you. I messed up and went to Levick. I have had revisions and no results. Levick has refunded me the full amount.  I have the money now to go to karadis. Please could you let me have details of how I can arrange for a conultation with him. I have some time of until Sept. I would like to get it all done before I start work on the 1st. Please could you confim Karadis is in London. If you have any contacts could you email me. smoothey05@hotmail.co.uk
best of luck with your restults.

[whufcboy]

Because of the size of the photo, you won't loose pic quality even with this low resolution. Just use any of the photoshop type programmes to adjust the file size and you should be fine.

Thanks mate.  I tried resizing in a Photoshop product yesterday I was concerned how they would look on here ie; if they would be too small to view or if they would expand once you have opened them?  I'll give it another go tonight.  Cheers