Pre and Post Pics, 58 years old

[ddh]

Prior to my surgery I found this site very helpful. Thanks to all of you who've posted! Here's my story, with before and after pics.

I'm 58 years old, 5 ft, 8 in, 153 lb.

In my teens and 20's I was very thin (130 lb.), but still had fleshy moobs. Yet I don't think I ever had puffy nipples; my nipples have always been small and flat.

I've gained some weight as I've aged and the moobs got bigger and bigger to the point that I never wore just a T-shirt and never went shirtless. I tried to always buy shirts that disguised my chest. I knew that even if I lost 20 lb. (unlikely), the breasts wouldn't shrink much.

Here are my shaved, day-of-surgery before pics:

http://img197.imageshack.us/i/p1000965y.jpg/
http://img685.imageshack.us/i/p1000968g.jpg/

My surgeon did only lipo and I think that it was a good call for me. I could never feel any gland tissue and I don't see evidence of remaining gland tissue.

Here are my Post Op Day 14 pics:

http://img64.imageshack.us/i/p1010017v.jpg/
http://img64.imageshack.us/i/p1010021aw.jpg/

I was very comfortable after the surgery. I took some Tylenol a couple of times, but never used the pain meds prescribed by the surgeon. My left side was more bruised and swollen than my right.

Sleeping at night wasn't easy for me post op. I tend to sleep on my side or stomach, so my first night I didn't get a lot of sleep as I struggled with sleeping on my back. The next night I took the sleeping pill the surgeon had prescribed (Ambien) and slept much better, but kept my wife awake with vocalized dreaming. The second night I could lay on either side.

I discovered that most of my post-op discomfort during the first day or two came from the adhesive on the foam. When the foam that was under the constriction vest was removed the day after surgery during my checkup, the adhesive that kept it in place on my chest pulled some skin off my sides. During the following days, the constrictive vest pushed on these sores.

It is now 14 days from my surgery. I'm sleeping ok, but still don't have full range of motion in my arms. (I can't comfortable raise my arms straight up over my head.) The left side, which still has more swelling, is less flexible than my right.

Thanks to all of you who have shared your story!

[91deejay]

Looks like it turned out quite well!

[JJ37]

Great results! Nobody will notice you did a surgery, and that's perfect. It looks you just got leaner !
I did mine last Feb'12th. I was adivised by the doc to sleep kinda 45 degrees from the seconde day on and it worked fine for me. In the first two days I slept prone, but with shoulders slightly above my stomach, so breathing was not suffocating. I had no sleep medicine, but 7 days of drugs for pain (I belive I would not feel it  anyways and for the swelling). I am today 12 days post-op and feel great, like you, I can imagine. My doc advised me to do 10 massage therapy sessions with his specialist. She initially applies a session of high energy ultrasound and applies hand massage to smooth some tinny fat notches, so the touch of the chest goes smoother...well, my wife approved ! I also feel the b4/after difference after each session, which I do every other day. In a month or so I plan to post the consolidated result and get some aerobics by the 45th day and maybe BB after 3 months... I am crossing fingers ! Good luck and take care !

[ddh]

Thanks for the comments!

Yesterday (day 15 Post Op) I really had dramatic improvements in terms of comfort.

I have full range of motion in both arms now and find that it feels good to try to stretch out the remaining areas of tightness (slowly and carefully). And I'm very comfortable sleeping. It is amazing how much difference a day makes in terms of healing.

I'm getting very use to wearing the post-op constriction vests that my PS has me wearing from day 8 until day 30. (A side benefit of the vest is that my love handles disappear!) When I have the vest off during showering, I feel a bit unsupported or fragile in my chest area, but those feelings are diminishing with every day.

[me62278]

ddh who was your surgeon?

[ddh]

My surgeon was Andrew Kaczynski

http://www.drkmd.com/