I'm official 6 weeks post op....still early in the process, but not too soon to start getting some 20/20 hindset about the process.
Background - I'm in my early 40s and had conditions since a teenager and got tired of how shirts looked on me, never going shirtless and wearing the tightest undershirt I could find - even when it was 100* out.
I would describe my condition as moderate to severe. (Though reading these sites, I think a lot of it is based on perspective. Everybody thinks their condition is bad and anybody who has a milder form is 'lucky'). At 5'10, 205, I'm about 20 lbs over weight - but had big firm moobs (at least a solid b cup) that protruded at 45 degree angle. Making it worse, my nipples always seemed hard which made me incredibly self conscious.
I ended up going with a board certified PS who had been recommended by a friend who was a doctor. Now one mistake I made was getting a 'general' recommendation, out of embarrassment I didn't share that it was for gyne.
The guy had a good reputation and answered all my questions, so I felt very confident in my decision. He told me he felt a fairly significant excision should get the desired results. I wanted to have realistic expectations and specifically asked what the desired result was given my age, build, skin elasticity - and he said 'completely flat' was our goal.
After the surgery he went to waiting room and told my wife that it went well, though he ended removing 'a lot' of tissue.
A few days later I had my appointment to get the drains removed. Now I had steeled myself to go in with low expectations. By all accounts it's months before the final results are achieved. But after unbuckling the vest, I'd be lying if I didn't say I was a bit disappointed.
There was still quite a bit of mass. More disturbing, there was a horizontal indention across the right side. But they assured me it was a lot of swelling and recovery and just stay the course.
Other than going in to get an additional draining done, I wore my vest and took it easy for a month.
My feelings started to change in my follow up this week. The left side still feels like there is quite a bit of tissue, almost in a ridge shape under the nipple. You can press a finger and make a 1/4 indention. It looks especially bad when I bend over. The right side is a bit flatter, but still has the indention and more troubling makes a crater shape when I lift my arm. (When I lift my arm the right side actually looks really good.)
Additionally, in certain motions the muscle of my chest almost look like an invisible strap is across my nipples that retracts pushing the skin over and over the nipple out. (like pulling a belt across a pillow)
On the plus side, the general large mass is gone - I know longer have the outwardly protruding moobs that drove me crazy.
What was concerning was that my PS seemed to have the attitude of 'Mission Accomplished'. Despite sticking his finger in the left mass and seeing the indention, he felt like he'd done a good job. He gave me a copy of my before pictures and comparatively speaking there was a significant difference.
He said what's left is similar to fluid in a sponge in that over time it will get better.
So I'm trying to be patient. My next follow up isn't until January. But I have a feeling that what I'm ending up with is a better situation, but not the desired outcome. More concerning is that my doctor seems dismissive of my concerns.
I'm really hoping that I'm just being impatient and that he knows that over time the swelling will go down and the outcome will be fine. (When I push on the skin that feels swollen it still feels a bit irritated...I catch myself hoping that's a sign it's swelling and not tissue.)
But in some ways I find myself wishing I'd did a bit more research and maybe pursued someone who specialized in this. (This doctor claims he does 25+ of these a year for the past 5 years, but who knows)
Topic: 6 weeks post surgeries - good/bad and lessons learned (Read 1559 times)
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