Background I have been a lurker here for a couple of years, mainly on the UK section, better late than never posting!
I remember dreading going 'skins' in school for basketball etc, the icing on the cake was on a school sports days when I was 15 walking over to my mates and one shouting out "Look at his breasts, ha ha" etc. From then on it was a typical case of avoidance behaviour - no swimming, loose tops (preferably shirts with top pockets), walking with hunch shoulders etc. Encounters with girls would usually be in a darkened environment, as I think about it I've even got jiggy with just my shirt still on. For years I hid it with excess weight, never obese, but enough for folk to think I was just borderline chunky - not the kid with 'frups. A few years ago I went from 16st 1 to 12st 11 (a bit too thin tbh) I was really happy with my size, but my chest stood out more than ever
My once brimming confidence as an early teen had vanished and I sadly became a bit of a spliff head. Obviously that was a vicious circle, paranoia and as I'm sure you've read weed is strongly linked with gyno. I can't say for certain the weed didn't cause it - I've also got a mild liver issue (Gilberts) which apparently has gyno as a side effect too.
OptionsI started Googling for 'cures', drugs, creams, ANYTHING. Soon it became apparent surgery was the only answer. I read an article about an English guy who had gone to the states and paid £1500 for a dental work and £4000 for his chest - apparently the best tihing he ever did. More digging found the medical term and gynecomastia.org. I realised I didnt have full on EEs like some poor chaps out there, by my problem was a problem no less. The results of the operation in USA were encouraging, problem....the cost.
To be honest my job has been kind to me with periodic bonuses of a couple of grand. With £5000 in the bank I now had choices, but man was I scared of surgery. The very few people I confided in were kind but all said I was being silly, my parents laughed and said I was mad. I truly believe this issue had a major influence in stripping my self confidence, shame it took so long for me to be able to do something about it.
I studied the forums here avidly. Levick was a possibility, but I didnt think he was consistant (i.e some god examples and some pretty terrible ones too) Karidis was a possibility, especially due to his 'celebtrity clients' but it would mean all my savings gone. Then a beacon - Poland. First thoughts were the obvious - 'medical treatment in Eastern Europe, no thanks!' but reading more into Marks lenghthy thread was encouraging. Dilemma, UK (expensive/convenient) or Slubice (reasonable/inconvenient) btw the NHS was NEVER and option.
Decision & SurgeryI decided to go with Poland and had the surgery almost a year ago. No need to go into the nitty gritty, it's been covered before but needless to say the service etc was all 1st class (puts UK seriously to shame). My room mate was cool (hello J, if you'll ever vist here again) he had a worse case than me, but it was really nice to be able to talk franky for the first time, face to face, with someone who actually understood. Apparently he'd taped up his chest before - never thought of that!
I recall Andreas telling me the surgery was a success (I had love handle lipo too :blush:) the glands were Kiwi sized (the cynic in me tells me he says that to everyone) I asked to have a look (still on the slab dosed up) he said they had been diposed of - I wanted 'trophy' to mutilate later! He came in next day after a check up and said "We think there could be a problem with your nipples" Excuse me? "They may need Botox treatment" No thanks! (1. extra cost? 2. it's contrived from the most deadly bacteria on earth 3. we'll see how it goes)
ResultsInitially (after a couple of days) I was happy with the surgery. I took my stiches out myself after 1 week, to be fair the 'wounds' were neat, I had a nipple crease but that faded away after a couple of months. But quite quickly I was worried the 'swelling' we all read about was not going to go down, I kept telling myself it takes a year (as I have read 1000's of times here). I was religious with that damned compression vest, I used arnica, I massaged cream and Vit E oil as suggested, I attacked scar tissue til it was almost sore. Then it was a case of the waiting game, roll forward to (almost) one year...
I think the gland on the whole has been removed (although I probably had fingers as opposed to a localised mass) although there is still something lower left. I personally would like to have seen 99-100% removed as opposed to 95%. I also think the lipo undertaken was too light. Strangely Dr Baranski does not mark the contour lines on your skin (unlike EVERY cosmetic procedure I have seen elsewhere) and I think this should be reviewed. When I am in the crucifix position (as I was on the operating table) it looks OK, but when my arms come down there is the pointed shape I was deparately trying to correct. My nipples look swollen (50% of pre op days) when warm and ludicrously pointed when slightly cold/stimulated - especially through a t shirt. To be honest the latter is worse than pre op days as the profile is much more pronounced. I have read the suggestions about nipple correction (i.e removal and replacement) which do sound a bit Draconian. I have read about nipple reduction (cut section out and fold flap down and stitch) but surely this is something which should have been discussed/treated at the time?
Revision?So what are my options? To be honest losing some body fat may make the situation better (I'm 6'4 and 13st 10) but I feel i will be contacting the clinic very shortly when my 12 months is up (I did the FLM in April so was in reasonable shape then). I was really hoping this could be sorted in one hit, I hate needles and hospitals, the travelling is a pain too!
I would really like to hear posts from people who have been to Poland and basically can't be bothered to go back to sort it out, even though they are not happy. I have not really seen any definitive results, in most pictures they are carrying a few extra pounds (sorry guys) which makes it harder to judge. There has been a bit of grumbling and talks of going back for revisions, what happened about it? Benito and Karidis's patients seem to have superb results....
PS This forum has got a lot bigger since I started visiting and I am pleased people are finally sorting out this embarrassing condition.
Topic: My story......and Poland - an alternate opinion? (Read 8746 times)
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