Question about recovery time

[emjay]

I know that recovery times could vary greatly, but I want to get a general idea.

I know that full recovery could take many months, but how long before someone could see you with your shirt off and not realize that you had surgery?  What I mean is no obvious bruising or large swelling.

How long before you could play a round of golf?

I am having surgery in late December and want to plan a vacation on which I would like to be able to hit the beach and the links.  How much time do you think I should give?

Don't need to be fully recovered, but would like to be able to do those things.

Thanks.

[emjay]

Great...thanks for the feedback.

[DrBermant]

I know that recovery times could vary greatly, but I want to get a general idea.

I know that full recovery could take many months, but how long before someone could see you with your shirt off and not realize that you had surgery?  What I mean is no obvious bruising or large swelling.

How long before you could play a round of golf?

I am having surgery in late December and want to plan a vacation on which I would like to be able to hit the beach and the links.  How much time do you think I should give?

Don't need to be fully recovered, but would like to be able to do those things.

Thanks.

Recovery after surgery depends on the original problem, what was done, injury during surgery, bruising, skill of your surgeon, after care, how you heal and other factors. I prefer techniques that typically have less bruising, less swelling, less injury which all help with healing.  That is how I can put up images of my patients so soon after surgery.  Check out typical Bruising, Swelling, and Recovery for my Gynecomastia Surgery.

Although I do not tear the muscle, the recovery is sort of like a sprain you can get back when your body lets you, not before.  The body does not heal on a time schedule.  Push it too far too soon and you will set yourself back, cause new injury and swelling, and slow recovery.  My patients are typically walking around comfortably with very little to no pain medication the day after surgery.  The walking is fine, bouncing is not comfortable. Using a keyboard is easy even the day of surgery.  Putting the arms up over the head, now that is putting injured tissues under strain. 

I prefer to individualize the recovery plan for each of my patients.  Such issues are best explored during a consultation with the doctor with who you are planning surgery.

Hope this helps,

Michael Bermant, MD
Learn More About Gynecomastia and Chest Sculpture