34's Pre-Op and Post-Op Photos

[34andReady]

Below are my pre-op photos.  Like I may have mentioned in previous posts, I consider my case to be 'severe' given my slight stature (5'-5", 140lbs) and the extreme asymmetry.  Concealing my condition over the past 20 years, during the prime of my youth, was a challenging task, to say the least.  You wouldn’t have caught me in just a single t-shirt very often and I went only kicking-and-screaming to the beach or the pool.







- 34

[34andReady]

Here I am, in my compression vest, 6-days post-op.  As of today, I have not peeked yet.  My doctor strongly recommended against unzipping the vest, under any circumstances, until my 1-week post-op appointment.







More pictures to follow later this week once the vest can start coming off for showers!

- 34

[fluffy_tits]

well you def. look flatter!! congrads man!  I know you have higher boost of confidence now huh?

check out mine if yah want!




Fluffy( o )v( o )...

[34andReady]

You're right, I feel really flat.  And very SKINNY all of a sudden (even with the vest on).

It's strange, just spent a few hours out and about in public doing some errands.  And for some reason, I am feeling very self-conscious.  I'd imagine that I will start getting over that pretty quick.  Especially with the summer coming and knowing that I can now wear ANYTHING I want!

[91deejay]

It's looking great!  I know the temptation to peek all too well!  It looks as if your flatter chest has made your whole torso look thinner as well.

[34andReady]

I agree.  All the more reason that I will be back in the gym as soon as I am cleared.  I'll need to start bulking up again.  It will be great knowing that hard work in the gym can actually yield results that I will be happy with.  Back when I used to be in the gym a lot, I could get all areas of my body looking good, except my chest.

[fcjacobs]

Money well spent! Soon you be in T shirts feeling great. Just take it easy. I remember lifting my arms up caused searing pain.

[34andReady]

Money well spent! Soon you be in T shirts feeling great. Just take it easy. I remember lifting my arms up caused searing pain.

How long after the surgery were you feeling pain when you lifted your arms?  I am 8 days post-op today and feel like I have close to 80% range of motion back in my arms.  Today is my first post-op appointment with the surgeon.  I'll be able to find out exactly how I'm doing so far.  It's kind of exciting, I haven't taken the vest off yet.  Not even for a quick peek.  I've been too paranoid about messing up the alignment.

[34andReady]

Ok!  Back from my 8-day post-op check-up appointment.  The doctor said everything looked great!  And I agree!  

The bonus good news is that he told me that I could start taking daily showers with the vest OFF and take the vest off for short periods.  One of those short periods is right now as I WASH the vest.  That thing was starting to stink bad!  I plan to wash it every 3-4 days now that I can remove it.

Here are my 8-day post-op pictures!







Time to get back in the gym!

-34

[34andReady]

Had a scare last night!

When I was taking the pictures you see above, I was also washing my vest along with some other laundry.  I knew that I probably shouldn't leave it in the dryer for very long so I didn't.

By the time I took it out of the dryer, I was racing to get it back on.  For some reason, I felt very vulnerable with it off, even for just the 1.5 hours it took to wash/dry.  So when I went to put it back on, I couldn't even get it around my body to zip it up!  I had to call my wife in to help me.  I had shrunk the heck out of the thing!  Luckily she was able to help and get me back in the vest.

I was upset all night knowing that I shrunk it and that I was going to need Mrs. 34 to help me every morning after my long-awaited shower!  Was I not going to be able to shower STILL?

LUCKILY, the vest loosened up over-night and I was able to easily put it back on after my shower this morning!  FINALLY feeling clean and fresh at work!  Maybe people will stop avoiding coming into my office!

-34

[ddh]

I know what you mean about not wearing the vest.

I've only taken mine off for showering, but during the first two weeks I felt oddly fragile or vulnerable in the area of my chest whenever I had the vest off. It always felt good to get the thing back on.

I've been washing the vest by hand. The PS' nurse said I could put them (I have 2) in the washer and dryer, but the instructions on the vests say to hand wash them. Glad I have.

I'm now three weeks out from the surgery and the weird feeling of going without the vest while I shower is diminishing. I hope it is gone completely within a week, when the PS says I can stop wearing it.

Great result by the way!

[34andReady]

Thanks!  I feel great and am really looking forward to the summer!

You said it perfect...  So far, without the vest on, I too feel 'oddly fragile'.  But even that seems to improve every day.  Today I am only 10-days post-op and have somewhat of a plan such as yourself.  I intend to take the vest off in the evening for an hour or 2 while sitting watching tv and obviously for my daily morning showers.  This is staying within the doctor's recommendations.  He said that I should feel OK to take it off for short periods but that it should still be ON 90% of the time for a few more weeks.  I am leaving on 3/24 for my annual golf trip to Myrtle Beach.  I am hoping to be out of the vest about 1 week prior to that.  That will give me another week to get used to being out of the vest and ready to play!

[thetodd]

Excellent Result! Shame they didnt give you two vests

Massage everyday, twice a day

from whenever your doc says, cause trust me scar tissue is a real real bitch!

[richardee]

Excellent Result! Shame they didnt give you two vests

Massage everyday, twice a day

from whenever your doc says, cause trust me scar tissue is a real real bitch!

Should you massage the car after op?

[sparta]

looking good. well done