1 YEAR Post-Surgery by Mr Levick on 16-01-2014 : (98 photos)

[Donut]

My vests arrived today fom Macom - so thought I'd better see if they fit OK. Tried one on over the elastic compression binder thing, and it fits well. Was a bit of a challenge to get on the first time, the trick I discovered is to go from the bottom upwards, hooking in every other hook on the "loose" setting, and then go back and notch it all up on to the "tight" setting. Feels very snug! - also forces you into a good posture, which is no bad thing after all these years of hunching a bit to try and hide the moobs.

The binder had a tendancy to slip down a little, especially when going for a walk, so I'm going to keep the vest on on top of the binder until Thursday when the binder can come off and I can finally have a decent shower and a proper look at my new chest for the first time!

Got an annoying "roll of flesh" under each arm - that was uncomfortable hanging out of the top of the binder, and isn't a great deal better now - not sure if it might partly be swelling, or if its just the natural 'bunching up' of skin and fat caused by the compression binder?. Hope that goes down a bit, as its going to be very annoying for the next month or so otherwise!

Bruising under arms is turning yellow - and most of my chest is now turning to yellow bruised colour too by the looks of things. (never had any red/purple bruising on chest yet)

Getting a bit itchy under the binder, partly/mostly due to chest hair stubble I think! - haven't decided yet whether to grin and bear it as it grows back, or shave again come Thursday when binder comes off?!  Perhaps I should embrace a new smooth chest??

Knocking back a litre of 'fresh' pineapple juice a day, which is apparently made form 6.5 pineapples, plus taking a 500mg Bromelain tablet 3 times a day, plus the arnica, and the antibiotics (which run out in the morning). Not needed any painkillers. Trying to walk a few miles each day, and not eat too much crap whilst I'm inactive, thought I do seem to be finishing off the christmas chocolate quite well!

Here's a pic of the Macom vest on over the binder... in case anyone is interested! - I got one black and one champagne colour (they'd run out of white) of the long version 2070L, as some guys have said the half-length version tended to ride up a bit and was uncomfortable around the stomach.

[Donut]

@ thetodd - I'll have to email Mr Levick and ask if he weighed the gunk. He did say there was more in the right side than the left, which seemed to be the case pre-op (though it looks the other way around in the photo - might just be how its spread out?)

I don't know why the other surgeons don't take a "burger shot" - what better way is there to show your patient what you've actually done? - plus it helps satisfy that spending all that money was worth it, since you can see that crap would never ever shift with excercise or diet, the only solution is chop it out.

I know I've got to wait a good 6 months to get an idea of what the final result will actually be, and will no doubt be periods of angst and disappointment between now and then. Hoping by summer it is going to be looking good tho! - I'm going to have to think about doing a bit of muscle building, see if I can make some pecs appear?? never attempted that before, so that will be a new experience too!

[Donut]

Hi Qaz,

I didn't actually send the questionnaire thing back - filled it in and took it with me, but the nurse did another one anyway in my room, even though I gave her that one! - they ask you the same load of questions so many times about medical history and allergies and stuff - just to be absolutely sure I guess, which is very reassuring.

Of course, you probably should send it back in advance, I just sort of forgot, with Christmas getting in-between my consultation and surgery day.

I was amazed at how much crap was in my chest!! - but as Mr Levick said, it's all in the incinerator now never to return! 

[Donut]

Oops - meant to add that I didn't have a pre-op appointment, no. I guess it's just standard paperwork they send out for all ops? - I assume the pre-op is the same thing as the consultation?

[Donut]

Recovery day 6:

All good so far, bruising under arms considerably reduced overnight, hardly and redness on the left now. Right in centre of chest some of the yellow bruising has now gone red/purple - but seems to be mainly from the creases in the compression binder, so not worried about that as it comes off tomorrow afternoon (if I stick to the strict 7 days!).

Got the numbers from Mr Levick - 62g of glandular tissue taken from the right, 47g from the left, and 20g of fat from each side.

As a real-world comparison, 20g of liquid fat is a tablespoon of cooking oil - so hardly anything spread over the whole pec area.

A McDonald's Cheeseburger is 45g.

I won't be having McD's for lunch...

[Donut]

No, not worried about cratering.

In a "normal" man, he has gland just behind the nipple that is just a flat disc. Think of a picture of a reasonably fit guy who works out a bit perhaps, and there appears to be nothing between skin and pec muscle at all? - he will have glad, but it is "normal" size, I.E. flat and size of a 10p or similar.

No doubt over the next few weeks as swelling / scar tissue formation and break-down all comes into place, chest will take on many shapes, some of which probably won't look very good! - but fact is all I have now is muscle and the skin layers on top. So once the healing process is finished, no reason why I shouldn't have a decent result and "normal" looking chest.

Up to me to make the best of that by toning up muscles a bit and keeping body fat low.

The shape problems I've seen seem to be from guys carrying a bit more weight - obviously then if all the fat is sucked out from the pecs area, but rest of torso remains at the same pre-surgery fat levels, then it is always going to look unnatural.

[Donut]

Hi guys,

One week post op!

Much excitement today at taking off the binder and having a proper look at my new chest for the first time, plus the joy of having a nice long warm shower and trying to get all the remnants of sticky tape off!

So, firstly, was surprised at how little bruising there was under the binder. What little there is seems to have been caused by the pressure of where the binder overlapped/creased more than the actual surgery. Bruising under my arms going rapidly now too, probably another couple of days and will have gone completely. In the photos I've enhanced the contrast a lot in photoshop to try and show you the extent of the bruising, which I figure was more important than the actual pretty colours!! - it isn't this colourful in real life.

First thoughts on new chest were "why are my nipples right down there??!" - they seem to be too low, like a couple of inches below what little bit of pec muscle I've got. Hoping as the nerves and stuff all reconnects over the next few weeks that skin will tighten and everything will 'perk up' a bit! Was a tiny fit of scabbing on each nipple too.

Left side overall is pretty good, right side has a bit of puffiness at the moment under/around the nipple, and the right side was the bigger to start with, and as I previously said, there seemed to be more of a 'roll of flesh' sticking out the top of the right-hand side of the binder than the left. Hoping that is all just a bit of fluid swelling that will go down in time.

I guess we have to remember this is essentially two seperate operations, one on each side, rather than one single one. Like many people, I was uneven to start with, so it will be testament to the skill and artistry of Mr Levick if I end up symetrical once the healing process is complete. If not, hopefully that can be rectified by revision with a little touch-up spot of lipo or whatever.

So, had a nice long shower. That felt good!! Found that Nivea For Men Exfoliating Face Scrub was excellent for getting rid of the sticky residue from the first set of dressings that were taped over shoulders and arms to cover the armpit incisions. As the stubble was getting pretty itchy beneath the binder, decided to shave chest again - plus it makes it much easier to see lumps and bumps and track the healing process.

After shower, nipples had perked up slightly, the little bit of scabbing on them came off in the shower, although not really any feeling in that area of chest apart from a bit of a weird numbness and slight tingling - difficult to describe - a bit like the feeling when 'pins and needles' is wearing off?.

Took some more photos after drying off, where the indents from the binder had already subsided a bit.

Also took some photos in a white t-shirt - the first time I've been photographed in one of them since I was about 10 probably! - looks pretty good, would go out in just a t-shirt today no problem (but obviously not time to do that yet, must keep compression up!)

Then came time to put new 2nd new compression vest on. I'd worn the one for a couple of days over the binder, it helped to stop the binder slipping down a bit when walking and provided extra compression. I guess it had stretched a little bit, and maybe the half hour or more without anything on whislt showering etc. had already let a bit of swelling take place? - as I had quite a job getting the new vest on even on its loose setting! - but I managed, and after 10 mins or so then managed to notch it all up onto tight setting. It is very snug, but not uncomfortable. The only uncomfort I've got is from the fleshy bit under each arm - which is part swelling and I think part just skin and flesh squashed out the arms of the vest.

As for pain - none.

Appear to have got full range of motion back already. No problem showering at all, can get arms straight up above head, and all the way around my back to wash just as good as ever. No pain at all when attempting to do so. In the vest the range of motion is a bit more limited, but that is just due to the vest, not to anything else.

So, overall pretty pleased at the moment. I know things are going to get worse again before they get better - hence I thought I'd quickly take a snap in a t-shirt whilst I had the chance! - that'll be something to keep my spirits up when all the lumps and bumps and scar tissue etc. start to take their toll.

I'll probably take daily pics for the meantime, but if there's no change to see, might not bother posting them.

Need to start thinking about losing a bit more body fat % and trying to get a bit more muscle next I think - so any tips on that greatly appreciated.

Any questions, fire away!

So here is the first photos from today taken immediately the binder came off, with close up of the puffy right nip: (remember the colours of bruising have been enhanced a bit to show the extent)

[Donut]

Here's next photos, just looked at the time-stamp on the files, and they were taken 45 mintues later after the nice long shower: (remember the colours of bruising have been enhanced a bit to show the extent)

[Donut]

...and here is how I looked in a white t-shirt! - pretty impressed 

[Donut]

Thanks Qaz!

Yeh, t-shirt shot looks pretty good doesn't it? - just hoping the end result means I can also go sans t-shirt

Been looking around online at some beginner weight-lifting programmes, nothing too complicated or that involves too much equipment. My life routines & work etc. mean that a gym membership would be a waste of money at the moment, and to be honest don't really fancy it from what friends have told me of their experiences! - so £100 or so for a basic home set-up of weights and bench will do me just fine I think to try and get into the swing of it.

Lost 3.5 stone last Spring/Summer to bring me down to my current weight, which I've maintained well since about August. Still carrying a little bit of belly fat as you can see, but don't want to lose any more through diet alone as I know from experience I end up very thin in the face and just look ill. So I'm hoping that if I can swap some fat for muscle, as it were, then a change of body composition might lead to a lean healthy look, instead of a skinny ill look?!

Guess we shall see on the next leg of the journey over this coming year!

[Donut]

Recovery day 8:

What a difference a day makes! - the bruising has faded a lot since yesterday, and I think the underarm swelling has gone down a bit, and I also think the puffiness of right nipple has gone down a bit too.

Here's todays pictures: again as usual I've enhanced the colour contrast to highlight the extent of the bruising, but also the last photo of the set shows an un-enhanced view, which even then the camera picks out a bit more colour than what I see in real life in the mirror. In the mirror, I can hardly see any colour on the left-hand side of chest now - that yellow in the photos is barely noticeable to the human eye (or else I've got weird eyes!!)

The vests definitely tighten up a bit after a wash (warm hand-wash only and let drip dry) - so advise everyone to buy two as I have done so you can easily swap them daily. I just take one off and put it in to soak in a warm sink with a washing machine tab thing (so its a pretty strong solution really) whilst I have my shower, then after shower take my photos and put on the clean one, and by that time the one in the sink is ready to rinse through and hang up to dry. Easy. Washing machine and especially tumble drying runs risk of damaging the elasticity of your vests, and you want them to do their jobs at the end of the day, so look after it well!

Feeling great - no pain - very occassional twinge if I fling an arm around quickly or something.

Have got a few little lumps and bumps forming between the incision and towards chest - so I'm assuming that's start of scarring? - will probably drop Mr Levick an email later with today's pics and see if he advises a bit of massage yet, or if it is too early.

Still glugging the pineapple juice, bromelain, arnica and vitamin C.

It is very quiet on the UK forum lately, apart from one new guy who is having vaser lipo today, but this thread is getting nearly 100 views a day, so there is obviously a lot of guys interested who are maybe considering having surgery, so I'll do my best to keep daily updates where there is something to report!

Any questions, just ask. 

[Ricardo7]

Hi donut - just thought I'd pop in to offer my congratulations!

I enjoyed reading your surgery day write up - brought back memories!

All the best for your recovery period and enjoy wearing your tshirts without having to hunch your shoulders - you deserve it.

[Donut]

Thanks Ricardo, just posted to your thread.

[Donut]

Recovery day 9:

much the same as yesterday really - bruising continuing to fade, definitely feeling some lumps and bumps at top of chest now, seem to be aggrevated by the arm holes of the vest as its very tight (but definitely doing its job!)

Still got the swelling under each arm, and as you can see the right nipple is looking puffy - that is definitely a little pocket of fluid build up, hopefully it will go on its own, but if no improvement by Monday, I might see if Mr Levick thinks it ought to be drained.

Here's pics from today (colour contrast enhanced as usual to show extent of bruising)

[Donut]

Recovery day 10:

So, bruising continuing to fade, which is the good thing.

Scar tissue really setting in now, which is the bad thing! - loads of lumps and bumps. Not nice.

Also the fluid build up (seroma) behind right nipple doesn't seem to be going down much, so am going to contact Mr Levick to see if he will drain it.

Left side seems to be OK - but noticing slight crease forming at top and bottom of nipple. Seeing many pictures over past couple of years, a lot of guys get quite bad creases there, not sure why, maybe it is where one part starts adhesion back to the underlying tissues before another or something? Hope it doesn't get worse. Might start on the massage today I think.

The swelling under arms is really bugging me - it is aggrevated by the arm holes of the vest all the time, which probably doesn't help it to go down. Today I've put on an old compression t-shirt I used to wear to hide the moobs in summer (got it from firm51) - I've put in on inside out so the seams don't dig in, and then the compression vest on top of that. MUCH more comfortable with that swelling being helod in and smoothed out around the arm holes of the vest, instead of being like two big ugly rolls of fat! - I wish now I'd have bought the macom vests with sleeves (model 2070LB) - in fact I might well do that next week. Maybe my improvised version will help bring that swelling down.

So here's today pics, bit more close up than usual to show the seroma.

Wish someone else was going through recovery right now to compare notes with - I seem to be the only one posting anything!