Surgery Dr. Karidis 31/01/13 Complete- Diary and Pics - DAY 1 to DAY 32 PICS

[theITguy]

Hi mate.
Thanks for the good words.  I have kept some plasters on my nipples and leaving these until maybe tomorrow as don't want to freak out.  But over all i can see slight improvements.  Its a long journey i know...

[Mandrayke]

Just focus on rest and healing, your chest will keep changing over the next few months.....for the better! When I first saw my chest after the op I had a major 'what have I done?' moment as I'd gone from man boobs to a sunken, flat, shapeless chest. Also my nipples looked creased for at least a month. But it all gets better in time and I'm now two months post op and have a chest to be proud of, only problem is the small fortune I've spent on new clothes which show off my torso rather than disguise it!

[thetodd]

Yeah relax its all you can do really. Ive wrote a few things on recovery before but its just a shit time you got to ride out. Everyone walks into surgery thinking, i wont get anxiety ill be fixed everyone gets it though lol. But its a good thing, the people who dont feel the reservations post op are the sort that get addicted to it.

If you analyse yourself in the mirror post op, your gonna have a bad time

Document your recovery in pictures, you dont have to post the pictures on here i found it helped to look back on during my recovery because you can see how far you've come. It does get better so dont worry to much in terms of pain and discomfort it should wear off quite dramatically in the next month

[theITguy]

Thanks guys don't know what i would do with out the posts on here.   This forum is a god send it really it is. i have literally have been thinking what have i done to myself.  But as soon as reading your messages its sorts my head out.  I honestly thought i was mentally stronger but really nothing prepares you got the post surgery process.   So its forums like this and all the guys on here that help so much. 

i will check under the plasters today and see what's going on.  But....knowing its only been a few days and still have months to go in the recovery process.

[Imbackagain]

All the best mate... Keep us posted..... Hopefully as each day goes by you feel much better

[Era]

Dam you have had all of the front of your torso done haha you must feel rough! Congrats. Get the pics up man ive been in this thread a few times to have a look at them lol.

[improving]

I can't really add anything to what the other guys have said. It will take a while to all settle down, and things can change on a daily basis. Just relax, drink some pineapple, and let the healing take place. You will have ups and downs, just be glad to be on the rollercoaster and on your way to fitted t shirts. welcome to the other side.

I completely agree with thetodd about checking yourself too much after the op. It'll do your head in if you're studying your chest/torso all the time this soon post op. My advice would be look once a day if you can. That's what i did. I just checked myself out of an evening before bed.

[Imbackagain]

Get some pics posted so we can take a look.. I'm sure you will get much better reassurance from Others on here once they see what your referring to via the pics. Good luck with the recovery tho and enjoy showing off that chest in a few months.

[theITguy]

I have checked under the plasters for the first time and there is some noticeable improvement there. Still not looking amazing but I'm not even a week in to this.. However I am feeling more positive and optimistic now.  This rollercoaster isn't what you expect at all.  I have been taking pics daily.  From day one where i first took my vest off and more or less fainted after the op.  Its a bit of a recovery i got due to having some serious work done.  Still a long long way to go as not even one week post op yet.

Please be patient guys i have the pics and you will see them all in each step from beginning to end but need to sort them and will do very soon.  I plan on doing them for up to 6 months..  I'm only working on my tablet and once i get on my laptop i will upload them all.  its the least i can do..  Watch this space.

[theITguy]

Hi Guys, All I can is im sorry i been away for so long after promising to post my pics. 

Ive had a bit of a recovery to be honest.  It has been more than i could ever have imagined both physically and mentally.  Its a slog and not easy.  I will discribe it in more detail later on.  I am just going to get some pics up here so you can see progress.

These are pre op pics.  apologies for the crap quality but you get an idea. 

[theITguy]

Top pic shows the dreaded puffy nipple.

Second pic shows when its not so puffy as room was cold.  Its more to show all the fat in a before pic of the entire front as he did remove quite a fair bit of fat from front and sides.  2.5 litres in total.

[theITguy]

Post op - 1 Day - 9 Incision Sites

1st pic im actually laying down.  I had just got in an took vest and wrap off for 1st time.  When i took it off my blood obviously started flowing and i spun out big time and almost fainted.  Thankfully i was near my bed...  I shit myself thinking something serious was up...  but it passed.. phew

Remember i had more done so as well as the vest i have to wear a tight velcrose wrap thing on. Its a nightmare!

I had - chest, upper and lower abs and flanks al done in one go.

Pic 2 is when i managed to stand up..

Pic 3 is inbetween 1st change of plasters.  Needless to say i was horrified at the state of my nipples. They looked ruined and creased.  I thought what had i done to myself!! 

Emailed Karidis and he just said calmly "rest assured, this is completely normal and remember its a roller coaster" 

[theITguy]

Day 3 Post op. 

Movement very restricted and sleeping with wrap and vest is terrible

[Imbackagain]

Looks similar to mine, I'm 2 weeks behind you tho. I'm really swelled up(3 day post ) when I touch my chest, feels numbe and like there's loads of water under my skin. Did you have this? How long before it all calmed down?

[theITguy]

Day 4 Post OP

Flanks - Ouch - but from the back it looks ok at the moment

Front - Ouch..

All i can do at this point is well... lay on my sofa, and in honesty i was too scared to look at my nipples as just didnt know what i was going to see..

Such a rollercoaster you wouldnt believe. So many ups and downs..