SURGERY COMPLETE WITH KARIDIS 23/02/13- UPDATED PICS

[Imbackagain]

Thanks guys... Just by you writing that puts my mind slightly more at ease. Thank you. Will surely keep a log and post regular pics on here! Least I can do.

[about2change]

sp- my skin was creased and saggy the day after my operation. Give it some time as I'm sure you will look back at these posts are think 'silly me, why was I over reacting' .. its all part of the healing process..

[Imbackagain]

Your skin looked fine to me actually, and so does everyone elses 1 day post op, mine however  just looks so wrong. Just wish I was told that this was a possibility, and not that "my skin will snap back". Does anyone know when it's ok to leave the house, as the stress is just building and building, and do i actually have to take the vest off daily for a couple
Hours as respite? Or can it just stay on I will rather not look at my chest for now,. I also find it hard to take the arnica tabs correctly, do I suck them, chew them, let them dissolve.

[thetodd]

You need to relax mate, all you have is swelling its a build up of water and will go away. When Karidis says the skin will snap back, hes talking over a period of time.

Yeah you can leave the house if you wanna go for a walk to clear your head, but seriously there is no need to panic. You can do what you want with the Arnica, its a bit of a placebo really. Get some pineapple, and some pineapple juice as this will help with the swelling.

I know your not going to be too pleased about me saying this, but i can see a huge difference. Look at your nipples man, once they flatted out (which they will) they are going to look really good apposed to your pre op pics. On the pic you have swelling on the RHS near your armpit, to me it looks like swelling and this will go. Apart from the creasing which is caused by the swelling, i can tell you are going to have a good result.

Everyone heals differently, swelling is nothing to worry about id be concerned if you had hematoma's but swelling will go. Dont get stressed, it will get better.

[Imbackagain]

Thanks thetodd, I took my vest off for 5 mins earlier and it looked slightly better than yesterday. I hope your right, Im a bit of a  hypercondriac as you most probably guessed. Chest obviously feels completely numb and feels like I've been run over. The vest is a pain, I've been given a medium, think its too tight but I've undone 6/7 hooks only leaving the chest compressed. Still feel unwell(weak,hot/cold,depressed), not been number 2 since the op, Defo going to leave the house tomorrow and go see family/friends as staying home just makes me think about it more.  Been drinking a few glasses of pineapple juice a day. You was right, i remember you writing on another thread that recovery is very depressing.

[3rdTimeLucky (Dave)]

You might feel bombed out for a week or so, the cocodamol you've more than likely been prescribed is bunging you up. If you're concerned get a laxative. I ditched the coco's on day 3, they make me far too drowsy and mess up my sleep patterns. You're better off with paracetamols.

I felt pretty rubbish i.e. cold and under the weather for about a week. Infact I got some really nasty ulcers that I attribute to the antibiotics. Don't be paranoid unless you start getting feverish, it could be a sign of infection but not at this stage and the antibios are there to avoid such an occurrence.
You're clearly stressed out, many people on here have been what you're going through and you really just have to be patient and think positively about your future.

Arnica: I just dissolve it or chew it.

[Imbackagain]

3 DAYS POST OP

[thetodd]

Looking loads better already!

Yeah recovery can be a bit of a weird time, but it does get better and once you are recovered its amazing. Best thing i found with recovery is to visit Karidis, so dont skip any post op checkups because although he seems a bit scripted during consultation after the op he does show genuine concern and does listen.

[about2change]

wow amazing. Honestly mate, you skin has shrunk dramatically and its only been 3 DAYS! think of the results in 30 days and then 300 days?
trust me when I say there is nothing to worry about.

[McGilli]

Wow your skin shrinks fast!

[theITguy]

Hey SP

Just thought i would throw my 5pence in.  Honestly i had the fright of my life when i first took the plasters off.  A bit of a WTF have i done to myself moment.  It persisted for days if im honest - its a massive change to the look of your body after all.  But you have to remember your body has just been through a trauma with the surgery.  I just left plasters on for several days only looking once a day in the evening.  If that some days...  I am 1 month PO tomorrow and the change from just 2 weeks ago is massive, still no where near recovered, i feel battered, numb and tender in places but its getting there.  Some days you feel its better than others but always getting slightly better.

Just remember you are at the very beginning of a long road to recovery that takes months and months.  Its the right road though mate and all will be good.  Keep those thoughts positive :-)

[Imbackagain]

One week post op



Still very swollen and sore, chest is tender. Movement however is slightly improved, I can now drive(just about), only taking the arnica tabs when I remember. The vest is still a pain. Got no idea what my incisions look like or nipples as I have not taken the plasters off at all since day 2. Can anyone recommend when a good time to take plasters off for good is. My life routines have kinda fallen back into place, as in, I go out now, do normal things and no longer sofa bound. I feel happier with the look, however I'm still concerned that he has not taken out enough from under armpit area as I paid 900 quid extra for that specific reason. Hopefully he did and its just swelling..(false hope)


Quick thank you to all who have given me the self esteem via means of there great posts on my story, means loads.. Love you guys!!

[thetodd]

Yeah there will be swelling in the armpit area, but really you dont want all the fat took out of the armpits its just the necessary amount you dont want to look disproportionate. Just look at your pre ops and look now the difference is huge!

The plasters can come off, they are just there until its scabbed over as long as everything is scabbed over its fine i took mine off after 24 hours cause i was allergic to them. Your nipples will probably look messed up, don't get concerned its normal especially in your case it looks like they've reduced significantly in size they will even it out.

Your recovery so far has been textbook, so just keep on taking it easy. Make sure you go and see Karidis for the checkup it will make you feel better.

[about2change]

any updates?

[Imbackagain]

Update


Now 13 days post op

Still very swollen, few days ago my left side swelled up more almost looking like the gyn coming back, movement is improving daily, still struggling to sleep on my back, I sometimes forget and turn on my side (ouch), parts of my nipples are black, with a hard texture, the scabs on my armpit incisions have fallen of revealing a light pink slit. I drink a glass of pinaple juice a day, and literally eat a arnica tablet when I remember. I've nearly gone back to normal, with regards to driving, playing pool, going out..... Some parts of chest are very hard and tight, some parts are lumpy, not sure if this is scar tissue or swelling. I purchased some bio oil yesterday but I am not sure when to start massage. (Help please, can you massage if your still swollen?), as of tomorrow (14 days) I can take the vest off for 12 hours, does anyone reccomend particular times of the day to remove vest, I was thinking to take it off during the day and sleep with it on at night. I've not been told by karidis or his team wether I should keep the vest on 24/7 for a week extra, I had large moobs before and I remember someone writing on here that karidis asked him to wear vest for extra week due to his large moobs(can't remember who), I'm not actually sure if the vest is actually doing anything for me now as it just seems to be not as tight anymore.

Here's a updated pic

As you can see on the first pic near my right nipple there is this worrying red mark, I'm not sure if it is due to the vest or if it developed due to something else. I first noticed it on day 2/3, it has a very slight hard/rough/scab texture when I brush my finger along it. (flash was used hence the yellow tinge on first pic)