Gynecomastia Support Forum
International Forum => U.K. => Topic started by: chopper on April 06, 2011, 03:50:51 PM
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Gents, I went and saw Karidis and I'm booked in to see him 1st week in May....thanks to everyone on here for posting your experiences, photos, after thoughts ...etc, as it all helped put my mind at ease about surgery and the results.
Karidis is a confident assured professional, we talked about when i first noticed gyne (11/12 for me), he then looked at my chest, asked me to tense the muscle and he feels the gland and fat and shows you whats where, he then showed me some photos, asked me if i had any questions, we chatted a bit more and then it was off to get my date arranged for surgery and my blood taken and then I was away and heading back home.
I'll keep you all posted with before and after pics and post how my recovery is going and my after thoughts for anyone else in the future that is reading....this place is a gold mine and all your questions are answered or can be answered by someone :)
Lets go summer 2011!! ;D
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Did you pay their blood test fees?
Glad it went well and youve got a surgery date so quickly. Did you ask him about doing it locally?
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I had my surgery with Karidis yesterday and couldn't be happier. He truly is a professional and is the best in the country for this particular operation.
The surgery is a breeze because you're asleep throughout the whole thing and the nurses are extremely helpful + you get nice accommodation with a TV. There's a tiny amount of pain afterwards but nothing the painkillers can't take away.
All the best chap and be assured you chose the right man for the job!
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Did you pay their blood test fees?
Glad it went well and youve got a surgery date so quickly. Did you ask him about doing it locally?
I did mate, I followed your advice and checked yell.com and other places around using "blood services" and "phlebotomist" and talked to all the receptionists trying to find a place locally or semi locally but i couldnt. I just had my GP do some other bloods recently checking testosterone, thyroid, (checking free and total) and also total blood count so i felt kinda guilty sticking it on the NHS when I had just had some taken and i was about to part with a load of money, so i thought feck it....£137 paid up.
Not sure what you mean about doing it locally?
I had my surgery with Karidis yesterday and couldn't be happier. He truly is a professional and is the best in the country for this particular operation.
The surgery is a breeze because you're asleep throughout the whole thing and the nurses are extremely helpful + you get nice accommodation with a TV. There's a tiny amount of pain afterwards but nothing the painkillers can't take away.
All the best chap and be assured you chose the right man for the job!
I saw some sandwiches and slices of cake being taken down to someones room and it looked tasty...the place is nice. I was saying to the missus, I've only ever known NHS quality and thats pretty fair, but the whole place and all the staff make you realise you are in a private hospital lol
Looking fwd to being on the otherside where you are buddy, I know there its still a long journey of healing to go, but in the grand scheme of things, it's no time at all ;D
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I saw some sandwiches and slices of cake being taken down to someones room and it looked tasty
I had prawn sandwiches, mushroom soup with baguette and fruit cocktail. It was the nicest grub I've had for ages; probably coz I hadn't eaten all day + the Ozzie nurse, Allison, is a right laugh!
The whole thing's got me wondering whether I should take out private health insurance. lol
I know there its still a long journey of healing to go, but in the grand scheme of things, it's no time at all
Mate, it's well worth the short wait. I can honestly say that today has been the best day of my life. Finally...
... The nightmare is over!
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Sorry i had it in my head you were keen on getting the op done under local anesthetic but thats mattuk
At least youve got piece of mind with the bloods and you dont have to mess about making sure the results are ok. Yeah the day of the op is a piece of piss. I look back now and the day after the op was just amazing when you take off the vest for the first time the feeling is just immense!
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Yes there was that too TheTodd, I would have been worrying about the blood test results getting back into their hands and as the phlebotomy lab is 20 steps away from Karidis office I'm kinda hoping there should be no problems ;D
What is your scar tissue like TheTodd? I've read it really kicks in about 4 - 8 weeks afterwards and can take 6 months - a year for it to break down, was that the case for you? When wearing a tight ish top just it effect the contour?
I'll be honest it doesnt really concern me as i've had my moobs out most years in public, bust just curious as i've seen a few posts by people that sounded shocked that their chest looked as big as it used to with gyne once the scar tissue kicks in....so just trying to understand a bit more about the healing / scar tissue side of things so my expectations are set...
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scar tissues is a total lottery, affects some people more than others hopefully youl be lucky! Youve got quite an athletic figure on your pics and defined pecs so your chest will always be visible in really tight tops i dont like wearing proper right tshirts cause ive got love handles lol but yea its a HUGE improvement i wear a lot of Lyle Scott/J.Lindenbeg/All saints polo's now but before i was kinda restricted to big ralph lauren non slim fit polo's
You dont seem to have puffy nipples on your pics but people used to say to me "you dont have gyne, your nipples dont puff out its fat" but yet Karidis said i definatley had and ended up removing 52g's of gland in total. I think when you get back into peak shape your going to look proper ripped. Im looking forward to seeing your result this should be a good year for ya!
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Just wanted to ask you guys that have already had the OP, what does Karidis give you to take home? 1 vest you are wearing and 1 to carry, plus some meds. What else should i expect to be carrying around?
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That's pretty much it apart from a small bag containing Body Shop shower gel, an abrasive flannel (which is nice to shower with by the way) and a bottle of massage oil. You will love the hospital and friendliness of the nurses.
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Well, Im now on the otherside ;D ;D ;D ;D
Woke up at 4.30, got a taxi to the station at 4.45 to get the 5am train - arrived in Waterloo at 7.15 and then hoped on the tube and arrived at St Johns about 7.45am (and pretty tired to boot as I couldnt get to sleep last night for fear of sleeping past my alarm clock, I think i managed about 3hrs sleep last night)
I checked in - Found my room - Given inpatient forms to fill out - My height and weight was taken and then Alex Karidis came in to see me, in good spirits (was worried he could be feeling rough after a monster bank holiday weekend lol) - He got his magical pen out and got busy marking me up - Then a man with a menu arrived and left me to order my lunch - I was getting my blood pressure, pulse and temperature taken about every 15 mins (all normal, nothing high or low) - Then I was brought in the classy tights and pants you have to wear as well as the surgical gown, so I donned my new atire and chilled out on the bed watching some boxing I had on my phone and surfed the web.
About 10 am I was greeted by a gentleman saying "shall we go to the theatre"..I hopped off the bed and walked down the corridor with him to the room. The operating room was a pokey little room, but loaded to the teeth with equipment, I was amazingly calm, I surprised myself, I thought I would be shitting bricks about now...The anethatist put a drip feed into my wrist and then injected the magical potion into it a few moments later...I recalled folks saying how 20 seconds later they were asleep...I didnt last 6 seconds!!!!!!!!! LOL I vividly remember saying "yep it's working, see you guys later I'm outa here"...the things you say when you are under the influence of a strong drug ha!
That was it folks.....what seemend like 1 or 2 seconds later and I was being woken up and then taken back to my room where lunch followed shortly afterwards. I was quite spaced out for 10 - 15 minutes and dozing into and out of sleep..Lunch arrived, I had a good graze and just napped from about 11.30 - 2.30pm, sleeping and waking randomly...by 4pm I was on my way to the train station.
Got the tube from St Johns on my own...This was my biggest worry, travelling 3 hours back door to door solo after surgery. I had phone numbers of the hotels locally on my phone in case I was a mess and couldnt do it...by 4pm I felt 99% like any normal day other than stiff and restrited movement..I just walked slowly to St Johns, got to Waterloo, bought a 1st class ticket so I could sit in a nice commfy seat and nto be fighting the rush hour madness....and here I am, back home genuinely feeling 99%...not perfect as to be expected, but certainly no worries about the journey on my own.
They took out 29G gland (14.5G of gland each side) and 400ml fat. I really need to shed another stone as Im about 18-20% body fat and thats not a good place to be now I have ridded the moobs. Need to get down to realistically 15% to see the full effects of surgery, but thats all good, I plan to keep the cardio flowing whilst im healing and keep chewing calories off. I'm not going to rush back into weights, that can come in good time, I want to heal now and with a new baby due in the next month Im planning on getting as much healing done as possible in the next 4 weeks before it all kicks off once again ;D
Anyway, enough rambling, here are some snaps
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/9ea27478.jpg)
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/09adee61.jpg)
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/2ce869ce.jpg)
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/f5ecf7c9.jpg)
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/581fee66.jpg)
LUNCH MENU!!
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/290f4746.jpg)
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/79e307ee.jpg)
And it arrives!
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/149300b9.jpg)
The Room
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/a26ee665.jpg)
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/1f52deca.jpg)
Redy for a night on the town, looking slick!!
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/126cd4c7.jpg)
My Karidis goody bag (1 vest, some massgae oil, some shower gel and a scrubber...also got a bag of meds, but not much to see there)
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/d43d9d01.jpg)
I'l take some post op photos tomorrow when I have a shower and stick on the waterprooof plasters.
I'm fully expecting a rough time of healing with scar tissue, I think im prepared for the journey and I know that in the end the result will be worth it...I've done the easy part, 1 hour operation is a walk in the park, now it's 12 months of healing...but I get to enjoy the next 30+ years afterwards (hopefully), so 12 months is feck all!!
I'll report back on how sleeping on my back went tomorrow .... not looking forward to that part as I'm a mover in bed lol
Big thanks to TheTodd & Ads21, if I hadnt seen your results and then NiGuys (sp?) I would have probably muddled on, but seeing those 3 made me go from thinking about my gyne to now looking forward to life without it ;D
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No worries man glad you got sorted
for anyone having the surgery, dont go to a hotel do the above and catch trains/coach/get a lift its so much better being in your own bed! Keen on seeing your post ops i rekon youl have a great result
But also for reference, you dont have to wear those pants lmao its for people having lipo on their abs+below you can wear your boxers. The nurses just dish that gear out in bulk to everyone
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I'll deffo keep posting progress pics for the next 12 months and cant wait to finish dieting and get back into lifting heavy and eating heavily too, im hoping the results will be good too mate!
I read you saying about those pants in NiGuys thread so when the nurse said it I hit him with the "Isnt that for when getting your stomach done and do i really need to wear them as it my chest being worked on today"...The answer was Yes, I had to wear them as everything was clean in the operating room and also so if they needed to remove them in emegecy (wtf kind of emergecy!!!! lol) then they wouldnt have to worry about cuttings someones expensive pants....
I tried mate, believe me....if I was a hung like a black man with a 6 foot todger I would have opted to go in naked, but alas im just your average guy, so would have prefered my boxershorts...but in all honesty, whilst i was awake there wasnt a window for them to be looking anyway if they were that way inclined as there were sheets covering my lower half during the operation including legs etc (if anyone is worried or put off by the pants, dont be).....I just wanted the op done and would have agreed to pretty much anything i think within reason :D
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Fantastic post Chopper, fingers crossed everything goes well for you in the next 12months. It will be mentally tough at times trying to convince yourself your moobs won't come back, but given time and excerise you'll be fine.
Your gonna lose that extra stone with ease mate, exercising knowing your moobs are gone will make things so much more enjoyable. You can swim, run through the streets with confidence and just be a more positive person.
Once again fantastic forum with great members.
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Thats it mate, it really is a fantastic forum, so much info and people happy to help answer questions.
I went at weight loss for 6 months with the sole aim of losing my moobs and when they didnt go i ate more and lifted heavy hoping with muscle on top it would be golden, but it didnt work that way and I kind of lost hope and sacked off the gym for the last year, but knowing the glands were getting pulled exercising hasnt been a bitter sweet pill....I cant wait to really focus on building muscle on my chest and to finally have a chest that isnt spoiled by 2 hard boiled eggs pointing through every tshirt or jumper ;D
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Day 1 post -op
Just stuck the plasters on and had a shower. Waterproof my arse, i made sure they were on but they leaked like bugger lol
Sleep was OK, woke up a few times with a stiff / dead back from being on it all day and night. I have more range of movement today as well. Swelling is there as expected, chest area is numb ish but also quite sensitive, strange feeling, kinda like when you have pins & needles and the feeling starts to come back, you can feel it, but you cant, if you know what i mean?
Anyway, pics uploaded. Happy with the result, but i know its a long way off of being the final result, so here is to wishing away the months ;D
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/0edc5a3b.jpg)
MY lower stomach looks so funny now it protrudes more than my moobs!!!! First time Ive seen it look like this that I can recall lol
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/2f92d13e.jpg)
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/e16e27aa.jpg)
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/71b59fb2.jpg)
Ive tried on a few t-shirts and jumpers that have been banished to the back my wardrobe for ever....such a feeling putting on a t-shirt and not having to pull it away from your chest ;D ;D
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Great results Chopper, must be a great feeling wearing your favourite t shirts and shirts now! I brought loads of nice shirts over the years that I could never wear, so can't wait till the day I can put them on with no worry in the world. ;D
Its just a case of following everything by the book now, your gonna experience swelling but its just a case of staying strong through that period.
All the best and keep us posted.
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Its just a case of following everything by the book now, your gonna experience swelling but its just a case of staying strong through that period.
Could not have said it better myself. You will deffo get swelling and it'll look like your m00bs are growing back again. This will probably hit you after you take the compression garment off. Unfortunately it's a case of being patient for 6 months or so and trying not to freak out too much.
Keep us updated with the pics and...
Welcome to the other side!
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Looks spot on mate, you havent got much brusing so hopefully your body will react well to scar tissue aswell
sit back and relax ... because those days are gone once the baby arives ;).
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Its just a case of following everything by the book now, your gonna experience swelling but its just a case of staying strong through that period.
Could not have said it better myself. You will deffo get swelling and it'll look like your m00bs are growing back again. This will probably hit you after you take the compression garment off. Unfortunately it's a case of being patient for 6 months or so and trying not to freak out too much.
Keep us updated with the pics and...
Welcome to the other side!
Does the swelling make your chest badly mooby or does it just stick out a bit? From the pictures I've seen the swelling just looks like swelling and not mooby at all. Does the worry of G returning make things 10 times worse?
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Looks perfect to me mate, thats the kind of results im hoping for :)
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Looks great!
From your previous pics, I was reminded how nice the sandwiches were. I didn't get the goody bag though!
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are you allowed to take ibuprofen or something to bring swelling and inflammation down?
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Looks perfect to me mate, thats the kind of results im hoping for :)
Still a long way off of being the finished article, but I'm hoping all heals well in time buddy..Hope you get the results too, I've wasted far too much time over the years thinking about it, hopefully thats over ;D
Looks great!
From your previous pics, I was reminded how nice the sandwiches were. I didn't get the goody bag though!
Sarnies were good, always better when someone else makes them and you dont have to wash up too ha!
are you allowed to take ibuprofen or something to bring swelling and inflammation down?
I was told No asprin in the first week because it thins the blood and won't help with healing. I've got 2 types of pain killer, one a morphine based one which I havent had to touch...I've had 3 doses of the other one, but these were all given to me by St Johns. I'm under the impression the compression vest is the ticket to help with swelling from what i've been reading, but could be wrong?
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Happy everything went well for you mate, good you didn't live too far away to catch a train. I had to go to a hotel which sucked left a day early just so I could get my own bed and home. Let the recovery begin! :)
My advice for recovery is don't stress or worry about results ( from someone that did ), you've already said it's a long road of recovery which is right.
Main thing is get pass the 1st few weeks and see improvements.
I've in the dreaded scar tissue stage, but I know with the proper recovery it will go with time.
I was back in the gym just over a week but only legs, needed to train hate sitting about doing nothing!
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LOL the sarnies was quality, I hadnt ate for 12 hours so I ordered 2 lots. Eat 6-7 meals a day then they made my starve for the op. Made sure had enough for when I woke up :)
Yeah the good bag was great, I'm still using the natural shampoo and cloth to wash myself and even used the massage oil for the 1st time massaging. Bought bio oil now but £15 for big bottle.
I'm week 3 and still wearing my vest 24/7. Its annoying at 1st especially when still swollen and sore but you get use to it. I rather keep it on longer now and recover better than take it off early and do damage.
Not sure what everyone else does but I wash my vest with the natural shampoo in the shower every morning. Got 2 to use so fresh one everyday.
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Thats not a bad idea PecDec, using the gear they give you to clean the compression top with as I was wondering the best way of cleaning it tomorrow when I stick the new one on. I had planned on using these tops for 2 weeks then buying nike / adidas ones and wearning those for up to the next month or possibly longer....just going to play it by eye and keep pressure and support to my chest until i feel confident i can go it without them...I work from home (for myself) so I can wear what I want daily, so it makes it a bit easier
Good on you for having a good munch mate!! I had half a chicken this evening for dinner and i had to loosen my compression vest as my gut was at bursting point LOL
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Yeah I wanted to use natural cleaning products for it because didn't want it to get itchy. Just wash it every morning in the shower then hang it up. With this hot weather we're having they having been drying in a day easy. See how your swelling goes, after 2-3 weeks you get use to the vest. Due to the swelling and scar tissue i still dont like wearing t shirts without the vest. The vest helps smooth everything out so looks alot better lol. You will see what I mean.
Well this is what I brought with me to the hotel and I was only there a couple of days & these were only snacks. Ate out for my 3 main meals a day lol in total I eat 6-7 meals daily.
(http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/2565/img0354kn.jpg)
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Does the swelling make your chest badly mooby or does it just stick out a bit? From the pictures I've seen the swelling just looks like swelling and not mooby at all. Does the worry of G returning make things 10 times worse?
It's made my chest look a tiny bit mooby. When I'm wearing clothes there's an almost unnoticeable moobish profile from the side. It doesn't bother me though coz it's so much better than before + I'm not gonna freak out unless it's still like this after 6 months. I guess it's different for everyone because some people get virtually no swelling.
Good on you for having a good munch mate!! I had half a chicken this evening for dinner and i had to loosen my compression vest as my gut was at bursting point LOL
LMAO same here! I pigged-out bigtime for a few days after the op and it made wearing the compression vest bloody murder. ;D
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Sounds like the compression vests are murder! ;D
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LMAO same here! I pigged-out bigtime for a few days after the op and it made wearing the compression vest bloody murder. ;D
Wish I had learnt the lesson the first time, but my school reports always said "he never pays attention" ha!.....i did it again this evening, had a good feast and then sat there and loosened up all the lower clips on the vest and was wishing i had eaten a smaller plate fulll, or asked for a bigger compression vest :D
I havent touched a pain killer today, been feeling really good all day. To be fair I wasnt in pain yesterday just a little uncomfortable down the right hand side of my rib cage whenever i tried to sit up...I think the muscles were a little tender, but today all seems right as rain and i can use my stomach muscles to get me up from lying down, also range of movement has improved in my arms...i havent pushed it yet to find out where the boundaries are...all in good time is what I'm thinking, there is a lot of healing going on under the skin and I need to leave it to do its stuff.
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1 week post op today and very pleased with how everything is going.
My chest was pretty numb for the first 4 / 5 days and feeling gradually came back across it all, at day 7 I can feel everything across the main part of my chest. My left nipple has sensitivity and reacts to goose bumps & cold weather...the right nipple isnt back yet, but i can feel burning sensations and an itching feeling around the nipple which would indicate healing is happening.
I've got some swelling on my right side which is making it look like VERY VERY minor gyne which I'm sure will subside in the coming months...my left side has some swelling too and certain parts of both sides of my chest are a little tender to touch, but the left side is pretty much perfect to the eye, you wouldnt notice i've had an op or have swelling unless you were feeling my skin.
I've been going for hour walks since day 3 most days, can carry shopping in from the car, can change a 3 year olds nappy, bath her etc etc...so my daily life hasnt been affected by the op. I havent tried driving yet as I can imagine i will make only make swelling happen by agitating things that are healing...generally I'm keeping active but also restricting the movement in my chest and not pushing it at all.
I've found a good solution to the vest digging under my arms and that was cutting a pair of socks up and putting them between the vest and my body as a comfort barrier...no more rubbing and digging it :)
Bruising is also going very quickly now....must say I'm surprised just how good I feel 7 days post-op, i honestly thought i would be a lot more restricted in daily life, but I'm not...I would say 7 days is enough time off work to go back without raising too many suspicions from colleagues, but if you could take 2 weeks off then I can only imagine that will be even better still.
Will get "she who must be obeyed" to take some photos later and stick them up for you all
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Left side....flatter then a pancake for now
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/647bfe22.jpg)
Right side...small swelling, but very minor
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/c5af2b0a.jpg)
I took them in the mirror which is why it looks like my left is my right etc...
I know I could be posting horrible swelling in a few weeks but this is the deal for 1st week post op
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Give it 6 months mate until you start freaking out about the swelling. I have it on both sides. I have to say that it's an absolute cnut when the swelling first occurs! You're left wondering if the m00bs are growing back lol.
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Hopefully the swelling wont get too much worse, your bodys reacted really well to the surgery i mean there isnt much bruising at all thats the benefit of not needing much lipo i suppose. Scar tissue ... probally wont be to servere. Looks like a top result to me especially one week on but i think your overall physique certainley helps that.
Do you know what BF% you are at the minute?
Good luck on the recovery and youre baby
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Hey mate if my chest looks half as good as yours after a week i will be over the moon. Looks like you reacted pretty well to surgery and your wounds look pretty spot on. Did you skin feel a bit strange after you took the bandages off? My left side feels a bit wobbly when I walk sumtimes. Glad to see your results anyway mate. Keep up the good healing process :)
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2 weeks Post-op
Im chuffed to bits with the results guys. Some swelling as I mentioned last week still exists but a lot has already come down. What I first thought was a mix of swelling and hard scar tissue appears to mostly be swelling. The swelling has been as hard as stone or bone to touch, it didnt feel like tissue at all, but a lot of it has just vanished over the last week. There is still a load and some definite scar tissue but as of last week If i take the vest off I can wear a t-shirt and there is nothing to see...I.E I'm 100% flat.
Bruising is almost gone, should be gone in the next 2 weeks. Right nipple is still on holiday...when the sensation will fully come back I dont know and dont really care if im honest. There is a burning sensation and i get pulses of sensations going through it, but if i touch it, it's dead, like touching someone elses nipple
Piccies:
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/5dd6d04e.jpg)
They are 2 different photos - but they look similar - thought I would include them in case someone wants to study them closely at a later date
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/8ebb2b8b.jpg)
Left hand side:
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/37c336ba.jpg)
Still very flat, a tiny amount of swelling at the lower pec.
Right Hand side:
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/c2527220.jpg)
You can probably see the little swelling at the bottom of the pec and also just slightly above the nipple. I would happily walk t-shirt free if the bruising was away as you really couldnt tell unless you were studying my chest
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/655f6d12.jpg)
Thats all for now folks. I'm going to wear my compression vest for another 2 weeks 24/7 which will be a total of 4 weeks with it on 24/7.
I can sleep a solid 8 hours with it on which I couldnt do in the first week and im comfortable with it on now as long as I dont go balls out at dinner time otherwise it gets a little uncomfortable then :)
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Hopefully the swelling wont get too much worse, your bodys reacted really well to the surgery i mean there isnt much bruising at all thats the benefit of not needing much lipo i suppose. Scar tissue ... probally wont be to servere. Looks like a top result to me especially one week on but i think your overall physique certainley helps that.
Do you know what BF% you are at the minute?
Good luck on the recovery and youre baby
Im about 18 - 19% body fat at the moment. No 12% e-stats here...I've used calipers and machines which get me around 18% at the moment. I went from 25.1 % to 18 in just over 7 weeks before the OP.
right now in recovery I couldnt give 2 fucks about a strict diet though...the gym is the furthest thing from my mind. I cant wait to get back, dont get me wrong, but it can wait, just like my diet can...once I'm all healed I'll hit the diet to get myself down to 15% BF, then ramp my diet back up to 3.5K calories and lift heavy and maintain a steady growth but this time without the boobies which always killed my motivation...for now, it's all about healing and taking it easy and eating what I want (within reason) ;D
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Cracking results mate, think your coming on well, i cant imagine you will get much more swelling that what you already have, it seems that your body has reacted really well to the surgery! I think 24/7 for a month with the vest looks like its the way to go, im tempted to do 3 weeks 24hrs and then just do 1 week at night and see how that goes. When did you start sleeping on your side? I feel as though i can but i dont wanna do any damage. Do you feel 100% back to normal now or do you sometimes get a bit of pain now and then?
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I'm still mostly on my back when sleeping, but the last 3 nights i've switched to my left hand side for a couple of hours (usually not long before waking). The pain is 95% gone, there is just a couple of tender spots that arent really painful, just uncomfortable when i touch them, and a reminder that it's still healing.
I havent tried putting my arms straight up above my head just yet, im 3/4 there, but not all the way.
BTW: the jiggle on my left side is not as noticeable today, i was thinking it earlier when at a friends.
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Great results Chopper. ;D
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Had a couple of hours sleep on my right side (the more swollen side) and it's told me it's not happy by swelling up more...My left side is OK if i sleep on it, but it appears my right side isn't quite ready.
I'll be sleeping on my back for the next few weeks then lol
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Sleeping on your back is a bitch isn't it mate, think I'm finally getting used to it now after 8 days but still have to stop myself from wanting to roll onto my side sometimes.
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awesome results btw, flat as a pancake.
Are you still taking arnica now ? did you bother with pineapple ?
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Yep, sleeping on my back the first week was a nightmare, was only able to sleep 3 - 4 hours MAX at anyone time before my lower back was dead and I would wake up uncomfortable and aching..I would have to sit up for 10 - 20 minutes before I could lie back down on it again...but that all seems to have passed and I'm getting the full 8 hrs now without any problems...but I cant wait to be sleeping on my front and both sides totally unrestricted ;D
I was militant about the arnica tablets in the first week but have been a bit slack during week 2 and started using arnica cream on it towards the end of week 2 and probably having roughly 3 arnica tablets a day. Bought 1 pineapple and half of it is still in the kitchen...so not really done much on the pineapple front.
It's such a great feeling being gyne free that all this healing business is really no bother at all...it's such a kick every day when im stood in front of the mirror after showering, i keep staring at my chest whilst brushing my teeth or shaving...i swear i've never brushed my teeth or shaved so much before :D :D
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It's such a great feeling being gyne free that all this healing business is really no bother at all...it's such a kick every day when im stood in front of the mirror after showering, i keep staring at my chest whilst brushing my teeth or shaving...i swear i've never brushed my teeth or shaved so much before :D :D
IT IS FRICKING AWESOME isn't it mate !!! Love it. Well happy, just hope I don't get too much swelling or scar tissue.
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IT IS FRICKING AWESOME isn't it mate !!! Love it. Well happy, just hope I don't get too much swelling or scar tissue.
Yup, was saying to the missus I only wish I had done it in my 20's when I used to play loads of sport and was always in pretty good shape D'OH!!
Even if you get a ton of swelling...you know it's going down in the end. And if you get a ton of scar tissue (and i have quite a bit) most of it will go in 12 months with massage and what is left you can obliterate with injections if it's really needed...if only I could have massaged and injected my gyne away :D
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yeah that would have been awesome !
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Chopper you mention you have alot of scar tissue?? How bad is it it isnt visable on your pics you look like your completly healed!!!
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Chopper you mention you have alot of scar tissue?? How bad is it it isnt visable on your pics you look like your completly healed!!!
So much healing happening under the skin at the moment, pretty much the area Karidis marked out with the pen has hard tissue/swelling...it's there, but not really affecting the shape and contour of my chest YET...lol...
I can get my arms directly above my head with the vest on. When i take the vest off my movement isnt as good as when i have it on...probably comfort & support i've got used to? 1.5 more weeks and i'm out of this, hopefully in time for the heatwave they say we are getting
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Result looks fantastic! Bet you're over the moon! How long after your consultation did you have the operation? Was it around a month?
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Result looks fantastic! Bet you're over the moon! How long after your consultation did you have the operation? Was it around a month?
Yep, about a month....and it felt like a really long month too lol
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Haha I bet!! Gonna give them a ring tomorrow, see how soon they could get me in for the op, hopefully won't need another consultation. Hoping for end of June/early July really! How much was the op itself do you remember?
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3 weeks yesterday - much the same as last week, just better movement in my arms, less tenderness and general feeling across my chest is getting better.
There is so many hard lumps I can feel which im guessing is scar tissue, some feel like small marble shaped, others much larger. I would say 70% of my pecs have hard tissue under the skin i can feel.
I took my vest of for a couple of hours yesterday and what happened is exactly what i thought would happen, the swelling and lumpyness comes on across my chest. I put the vest back on when i went to bed and it all looked grand again this morning.
My right side has less scar tissue above the nipple, it's mainly below the nipple where my left hand side it's all above the nipple and below is pretty good....it's my right hand side that swells up the most, going from the outside of my right nipple towards my ribs down the side of my body...hopefully the pics will give you an idea.
Brusing is all gone now.
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/c46dc275-1.jpg)
I marked this one so you could see the swelling on the right hand side
below is the same photo without the markings...it's not noticeable in a t-shirt, but wearing this nike compression vest you can notice the swelling
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/c46dc275.jpg)
Front side
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/4b445ddc.jpg)
Front image using my other hand to take the photo so you can see both sides with arms by my sides.
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/80f964d6.jpg)
Over the moon with the results even with swelling and scar tissue. I would still settle for exactly what i have now over my gynecomastia all day every day.
I have just started massage as of last night and its really helped get some sensation back into patches of skin that just have very limited feeling...
Gents my good lady is due to drop out 2nd child next week so my updates might get a little limited if he arrives as expected. I will take photos at 4 weeks for this thread, i might just not be able to upload them immediatley.
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Been wearing a Nike compresson vest for 5 - 6 hours today, yes the feeling is amazing after wearing those hot tight fitting surgical vests in the current weather...what I have noticed is the swelling has come up since taking the surgical vest off, but with the Nike compression top on after 5 + hours the swelling isnt as bad as the swelling i had when just wearing a t-shirt yesterday for 2 hours....so the nike compression helps keep the swelling down more so than not wearing one.
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looking great dude, be honest with u I can't even notice any swelling or scar tissue !!
mate how tight are the nike vests ? I had a 39 inch chest pre op, dunno what it is now, currently wearing a medium surgical compression vest from underworks but its a tiny bit tight. was thinking of getting a medium size nike vest to wear down the gym and running etc when I've healed.
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They give a light support in contrast to the surgical vest and i think im probably a bit too early to go into the nike vest as by 6pm my chest was starting to ache a little. I'm probably going to wear one to the gym when i run like you are thinking...i cant wait if im honest, walking into the gyn in a well fitted top, will be a first lol
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I got a load of good info from Karidis' surgery once my surgery had been booked, but I didn't get these Gynecomastia post-surgery instructions and I have been onto their website and I notice it's not included there..
I called and asked them about massage info as Alex Karidis mentioned to me they would be putting out a new document with massage info on the day of my surgery, perhaps this is the document unless others have already got it?
Post Operative Instructions:
Gynecomastia correction
• Try and arrange to have either a friend or family member to pick you up and to stay with you for the first 24-48 hours in order to help you get settled in around the house.
• Everyone recovers from their anaesthetic differently. Some people feel no side effects while others are more noticeably affected, feeling tired and even sick for the first couple of days. Eat lightly with small meals throughout the day to minimise sickness. If necessary, cut food into small bitesized pieces to facilitate chewing and digestion. Salty foods can contribute to fluid retention and swelling so limit these in the first 7-10 days. In order to avoid constipation, eat plenty of fresh vegetables and dried fruits. Overall, try to eat a balanced diet to ensure your body is getting all the important nutrients it needs in the immediate postoperative healing period.
• Drink plenty of fluids (about 8 glasses of water daily during the first 48 hours) after surgery in the form of water and fresh juices, in the first few days after surgery. Avoid caffeine and carbonated drinks in the first few days. Dairy products in the first 72 hours after surgery can upset your stomach and make you feel sick and therefore it would be sensible to keep these to a minimum.
• Do wear comfortable front opening and loose clothing at night and in the day. Due to the fact that there is likely to be some degree of soiling or staining from the incision sites, try to use old bed and pillow linen.
• Should you experience any pain, you may take one or two pain relieving tablets (such as paracetamol or distalgesics) as required up to 4-hourly. DO NOT TAKE ASPIRIN OR PRODUCTS CONTAINING ASPIRIN as well as any of the other preparations mentioned in the DO'S & DON’T'S section. These products will prolong or recommence bleeding.
• Remember to take your Arnica tablets for two weeks after surgery. The bruising and swelling usually peaks at day 3 or 4 will gradually start to subside after about 2 to 3 weeks, and most of the obvious swelling is gone within 4 to 6 weeks. Arnica cream can be rubbed gently into bruised areas from week 1, or once all incisions have healed.
• You may recommence any regular medication that you normally take (i.e. blood pressure tablets) as soon as you are able to drink, unless specifically instructed not to or is mentioned in the DON'TS section of your information booklet.
• Continue to avoid smoking and alcohol for the first week after surgery. Also do not allow anyone to smoke in your presence, either.
• You may drive after 48 hours.
• You will have a pressure garment applied to the area involved. Please continue to wear it for up to 14 days (unless otherwise instructed), day and night and then reduce this either 8 hours of the day or night for an additional 1 week. Having said that you can remove the garment for a couple of hours during the day, as respite, if you really feel you would like to have some relief from the pressure.
• After 2 weeks the garment should be worn either during the day or at night time for another 2 weeks maximum.
• Occasionally some people, particularly those who have had large volumes of fat removed or who have chronically low blood pressure, can experience light headedness, faintness or dizzy sensations when rising from a lying down position. Similar sensations can also be experienced when the garment is removed for the first or second time and subsequently the patient stands. This is called orthostatic hypotension (standing low blood pressure). The best way to avoid any such dizziness is to sit by the side of the bed for a couple of minutes after you have been lying down (or if you have just removed garment) and then slowly stand up. Basically, avoid standing up too quickly in the first week!
• Expect significant oozing of bloody fluid from the small incision sites during the first 24-36 hours. This occurs because the incision sites are not sutured and therefore remain open so they can freely drain any fluid developing immediately after surgery. The incision sites seal off after this time and fluid build up decreases.
• You may shower after 24 hours. Do not however have a bath (there is always the risk of germs from the bathtub getting in through the incisions if you sit in a bath before the incisions have completely healed up). You will of course need to remove your compression garment and any sticky dressings. On the incision sites apply a waterproof dressing such as Elastoplast Aqua Protect strips or Boots own name brand of waterproof dressings (all are usually available at Boots). These are usually quite effective, and should remain stuck on the incisions for about a week. If in the interim they do peel off then just reapply another one. In general its best to leave these on for about 7 days before discarding them. Re-apply the garment as necessary afterwards.
• Bathing is allowed after 10 days, or when the wounds have sealed off.
• You will be bruised for up to 3 or 4 weeks and obviously swollen for up to 6 or 8 weeks. However, even after this time there will be subtle (and sometimes not so subtle-read further!) swelling present in the operated areas for up to 6 or 9 months.
• You must understand and be prepared for a rollercoaster ride following your surgery with respect to the appearance of your chest! This is because your chest will change a lot in appearance in the first 3-6 months. THIS IS BASICALLY DUE TO THE HEALING PROCESS WHICH CONSISTS OF SWELLING AND FIBROSIS OR SCAR TISSUE. THIS IS A NORMAL BODILY RESPONSE FOLLOWING SURGERY. FURTHERMORE, YOU MUST REMEMBER EACH PERSON HAS A DIFFERENT HEALING RESPONSE AND TIME FRAME FOR THIS. Of course in the grand scheme of things, everything does improve week by week and month by month, however it is a slow process that ultimately needs time. Furthermore, within the overall healing period there will be small periods of time whereby progress would seem to stall and even go backwards and look worse just when things start to look better. Again, do not panic! This is the normal healing process which is ongoing and can occasionally have a stop/start nature about it and gives rise to untoward effects. However, ultimately, given time this settles.
• Immediately after the surgery when you remove your garment you will experience euphoria because you will usually-but not always (depending on your swelling) - see your chest very flat. In fact it might be over-flat. This is a temporary state of affair and is due to the compression gauze and dressings. This will “spring” back into a more normal appearance within a few days.
• It is advisable to begin massage to the areas from about 2-3 weeks after surgery. There is no point in massaging before this time, as the area will inevitably be quite tender to press and therefore any massaging attempted will be ineffective. Massage, when begun, is an important integral part of the treatment. Massaging helps decrease swelling by increasing the circulation and activating drainage activity. It also helps stimulate the collagen in the skin into tightening and therefore improve the final result.
• Massage should be firm and consistent using a circular motion. However, it should never lead to pain or obvious intense redness or irritation afterwards. It is also best to use some lubricant/oil to avoid any friction effects on the skin. It is advised to massage for short durations i.e. 5 minutes at a time, 3-4 times a day, but only after 2-3 weeks provided it is not too uncomfortable, and continue for up to 2 or 3 months. Professional massages, can also be initiated, after about 2 or 3 weeks. The usual type of professional massage that is helpful is called a lymphatic drainage type massage.
• After the first 2-3 weeks you will experience a frustrating alternating period of hardening, tightening and lumpiness of the skin and tissues which were treated. This is scar tissue - or fibrosis as its formally called - that is developing within the area. Furthermore, there is always some residual blood and swelling present within the area which adds to this phenomena. DO NOT PANIC THEREFORE. More vigorous massage (but again taking care to avoid obvious redness or irritation), when appropriate, will help overcome this, however ultimately this may take up 69 months or even more to fully subside.
• Sometimes patients may observe lumpy, flattened or even “sunken” in areas on their chest. This is because swelling can be patchy and not always uniform. Therefore you can get areas of elevation or swelling, next to seemingly “sunken” in areas. As the swelling subsides however the level then equals the “sunken” area thereby levelling off the overall appearance. This however can take up to 6 months or longer to consolidate and complete.
• It is quite common for the incisions at the lower border of the areola to sometimes look indented, or even “not quite healed” in the first few weeks after surgery. This is due to a combination of scar tissue which pulls in the scar and makes it look “tethered” as well as swelling in the immediate surrounding area which makes the edges of the incision look as though they have come apart. In fact the incisions will be healed - this can be confirmed by gently pressing on the area around the incision which will show a dry sealed wound. Of course, in time the scar tissue and swelling abates and the area settles.
• Occasionally, in the first few weeks after the surgery some degree of “puffiness” in the areola can be evident and some people worry that the gland is growing back. This is simply not the case. As 98-99% of the gland is removed during the surgery there just isn’t any capacity for this to occur. Any puffiness that does appear is just due to scar tissue forming behind the areola. This will eventually subside leaving a flat looking areola.
• In the first few weeks, occasionally the areola as well as the skin around the areola and the skin in the lower part of the chest, can feel and look a little wrinkled and even boggy. This is due to the inherent and natural drainage of the skin tissues being impaired due to the formation of scar tissue leading to patchy or even larger scale swelling. Eventually the drainage of the skin finds new channels to sort this out, however it is a slow process which can take up to 6 months or more. Local massage will help resolve this. If the swelling gives you a discomfort or untoward sensation or feeling then it may help to wear your compression garment during such time.
• Moderate your activity during the first week and slowly increase your physical activity after 10 days. In general, many patients can return to the gym after 10-14 days. However, do remember that your chest will still feel very tight and somewhat tender when you pursue any exercises that stretch the chest area. Which is why its best to listen to your body and do things that you generally feel comfortable with and build up from there.
• Some patients can experience sensory changes (i.e. numbness or hypersensitivity) in the areas treated. This settles with time, and in fact starts to improve significantly with massage.
• Avoid ultraviolet exposure (sun & sunbed), of the treated areas for 6 weeks. After this time apply appropriate sun protection.
• You should contact us if any of the following occur:
fever greater than 100º Fahrenheit or 38.5º Celsius;
pain not relieved by 2 pain relieving tablets;
significant discharge from the incision sites or any other area of the skin after 48 hours.
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Is it best to let your chest swell up after a couple of weeks? Or will the panick just make you wear the vest longer then you should?
Great insightful thread by the way.
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Great post chopper, thanks for sharing that. Interesting to see Alex's advice.
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So today is 4 weeks since having the OP and I'm still over the moon with everything.
I started taking my vest off for a few hours last week during the day and wore a tshirt for a few hours and would then have the vest back on at night time. By the weekend just gone I decided to ditch the vest until evenings, so pretty much did 4 weeks solid but started transitioning slowly to no vest.
My right hand side always had more swelling and was more tender than my left. My right swole up a fair bit when i first took the vest off and once the swelling had come up it was very tender to touch and bump, but after massage and pushing the built up fluid away from the area the swelling has really come down a hell of a lot in a week.
As you can see a little lumpyness and swelling still there, but i'm wearing fitted tops and you cant notice it at all!
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/f319ee6f.jpg)
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/753b4884.jpg)
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/15cf39ce.jpg)
In summmary, each week the healing really improves compare to the last. I can get my arms above my head no problem and I have a lot more feeling in my chest since starting massage. The scar tisssue is there and there is tons of it, but it should go in time, im certainly not worried in the slightest.
Anyone thinking of having the OP - go and do it. I doubt you will regret it.
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From a noob perspective I can't see anything wrong with your results, infact it looks 100% perfect. But I'm sure you can see and feel a few little niggles with the scartissue ect.
I can't even begin to think how happy I'm gonna be if I have similiar results to you, you dream of something for so long and then it happens. ;D
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perfect result mate, if mine look anything like yours i'd be over the moon!
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Looking great dude, can't notice any swelling or scar tissue.
What a result already and you've still got healing to do so will only get better !!
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Good stuff mate looking spot on, how does it feel with the vest completly off now? I go for stages of about 5-6 hours with it off and then wear it again. Hows the massage going?
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Im actually sat here in the vest as I've just been into town for a few hours and the right swelling makes it a little uncomfortable, so a few hours with this on, then I'll have it off for the evening and stick it back on tonight when I go to bed. It's just to bring the swelling down on my right which does get a little tender when it's up....the left side is perfect.
All good though mate! I just need to be patient and the swelling will go down. When I wake up in the AM the swelling takes a couple of hours for the fluid to build up, so I know once the swelling is down the end result will be worth all the waiting ;D
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about the vests, did you get a few of them and/or have to keep putting them in the wash? Especially since its starting to get quite warm now.
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I think I read you get two...or at least I hope so, I dont want to be wearing one all night and all day for 7 days without washing it, the amount I sweat in the night and the hot days would make me a seriously stinky guy!
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You get two.
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You do get 2 vests and I found our zanussi washing machine on hand wash hasnt shrunk them at all. I was wearing each vest for 1 or 2 days depending how smelly i got...4 weeks of doing it and all was good with them :)
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You do get 2 vests and I found our zanussi washing machine on hand wash hasnt shrunk them at all. I was wearing each vest for 1 or 2 days depending how smelly i got...4 weeks of doing it and all was good with them :)
I'm gonna have to wear my vest during the summer, making my journey home won't be fun if its blistering hot. BUT being moob free will have me in high spirits. ;D
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6 weeks post op today (Will snap photo when my phone is recharged)
All is pretty much back to normal. I can sleep on my front, have full range of motion, can lift weights....The only thing I do feel is a little tightness which I think Is some of the scar tissue because when I massage in the evenings the tightness is gone.
A lot of the scar tissue just dissapears on its own I think as it's been shrinking quite quickly and I'm sure It can't all be do to with massage, however I'm still doing about 30 - 40 minutes massage a day over a couple of sessions.
My left nipple was a bit puffy for a couple of weeks - all back to normal now. Still some bits of soft skin that feel like they have swelling fluid under, so just going to keep cracking on with massage.
All in all I am ecstatic about the result. I live 5 minutes car drive from the beach, having the result I have is just perfect. You can't tell I've had an operation at all. I would gladly suggest anyone thinking about the operation to go and get it done with Karidis. I cant talk for the other docs but this dude has done me proud!
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8 Weeks post-op
Sorry for the lack of pics, I have taken them at week 6, 7 and 8 and have them saved but havent uploaded them, but I will soon :D
The only thing that I'm doing now is massage. Everything else about having gyne now feels a bit of a memory and I can understand why people abandon the board a few weeks post op as you just want to crack on with life and make up for it especially now it's summer!
My scar tissue was pretty big a few weeks post op and peaked around week 3 & 4 and has been shrinking every week since. Some bits started out bigger than 50p coins and are now about pea size and smaller, other bits were long and stringy to touch, maybe 2 inches in length and they now pretty much blend in with the other tissue and at one point you could clearly see the scar tissue in certain areas underneath the skin, but it does go down, you just have to forget about it, know you dont have gyne and that it's not coming back and sit it out patiently and wait for healing to finish. I've still got a little swelling on my right hand side too, but its pretty minor and shrinking weekly too.
Thats all i'm doing now folks, massaging a couple of times a day and carrying on with life. I'll save up more photos and post them all together
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Dude, your results look awesome, I'm day 6 into recovery and I hope to god that mine heals as well as yours has!
So did you wear the vest 24/7 for 4 weeks rather than 2? Looking forward to seeing the updated pics.
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Folks, excuse the severe lack of photos and updates....
Healing is going smoothly, I have been pretty slack in massaging because If I'm honest I pretty much don't think about my chest like it was pre and post operation, it's no longer the centre of my focus and it just feels so normal now that it doesn't need massaging.....I know I should be massaging still so don't follow my lead ;D
There is still some swelling, albeit small and not really noticeable, but I know it's there. I do have scar tissue but it's nothing like it was say from weeks 3 - week 6, it's drastically smaller...literally a fraction of the amount. I have pics of my scar tissue at it's worst and once I figure out how to get everything uploaded I will. The scar tissue really wasn't a big deal for me as I always knew it was coming and a lot of it would go, I just didn't realise how much came and how much it really does go...but I think I was pretty lucky healing wise as I've seen some folks who have harsh bruising and what look like big red burns followed by heavy scar tissue...just shows we all heal so differently.
I've got no tender spots, no aches, pains, nothing. I am back playing sports and at the gym like It's never happened really. I'm now happy with my top off around others, it feels like everything has settled down. My right nipple has a pea sized lump of scar tissue that I do find myself playing with in the hope it shrinks down, but it doesn't cause the puffy nipple look compared to my other nipple. It's a little larger, but again i've noticed it's all still healing and changing as the lump is definitely smaller this week then it was 2 weeks ago when I first noticed it.
Pics taken last week - 11 weeks roughly post op.
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/IMG_1251.jpg)
and with the camera in the other hand
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/IMG_125014-37-53.jpg)
For anyone thinking about getting it done, make sure you have your expectations set - it's pretty easy having an OP done, the healing part takes time and you can't put a time limit on when you want things perfect by...relax, get the op done and know the big part is over with, but the road ahead is still long, but the end result has been so worth it. I only wish I had got it done when I was 21 not 31...
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looking good mate!
you mentioned about a long recovery, do you think it will be something like 6 months or more till it's completely healed?
I'm pencilled in for 16 august which will leave me 5 weeks recovery until uni starts, do you think that will be enough to be able to go out drinking and sleeping on my side and stuff?
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5 weeks is plenty of time to be feeling good and out to pubs etc. I was back in the gym by week 6 and was at a BBQ having a few beers around week 2 but the sun got too much with the compression vest and i was sweating like a paedophile in a playground.
It will still be a little tender by 5 weeks probably, but I would say 90% back to normal. To be fair, the first week is the worst and by week 2 you will have a lot of movement back, by week 5 you will be flying. Go get it done, especially if you are Uni with all those ladies about....party time!!! Don't need to be getting bogged down with feeling self-consious about your moobs...make them a thing of the past ;D ;D
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That's good to know mate! Hopefully if I pull a girl she won't be weirded out by the compression vest haha
I'm booked in for 16th august, just started a thread on it :)
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I was looking through the photos I have taken of this journey so far and thought I would put up a quick summary of it.
I'm so pleased I got it done personally. It's a cliche saying on here but it has "changed my life" and that is about the best way to summarise it lol
Loads of my friends have complemented me recently all saying how I look like I have lost so much weight and look really good...the funny thing Is I haven't lost much weight at all, i'm just wearing clothes that fit me better and don't have my t-shirt sticking out around my chest by 2 unwanted moobs anymore.
I've been hitting the gym for about 8 weeks, only doing chest once a week, cleaned my diet up as best as possible for the time being and acquired a sun tan in the last week which has helped no end!! Bring on the sun!!
Day of surgery - 3rd May
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/581fee66.jpg)
Next Day - before putting on waterproof plasters - 4th May
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/e16e27aa.jpg)
6 weeks later and enjoying some heavy scar tissue - Loads and loads of scar tissue everywhere - 22nd June
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/IMG_100714-37-53.jpg)
8 weeks after that photo was taken - Hitting the gym and picking up a suntan - scar tissue has calmed down dramatically and things are "smoothing" out slowly. -5th August
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/63e572ef.jpg)
I'm chuffed ;D
I still have some swelling and a lumps of scar tissue that are slowly going down. For what is just over 3 months i'm really happy and it's far greater then my expectations of what i mentally prepared myself for....i prepared myself for worst case scenario that I would have a flat chest but be embarrassed about the scars from surgery and healing that I wouldn't want to take my top off in public, but at least I would be able to wear clothes that fitted and not be so conscious about my chest...i was happy to accept that....unluckily for the public they now have me getting my top off at every chance making up for all the times i previously wore over sized tshirts on hot days ;D ;D
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can see a real improvement there mate! Btw, at what point did you stop massaging?
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Awesome post bro and glad to hear you are doing so good.
Sums up how i am feeling as well, today I'm off down the gym for a heavy back and biceps workout and then it's shirt off and enjoy some sunshine. I've dropped about 8lbs of fat so far since post op, strength has increased and I'm feeling great :D
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Guys in the last 2 to 3 days some of the swelling on my right hand side is starting to go down, it's not fully gone, but its deffo on its way out. It's changing the shape of my chest for the better, it was only a very minor patch of swelling about the size of a 50p coin roughly, but i could always tell it was swollen by looking down and also by the texture of the skin, it was a little baggy/wrinkly for want of a better description. It's now tightening up and with that its also changing how the nipple looked all for the better.
It's still not healed fully, but i've started to notice a definite difference in the shape of my chest on the right hand side. I was happy with it anyway, but it's still changing now and for the better. Have faith all you guys in the healing stage, it really is taking a long time and i still don't think it's anywhere close to being fully done. I can see why they say 12 months now.
Edit: Pharmerjoe i was pretty good with massage for a few weeks, i was anal about it, then the summer came and i was content enough with my chest to just enjoy it and i neglected massage for 4 - 6 weeks, but i noticed one evening after a heavy chest session at the gym my chest was looking aggravated around the swollen area on my right side and i decided to massage and noticed 20 minutes later it was flat and smooth and so that got me back into massaging again. I'm not religious about massage now, but i do play with the scar tissue most nights when watching tv, i just squish it with my fingers through my t-shirt, sometimes i'll take my top off and don the oil and rub away, but most time I'm just squeezing the scar tissue and trying to soften it up and break it down. I can sometimes spend 20 minutes on 1 side, other times i'm done in 10 minutes on both sides...all depends on my concentration lol
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Have just been reading your thread mate and must say how helpful it has been.
Must congratulate you on taking the time to not only write / share your experience but to actually upload the pics which a lot say but never do.
Found this site only recently but have considered the op for several years.
Had booked a consultation with Dr. Karidis for 28th Sept, but was having second thoughts and was possibly gonna cancel it.
After reading your thread am 100% gonna make it and will sort out transport tomorro.
Thinking of doing a similar thread as yours with the pics etc, your results were great and think Karidis is a safe bet if there is such a thing.
Unless you have Gyne mild or severe you don't understand how the jokey comments from your mates hurt inside.
Anyway as said before good thread, congrats and thanks for the insparation.
p.s. not even sure you look at the site anymore, now that your gyne free ?
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Hey Mickydubs, thanks for the feedback, i noticed when i was researching this site that people would post updates, then disappear and not be heard from again and it was pretty frustrating except for a few who kept coming back for a year with updates, so i thought i would add another one, so i'm happy to update for a year because i know if i hadn't found this website and learnt about Karidis i would still have my moobs today, so giving back a few photos and updates is easy stuff :)
I probably only check here once a week now and sometimes it can be a couple of weeks between checking, but as i'm still going through the healing stage i get days where i want to come and double check how other people got on around the same stage.
If Karidis had done a bad job i would have happily exposed his work on here and moaned non stop, but i'm elated, i really am. I only wish he charged £500, but i would do it all over again and tell anyone that has let their moobs consume their thoughts to just find the cash and go and get it done. I was always a very confident person before getting it done but my confidence has rocketed and i've had so many compliments from friends saying i look so well recently that it just fills the ego even more!! LOL
Set your expectations it's a 12 month journey and don't get too whingy and emotional during the healing roller coaster, you are going to go through it when some days your chest looks bad and others great, get set for 12 months and chill out and i'll bet you won't regret getting it done, i certainly don't.
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Great point mate, completely agree. It's a 12 month journey with ups and downs but don't be disheartened because the first few weeks of recovery and having the guts to have the op done are the hard parts.
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Thanks chopper, just noticed somedudes thread and also great info passed on, nice when people can share experiences with others, very helpfull and it makes a change for it to be free.
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Great thread Chopper! Really useful to see how things have progressed.
I'm still laughing about you writing "large portion?" on the menu, and then amount of food they brought you!
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6 months as of tomorrow: Will post a photo tomorrow or later this week as soon as I have taken one.
My swelling is about 98% done and away now. In the last 4 weeks I have really noticed a patch of swelling go down on my RHS, it is still there in a very small amount, but just goes to show how long the journey is.
My feelings on having the op:
Without doubt the best decision I have made other than being a father. If Karidis offered me my money back for my moobs I wouldn't take it. If he offered me £10K back I wouldn't take it, because whilst I could get the operation done again and have £5K spare, I really couldn't be bothered going through the healing stage all over again.
It is a long journey and I still don't think I'm fully there.
I would give the overall operation & success a 9.5/10
I have no scars. I have no baggy skin. Its virtually impossible for anyone to notice I have had an op. Im regularly in the spa and swimming pools and literally don't ever feel anxious anymore about moobs.
Good luck to all you guys thinking about getting the operation, if this thread has helped anyone then i feel I have given something back after reading all threads and posts others made. I will do another photo update around 9 months and then a final one around a 12 months.
So far - way better then expected ;D
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Problem solved for picture taking. my webcam does it ;D
6months
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/427a0caa.jpg)
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/8bae5ce4.jpg)
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/9f8ea98a.jpg)
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Looks fantastic mate. I hope my results are as good as yours.
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Christ chopper, for me to get to your kind of shape I think I'd have to have a lot more than lipo on my chest.
Looking well mate and you kept your word with the updates, cheers.
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Doing the updates bit is easy, except when you have smashed your iPhone :o
It took me a few days to realise I could just use my webcam on my laptop and its so damn easy to do.
I might not do a 9 month picture as I don't see there being massive differences at 9 months, but we'll see.
Im just trying to shed some more lbs before I can start to focus on building some muscle. It's pretty crap being on a calorie deficit as i enjoy growing rather then dieting, but needs must and I still have a couple more month of it left :-\
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Must say mate you look like you aint got much left to loose, i just cant wait to start some proper cardio and get down to about 13 stone then hit the weights and finally achieve a physique which just wasn't achievable 10 yrs ago even hammering the gym 5 days a week.
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Chopper - Looking good mate, I can tell you've put in some hard work. I hope I can get to you're stage in 6 months time. Seeing stories like yours is an inspiration and what gave me the confidence to go ahead with my op.
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Thanks guys, I'm even happier with the shape of my body today then i was 2 months ago, so I'm going to keep plugging away
No real changes since i last updated. The one thing i haven't mentioned is nipple sensation which i guess is around about 30% back to normal from having the op. If it stays like this, i don't personally care, i would rather have 30% sensitivity and a good upper body, then 100% sensitivity but a set of bangers. Ive seen a few people say it takes 12+ months for the nipple sensitivity to come back, so i'll keep you posted.
Summer time is coming lads, I can smell it in the air 8) ;D
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Well it's been a year and here is probably my final update for anyone that reads this blog. ( I will stick up some photos soon ish)
It's been money well worth spent and I would do it all again and sooner if I knew how much of a success it was going to be. I feel so good about myself and have never enjoyed clothes shopping so much and as soon as the sun is out I'm the first to have my top off soaking up the rays lol
The healing stage is a pretty bumpy ride and going from memory the first 8 months was when I saw the most changes, I think its all about done now, any changes are pretty minor and not too obvious.
Good luck to anyone reading and thinking about getting the operation. I would recommend it to any of my friends if they were ever feeling down about their moobs. Karidis did me proud.
Happy summer 2012 everyone :D
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Awseome, further inspiration for me to go ahead after my consultation with Mr K on Monday. Looking forward to seeing the full result 1 year on :)
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Chopper,
You're an asset to this site mate....It has been very helpful for you to continue posting updates one year post op. Your posts help guys decide to rid themselves of gyne and manage expectations post op.
I can understand how post surgery it is very easy to move on with your life and not come back to this site. My visits to this site have dropped considerably and I'm still only 3 weeks post op....I still have mixed emotions, but I'm positive that things will improve.
Enjoy summer mate.
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Cheers guys, the man I tip my hat too is TheTodd. Karidis should be giving him some commission as he put my mind at ease big time by answering all the daft questions I had before I went ahead with it. Thanks The Todd, I wouldn't have done it if you hadn't been so active on here answering people! :)
Right, some photos just taken (apologies for the angle, but I'm sure you didn't want to see my ugly mug anyway :)
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/Photoon18-05-2012at1625.jpg)
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/Photoon18-05-2012at16262.jpg)
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And a final summary in photos
Not a pretty sight....thankfully a thing of the past ;D
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/2ce869ce.jpg)
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/f5ecf7c9.jpg)
The next day and sporting my flatter then a pancake look
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/0edc5a3b.jpg)
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/2f92d13e.jpg)
The healing stage AKA IS MY GYNE COMING BACK??
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/IMG_1246.jpg)
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/IMG_100814-37-53.jpg)
12 months later, the end result
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/Photoon18-05-2012at1625.jpg)
(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/pissinginthewind7/Photoon18-05-2012at16262.jpg)
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No worries man :). Seriously amazing result!
Looks like you've been training a lot, looking very cut!
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Pretty cut my friend! Can I ask how long you waited post op before lifting weights?
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6 or 8 weeks from memory until I went back to the gym. TBH I was in no rush, I figured I have many years ahead to get into shape and to give my body the best chance to recover before putting it under stress.
I do remember after doing chest exercises my chest would fill with blood & fluid and look a bit of a mess and once I had massaged and moved all the fluid away it would look ok. Some guys rush back to the gym really quickly and i've never understood it personally, just give your body all the rest it needs to get a good result with minimal scar tissue.
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damn good result chopper! Def no gyno going on there 8) you must be chuffed. No sign of having had surgery either. Karidis has done a excellent job.
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looks great man chiselled look going on there! Thanks for the journey tho great read can't wait for my surgery :D
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Damm Chopper your half the man you were. Great results well done
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Great results...what's your workout routine?? :-)
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Alright everyone,
I havent been back for ages, but I just thought I would let you know my moobs are growing back......only joking!! ;D
All is still perfecto, summer has been shit as we all well know, very patchy weather wise, but needless to say, when the sun has been out, my tshirt has been off.
Still not a single regret about having the op and i would do it all again tomorrow. I think the healing has finally stopped. I do have some scar tissue, but not enough to make me want to get injections to melt it. I think my healing was still going up to around 12-13 months if not a bit longer.
I only plucked up the courage to deal with this when i was into my 30's. You guys in your early 20's or even late teens, my advice is get it done now whilst your skin is still young and not baggy and stretched with age and you still have the best years in front of you to enjoy life to the full with the body you want. I know it's hard to talk to your parents about, but trust me, as a parent, i would want my kid to be happy and i bet you they will be a lot more understanding then you can imagine.
I will be around from time to time so sorry for late replies to PM's, feel free to ask me questions, but it may just be a little while before i get back to you. TheTodd is the man on here, he can pretty much answer most things
Hope everyone is well and good luck to all you guys recovering or thinking about doing it. As Nike would say "Just Do it" :D
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Alright everyone,
I havent been back for ages, but I just thought I would let you know my moobs are growing back......only joking!! ;D
All is still perfecto, summer has been shit as we all well know, very patchy weather wise, but needless to say, when the sun has been out, my tshirt has been off.
Still not a single regret about having the op and i would do it all again tomorrow. I think the healing has finally stopped. I do have some scar tissue, but not enough to make me want to get injections to melt it. I think my healing was still going up to around 12-13 months if not a bit longer.
I only plucked up the courage to deal with this when i was into my 30's. You guys in your early 20's or even late teens, my advice is get it done now whilst your skin is still young and not baggy and stretched with age and you still have the best years in front of you to enjoy life to the full with the body you want. I know it's hard to talk to your parents about, but trust me, as a parent, i would want my kid to be happy and i bet you they will be a lot more understanding then you can imagine.
I will be around from time to time so sorry for late replies to PM's, feel free to ask me questions, but it may just be a little while before i get back to you. TheTodd is the man on here, he can pretty much answer most things
Hope everyone is well and good luck to all you guys recovering or thinking about doing it. As Nike would say "Just Do it" :D
Thanks for the update chopper. Have to to admit you had me going with the moobs growing back... :D
You're journey has been my motivation to get the surgery done so I thank you. Only 1 week and 2 days left to I go under the knife. Only seems like yesterday that I was looking at your thread wanting to get the surgery done.
All the best.
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2 years and still loving it!!
I was sat in the gym yesterday between sets on my chest and I realised its been 2 years since the operation and pretty much every day I still think about it. It might be when I'm in the shower or when I'm in a fitted top, but it's been a decision I wouldn't turn back and one I'm really happy I made :D
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8 years on and thought I would drop in saying ‘just get it done’....
One of the best decisions I’ve ever made and I would do it all over again, everyday!!
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Great to hear, Chopper.
I remember reading your posts when I was going to book in with Levick. I’m 8 years post op this year too.
Can only echo your thoughts, best money I’ve spent and absolutely zero regrets.
All the best.
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Nice touch there chopper checking in after 8 years. Your journey amongst others was the inspiration I needed to get my condition sorted. 2.5 years later post surgery I've never looked back, it really is life changing in every sense of the word.
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Sounds like the procedure is still a lot more complex than I thought it would be. I figured if women get silicon shoved in their chest and recover pretty quickly how can removing small lumps cause such issues?
I need the surgery as my gyno glands cause me so much pain when I touch them and the left one is huge, but I'm dreading the 8 week compression band making it hard to sleep and everything else I read about.