Already had my surgery! Thought I would say Thanks! (Pics included)

[Mangina]

Hello Gentlemen,

  I have trolled this site for over a year in ananimity and figured it was time to introduce myself, and say thank you to each and everyone that has ever posted on this forum.  I'm not going to go deep into the "esteem building rhetoric", but I think we will all concede that this is a problem that effects us all who have gyne in the most destructive mental ways.  I, like most of you have had, those situtations that make you avoid participating, or not wearing a certain type of shirt because of the insecurities gyne brings to us all.  I was just like every single one of you, and read so many posts that reiterated my every thought.  I have had (did have) this problem since I was an adolescent, so mine was puberty induced.  I can still remember being 13-14 years old and being so ashamed that I had bigger breasts than most of the girls in my grade.  Since that time I constantly resorted to buying clothes that would mask the problem, but that now has come to and end.

I had my Surgery on Jan. 23, 2009.  I can't tell you all how much of a relief this has been and seeing everyday since, get that much better with the results.  I only had lipo and I didn't think it would do the trick, but I think it did ( I will post my before, and current after pics tomorrow so that you all may judge).  At this point I am very pleased with my results.  My doc went in (on both sides) in the center of my chest, and right below the bottoom of my peck.  He got every bit of fat and tissue and left some gland behind for normallcy.

My PS is one that I selected after visiting 5 different docs.  His staff was the most genuine, and just by chance, he was the cheapest (NOT my deciding factor). 

The amount of gland that was left behind sometimes makes me think I need a little more taken out.  Then the next day comes and I think, "Well...maybe I don't need a revision."  I am pretty flat and I have very muscular build.  I understand that REAL results take a few months, but I am healing very fast!  I always have been that way with any illness or surgery.  My left pec is still limited in movement from raising my arm up and is extremely tight in the upper part of my chest.


I know this takes time, but should I still continue to see results as the months go by?  I am now, but when (3 months?) can you start to determine the final result?


Once again, thank you very much to each and everyone.  GET IT DONE IF YOU NEED IT!  It's the most valuable thing you can ever invest your money into.

[Jake]

Fight the gynecomastia power!   

Glad to hear it!  Take care and thanks for posting!

[i_dont_know]

How'd you go about finding your surgeon? I'm strongly considering the procedure but I'm not really sure how to go about finding the right person to do it.

[Mangina]

How'd you go about finding your surgeon? I'm strongly considering the procedure but I'm not really sure how to go about finding the right person to do it.

I live in New Mexico so we're limited to two cities, Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

Now...when you go into this, you have to go in with a medical and consumer mind set.  PS are SALES MEN, ok.  Everyone of them, which I'm sure most of you who have gone to multiple consultations will attest, have a sales pitch.  I was told by every single surgeon I saw in the end that, "I think your an excellent candidate."  This is one of the closers that I assume is preached by the Board of Plastic Surgeons for them to tell their clients, I mean patients.

I've been in the sales business most of my life, and I can read people very accurately.  I can tell if someone is full of shit in 2 seconds and also if what they are saying is completely genuine.  From the heart, not just trying to get your money and care about what they are doing and may do to you.  This same philosophy I believe is also applied to medical doctors in general.

I went with a gentleman by the name of Dr. Michael Hopkins.

Here are list of some qualifying criteria I assesesed when I picked him:

1.  He has the largest office in Albuquerque (The Plastic Surgery Institute), and he constantly had patients in the office; both new and current.
2.  He and his staff were the most genuine, heart-felt people I went to.  This was the most important.
3.  His creditials were phenomenal:  Yale, Rutgers & Robert Wood Johnson for Med. School, both American Board of PS and American Board of Surgery Certified.  Another big check in his direction.
4.  If a revision is needed I will get it at no charge, and he isn't one the docs out there that will just NOT do it because he doesn't want to.  He has over 20 years of experience in PS, and does about 3-5 gyno surgeries a month.
5.  He was actually a regular surgeon for 6 years before he went into PS.  Another big plus.  I've know a few people that have gone to Med. School just to be a PS.  NOT necessarialy someone I want cutting on me.


Every other Dr. I saw had the same pitch and so forth, but you just somehow "know" which one is right after you see a few of them.  At least in my case.

[Mangina]

So here are my pics.  I am exactly 1 month and 1 day post op.


Before Surgery:










After Surgery (1 month, 1 day): 












At times I feel like I need a littte bit more gland removed, but sometimes I think I'm good.  I always get that feeling that they could lay just a bit flatter, but this may still come with time.  I do have big nipples so this could be an issue as to why I think I could be flatter.  Everyone knows the Irish have big nipples (anyone seen the "Onion Movie."   )

I assume I will continue to see results.  Can any docs give me reinforcement on continued, visible improvement?

My right peck didn't have as much tissue and gland and has healed much faster than the left.  I'm still "tight" on the upper part of my left peck when I move my left arm in certain directions.

[Jake]

That's a huge improvement.  I do agree that you have prominent nipples but you're flat enough! 

Looks awesome!

[dondante]

Fantastic results, you should be extremely happy!

[Mangina]

Thanks for the replies gentlemen.

To gpyy, I'm not sure about the nipple modification.  I've actually considered talking with my Dr. about that at about the 3 month time period.  Like I stated in my post, I do have big nipples, and "everyone knows the Irish have big nipples"  .  I KNOW there is a pretty "easy way" to get rid of it should it become a problem.


I am starting back to the gym next week which will put me at just about 8 weeks post-op.  I'm still a little tight, but I've been massaging with Arnica Montana oil for past week or so and it seems to be helping quite a bit with the breakdown of the scar tissue.  Another suggestion for any of you that have had surgery, is I also take a number of vitamins and minerals.  I started taking one in particular after surgery called Vitalzym.  It is an Enzyme supplement that specifically targets enzyme production and speeds up the healing process.  I've noticed a drastic reduction in swelling and breaking up of the scar tissue. 


I'll post back with some more pics at the 3 month time period.

[Mangina]

I meant "easy" as that my surgeon would "chop them off a bit."

[Mangina]

Yeah, best of luck to you Sir!  If everything goes right for you, will agree that it was the best money you ever spent.  No matter how much you pay.


Other than the nipples I'm extremely please with my results!  We never discussed a nipple reduction and I never thought it would be that big of a problem.

I just got off of the phone with my PS and I'm getting it done in 2 weeks!! 

[Nadrolbull]

Agreed!  I'll give my full opinion.

You def had gyne before (tho not quite as bad as mine) but now you look totally normal.  Going further would really be nitpicking... your chest goes with your build now.   If you were some uber skinny/lanky kind of person, then maybe go for some excision, but your post op definition looks masculine.  Frankly if you had much more taken out you might look less 'built', especially with a shirt on. The nipple reduction... no way a millimeter or two would make much difference.  You look great!  Congrats on great results.