Had Pre-Op visit today

[greatlakes]

Okay first shower and look.

The neck is asymmetrical, but overall the look at this early date is subtle, like I lost a another 10-20 lbs. Neither bad nor great, just subtle improvement. If the one side decreases in swelling and pulls up I will be happy enough with neck. Did not want dramatic neck change anyway. Doctor warned that their may be some muscle in my neck and a clean straight line from chin to neck may not be possible. Only a little bruising, I can see going wrap free during the day in two days and only compress at night.

Chest. The right side, the worst side, was nuked, front and side. There is a crease across the bottom of the peck like he did not get the last trip of tissue or fat or got to much above.... but better than a fat old front and side moob. It is still early but the right side meets my goals of "good t-shirt" and  "not totally embarrassing (for a middle aged guy) with shirt off". The right has little bruising or swelling. I am good about the right side for this stage in healing.

Now about the left side moob, the one not too bad before. He must have hit some blood vessel or something, it looks like someone hit me with a baseball bat several times. It is swelled like a balloon and is blood red bruised all over. Nasty. Now I have to imagine he got in there and removed the fat and tissue of course - and this is all some bad reaction. I am sending his nurse the images now. I wonder if I should have be drained - or I am just going to have to wait for it to absorb - but It not good right now.

[Showtime620]

1.) Glad that neck is looking ok, hopefully it heals nicely.

2.) Good to head that the right side looks acceptable.

3.) Left side, wow.  I'm not sure, but that sounds like a hematoma which I assume would have to be drained? I really don't know the protocol for that.  But I assume that having a lump as big as you're describing would affect the fitting of the compression vest.  Does it hurt?

[greatlakes]

I think you called it.  Delete space on between w's.  Looks like it happens even with the best surgeons and resolves it self.

ww w.gynecomastia.org/smf/38/post-surgery-hematoma/

I am calling nurse now. I sent photos earlier to her. I hope I don't have to go it it drained.

Update nurse called - they want me back in the morning just in case drainage needed.  Nothing to eat or drink after midnight just in case. Not fun. But got to do it right.

I am glad to have seen the post above here from two good surgeons saying it is not unusual or big deal. going back under not my desire, but do what is needed.

[Showtime620]

Good stuff, man.  Def a pain, but certainly better to be safe than sorry.  Glad that It's not a big deal.  Please reply tomorrow after the procedure, I hope it all goes well.

[greatlakes]

Just saw doctor and nurse. No drainage procedure. He said it was diffuse and would drain down on its own, and it would not affect the results on the left side. Just take longer to heal. He was very happy with right side. Nurse said crease would even out, it is too early. doctor was happy with neck. I will go back in for longer evaluation Friday, he was between surgery and just wanted to check the severity of the swelling.

[Showtime620]

Great news.

[greatlakes]

Ya I suppose. If it is true it will not affect outcome like doc says. Hard to believe with the massive ballooning out that it will tighten back nicely but I suspect it will. It just means my left (which was the best side before) is going to be at least 2 weeks (or more) behind the right on healing. My right got reduced with barely any major bruising or swelling.

Ah well, weeks of healing is nothing for the many years of this condition.

[crossfit99]

Ya I suppose. If it is true it will not affect outcome like doc says. Hard to believe with the massive ballooning out that it will tighten back nicely but I suspect it will. It just means my left (which was the best side before) is going to be at least 2 weeks (or more) behind the right on healing. My right got reduced with barely any major bruising or swelling.

Ah well, weeks of healing is nothing for the many years of this condition.

Glad to hear you are good to go.


When I sat there for 4 days with those god awful drains in me, I just would read through some pretty hairy hematoma stories and remind myself the drains are nothing compared to any of that. Everyone shy's from docs that use them, but it seems way less likely to have any kind of fluid/blood build up or issues with them in.

Regardless, like you said you will be good to go, just delayed the healing a bit. Keep us posted buddy

[greatlakes]

So I had my preop formal visit. Doctor and his nurse come in. He wanted to be quick. The hemotoma side (left side) had gone down in swelling. But surprising the nuked left side had also swelled a bit.

Doc said the bloody discoloration of the left moob skin is basically  going to move downwards as it moves out of my body. Yuck a traveling red skin blotch.  Doctor was not interested in staying and chatting much, just wanted to look, but  he did schedule a Monday check again - so I do feel he is willing to keep an eye on me. I talked about the crease on my lower right pec, and he smiled and said be patient. I also told him my neck only looked mildly changed. He said the swelling will peak the first week, and then go down, so I will see continued neck shrinkage after next week. I asked doc what he found in there (chest) and he said a mixture of tissue types and fat.

After he left the nurse was kind enough to stay and chat a bit. She was in the surgery with doctor. She said not to worry, that if I could have seen myself on table after they were done, I would have been impressed with how nice my chest looked afterward all the fat and tissue was removed - and to just hold on an let myself heal. The neck wraps can come off anytime during the day now, so I have some freedom to go out, and had lunch today out with wife

[Showtime620]

Good news,  Great. Sounds like a successful visit!

[greatlakes]

Two weeks post op tomorrow. Dark Purple/Black as left my left pec area completely -  just left with yellow brown on chest. Some purple left on sides/hip area, but dissipating. Swelling in left is down 60 percent from initial hemotoma balloon.  Some rock hardness in areas on left.

Right side is still about the same swollen with crease under nipple. It was pretty flat after surgery - so I think I know how it will return to.

Neck - not much to report, it looks okay, but I am also told it will continue to shrink up over the next two months and look better and better

No pain, no real movement restrictions, I feel mostly fine.

I am improving overall, but at two weeks I am only a fraction into the 2-3 months the doc(s) are saying I need to get to a place I will like the look. I have another evaluation with Doctor on Friday. Got to keep the faith on results.

[Showtime620]

Good stuff, man.

[greatlakes]

Had another followup with doctor  today (at least he is keeping up on me). I am now 2 weeks 3 days. The hemotoma swelling is down from last week, noticeably so. I was feeling better, but still not seeing a chest better than before operation.

The doctor apparently was not happy with the progress- and decided to drain the left (old hemotoma) side. Basically stuck a needle with a huge syringe and sucked out about 20 CC of old blood. Then tried a little pressure to get more out into a gauze. He tired the right (non hemotoma) but found no blood. It did not hurt. My left side came down quite a bit with that old blood removal. He said come back next Friday and if needed I will take out any remaining on the left if needed.

He says another month and I will feel good enough to take my shirt off at the gym showers without worry.

Said I can dump vest now, and switch to compression shirts. That's some good news.

I kind of look now, like some photos I have seen of guys just 2-3 days after their surgery. Slow progress. I kind of feel I am basically two weeks behind on swelling and healing,

[Showtime620]

Great update!  Sounds good, man.  Slow and steady wins the race.  That month will be here before you know it!

[greatlakes]

Felt okay enough to restart "things" with wife

The drainage helped notably on left side swelling and it feels good to wear compression shirts instead of vest.


Showtime and crossfit how are things going with you guys?