1 YEAR Post-Surgery by Mr Levick on 16-01-2014 : (98 photos)

[thetodd]

My advice would be not to be to concerned about swelling/creasing at the moment because it varys from person to person. As far as that swelling behind the nipple goes, id just mention it to Levick like you said but just to put this in perspective you had around three times more gland from each side removed than me, and i got swelling pockets so its probably a normal reaction.

I had an allergic reaction to the vest so i wore a tshirt, i imagine your armpits are going to have some considerable swelling since all of the work is done through that incision point, your tshirt solution will be sound.

[Donut]

Thanks thetodd.

I think it just goes to show how important the compression is, as under the vest I have no real 'normal' swelling at all (the seroma is a different thing of course). I'm right on the stated upper size limit of this small vest too (in fact probably an inch over), and I have it on its tight setting - so it is pretty snug! - But I figure it is there to do a job, so no point being loose.

Just heard back from Mr Levick (pretty good service considering it's Sunday!), and I'm popping in to see him in the morning to drain he fluid. He says it will probably go away on its own in time, but is better to drain it off as that will lessen the chances of scar tissue forming there.

Like most guys I guess, most t-shirts I own currently are of the rather baggy variety! - so those would bunch up everwhere under the vest, so I might buy another compression t-shirt, as today is MUCH more comfortable now that the armpit swelling is under a bit of compression too. I'll leave it on through the night as will be interesting to see if swelling has gone down any by the morning. Don't know if this is a common problem with other guys or not?, but is interesting to note that Macom make a sleeved version of the compression top; which I wish I'd have bought now.

[Supersonic123]

Hi Donut, congrats for your new chest!
Really appreciate the updates since I'm also getting surgery by Levick in about a week!
I'm actually traveling from Sweden just to get the surgery done by Levick (he really seems to be one of the best gynecomastia surgeons in the world), and when I'm done I'll probably start a thread with picture updates so you can comepare the healing progress. I have to say your chest looks really good already (except for the swelling under one of the nipples, but I'm sure that will sort itself out in a couple of weeks). So thanks for posting and try to be patient

[Donut]

Hi Supersonic!

Congrats on getting booked in with Mr Levick, I'm sure it is well worth the travel. I would recommend him to anyone, and I'm very confident I will end up with the best result that is every possible in my own case (hopefully by the summer if I'm lucky!!)

I researched this condition and its cure on and off for 20 years before getting surgery, (before the internet made it easy!) and for me I was confident that Mr Levick was the best choice, with Dr. Karidis 2nd place (I preferred Mr Levick's technique because I did not want cuts made to my nipples). I would have paid more and travelled to Europe if I could have found a better surgeon than these 2, but I honestly think we are very lucky here in the U.K. having 2 of the world's best at this procedure, who each use different techniques, but each have a very long and verifiable history of getting great results, including sorting out the mess some poor guys are left in after going to other surgeons.

I know I must be patient, and that things get worse before they get better, thanks to all those who have documented their surgery experiences in the past. That is the great thing about this forum - I know exactly what to expect, and that means a lot less worrying each morning when the top comes off for a shower and you see/feel the differences that each 24 hours brings!

I'll keep this thread updated regularly until there is nothing more to report. Like Mr Levick, I would wish to rid the world of this horrible condition, and by documenting my journey with all the ups and downs, like others have, I hope it might help to inspire others to save hard, do their research fully into their choice of surgeon, and be sure they are going to get the best possible result that they can for themselves.

I look forward to following your journey too!

[Donut]

Recovery day 11:

This morning I popped into the Priory to see Mr Levick and have the seroma under right nipple drained.

Mr Levick was his usual chearful self, and it only took a few moments for him to stick a needle in and drain 2 full syringes (20cc or 20ml or 4 teaspoons in total) of fluid. Didn't feel a thing as still pretty numb in that area. He then stuck on a little patch of wadding to help increase the compression directly over that area.

Mr Levick said that the seroma may very well reappear, and of course can be drained again if necessary. He thinks it is always better to drain them when this sort of size. He also said there is a bit of normal tissue swelling each side, but pretty good overall, and to keep up with the constant compression and not do anything to raise blood pressure, like stress or anything too physical, which will pump the blood around faster and more likely to increase swelling.

Here are today's pics before having it drained - I don't want to disturb the area again today now, so you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see how it looks post-drainage! (hopefully won't fill up again that quickly?).

The photos are colour-contrast enhanced to the same degree as all the others - but as you can see the bruising is going away nicely. All that really shows now in reality is the small darker bits on my right hand side - what little of the yellowish tinge is left is not really visible to the eye.

[darkmagician]

Hey man, looking good so far, nice to hear about Levick draining that out for you. All your bruising will gone after about 3/4 weeks, and the scar tissue isn't really problem, i have none at all on my right side now, and only a bit on the left side. After massaging though it really flattens it out, it's up to you but i wore the vest for a month 24/7, then at night only for a week, now at almost 7 weeks post op i don't wear it all.

[Donut]

Thanks DM!

Yeh, I'm going to keep vest on 24/7 for at least a month, then "wean off" by an hour increasing per day, unless I notice any swelling, then I'll adjust accordingly. Reason is several people seem to suddenly gain swelling when they switch to half-days without the vest, I'm thinking maybe that is too much of a 'shock' to the body in some people. So I'll be a guinea-pig for a slowly-slowly approach to a vest-free life, and report findings for the benefit of those who come along next!

The vests actually don't bother me at all, the only uncomfortable bit is the swelling under the arms that isn't in the vest - once that has gone down a bit (which is helped a lot by wearing a tight t-shirt underneath) then I don't mind keeping them on for several months if need be. End result is what counts!

[Donut]

Recovery day 12:

Well, there's still a bit of fluid behind the right nipple, not sure if that is a bit left in from yesterday, or new fluid that has built up in last 24 hours, as Mr Levick stuck a bit of padding over the area whilst I was laying on the bed to give some extra pressure under the compression vest - so I didn't actually see what it looked like directly after having it drained. You can see the marks where the padding was, and I've re-applied it after showering.

Otherwise all is good - bruising has again faded quite a bit in the last 24 hours, the dark bits on the right side almost all gone now.

Loads of lumpy-bumpiness particularly in the top outer to armpit part of chest on both sides. At least some of that could be swollen lymph nodes. Not nice! - but should go down again of course.

It is very odd looking down at a chest with no moobs. Still doesn't quite register somehow that it is my chest I'm looking at, like I'm expecting them to suddenly spring back out again or something! Part of that might also be because I've had a hairy chest since a teen, so it's a bit odd being smooth too - but the stubble under the tight vest is not pleasant!!, so keeping it that way for the time being - might even go all metrosexual and keep it like that for good?   

[Donut]

Hey Qaz, that's good news - the countdown begins then!!

I rarely drink alcohol at all, so was no hardship for me not having any for a couple of weeks pre-op.

I'm sure getting bf% down as low as possible helps hugely, makes Mr Levick's job much easier, and the guys with the lowest bf% seem to get the best results.  Mine was just under 16% - last April it was 25%! - I'd like to get down to single figures too, but if I lose any more weight I tend to look quite thin and ill, as I've mentioned before. But then I've only ever really regulated weight with diet alone, not really being the sporty or gym type (mainly due to the gyne putting me off sport since about 12 years old, of course).

I did just yesterday go and check out one of our local swimming pools - NEVER would even have contemplated that before now! - and I might go and check a different one this evening. Be a week or two yet before the last bits of bruising go so that I dare set foot in one, and really needs to be when the vest has come off during the day so that I'm not covered in weird crease marks - but I think that would be good exercise to ease into... if I can actually remember how to swim, that is!

[Donut]

Recovery day 13:

Had a half hour or so of gentle massage last night - felt good. According to most stuff I've read I don't think there is much scar tissue at this stage, it is just mainly swelling, and particularly swelling of lymph nodes in the armpit area. Seemed to feel a bit better after - not sure how much of that was any actual reduction in any bumps, and how much was just the relaxed feeling from massage itself.

Not much noticeable change today, apart from the usual continual reduction in bruising. There is still definitely some fluid under the right nipple area, so if that is still there on Monday, then I'll try and grab a five-minute slot with Mr Levick again to drain it once more. He did say the seroma was quite likely to return.

Interestingly when considering the top half of my pec area, on the right hand side there seems to be little between the skin and muscle, but on the left hand side there feels like maybe quarter of an inch thickness, pretty much the same as it felt before the op. Maybe that thickness on the left is tissue swelling, whereas on the right-hand side instead of swelling the fluid is accumulating as a seroma. Of course what we have done is 2 completely seperate operations, one on each side. As far as I know they don't "join up" in the middle of your chest above the sternum. So it is no surprise really that the two sides react and recover in different ways I suppose? - all we can hope is that in due course when healed that both sides even out roughly the same.

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks post-op, and a whole week of daily photos. I'll probably do a side-by-side of the 1 and 2 week photos to make them easy to compare as it gets difficult when spread across several pages. From then on, I might not post photos quite so regularly, as I don't think there is going to be much visible change day-to-day, so might cut back to weekly photos. However, will update in-between with any observations, or respond to any questions and comments ASAP!

Today's photos:

[darkmagician]

Well i had the compression tube on for a week, plus my vest on for 24 hours each day for a further month, then i wore it at night for another week. So 6 weeks of compression is enough i think lol, chest actually seems to be healing better without it, i think the vest is worn to minimise swelling rather than actually shape it, my nips have a much more natural look now that i don't wear it. I will be 2 months post-op next week, can't tell you how good it feels to walk around the house with no shirt on! You have all this to come mate so hang in there, in the end it will always be worth it!

[Donut]

DM: I agree, I don't think the vest helps shape anything, just helps control swelling as the body doesn't like gaps and wants to fill them up with something like fluids or blood or whatever. Once the swelling under my arms goes down (the bit that isn't in the vest) then that'll be a good indication that any other swelling must be on its way out too I suppose. Don't have any great problem wearing it, and as I said before it is "retraining" me to stand up straight from all those years of hunching a bit, so probably doing a lot of good there too!  I also am not surprised that nips sort themselves out once the vest is off, as being squashed in isn't natural for them!  Even though I live on my own, I rarely used to be shirtless even at home as hated catching myself in mirrors, or even just looking down at the damn things... so looking forward to that too (might have to turn the heating up a notch!!)

QAZ: damn, that's not too clever of the hospital! - I'm sure the couple of envelopes that come to me (one with all the paperwork to fill in, and one with the paid invoice) just had BMI Healthcare on the outside.  Oh well, I guess you now have two options: be open and up-front about it, and I suspect you'll find housemates will be actually very supportive of you, and could make recovery easier if you're not too mobile for a few days... or... just make something up like you were thinking about getting X done but it's too expensive so not going to now... make X into something they're not going to take the mickey out of? - maybe if you've got a tattoo say you were looking at having it removed, or perhaps some dentistry, or scar removal, laser skin treatment for acne or spots... the world is your oyster - there are loads of things that you might have considered that would very quickly be brushed off with a one-line conversation that you thought about it but decided against it, that no-one will ever think anything more of again!
Be aware if you haven't already had them that all the forms will come from the hospital, and the paid invoice too - so that's 2 more lots of post to come. Perhaps the hospital could send to an alternative address if you ask them? Friend / family / work... or even if it is a real problem they perhaps will just let you collect the paperwork from the hospital. I am sure they are used to dealing with tricky situations, any kind of surgery can be very sensitive and highly personal subject.
Just don't let it put you off getting it done!!  

[Donut]

Wow - over 5,000 views of my thread... I feel so popular 

[darkmagician]

I don't go around telling everyone but the people who do know have been very supportive, 7 weeks on and everyone has forgotten anyway. But yeah the same thing happened to me, a letter came through and in the little window it had COSMETIC SURGERY. Everyone in my house knew i was having it done months prior to my op so it wasn't a problem, but yeah, the letters should be fully enclosed and confidential.

[Donut]

Recovery day 14:

The two-week milestone 

Well, here I am at two weeks post op, and feeling pretty good overall. Bruising almost all gone. No major tissue swelling really. Only niggling things at the moment are the swollen lymph glands (the red arrows in the 4th pic) and the seroma behind right nipple (blue arrow). If that hasn't subsided by Monday, I'll probably pop and see Mr Levick to have it drained again. Don't really fancy trying to do it myself, knowing my luck I'd pass out, fall on top of the needle and puncture a lung or something!

In a bit I'll make some composite photos up of before/1 week/2 week after, so you (and me!) can see the progression better.