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

[Gammy]

Donut, relax mate. Truth is it doesn't look right.... yet. But you are so early on in the healing process. It doesn't help that your documenting it in such detail, a watched pot never boils and all that! 18 months on I'm still waiting for the last bits of scar to go away! Speak to Levick, I'm sure he'll tell you to hold on in there and all is well. Patience, we hear it all the time, it's the hardest part of all this. Be patient and try to make the best of it , think of how for you've come, not how far you have to go.

[Donut]

Thanks chaps!

yes, I know, I know... PATIENCE!

To answer the question what it feels like:  well there is still very little sensation around the nips, just the smallest indications that feeling is starting to come back - little bit of tingling/numb feeling, best way I can think of describing it is a bit like when 'pins & needles' is wearing off.  As for how it feels under my fingers as it were, well on the left side the skin all seems to be normal and move around with the underlying layers of flesh (or whatever the proper name is) and feels just the same as anywhere else on my body. On the right side however, I can sort of push the skin around independant of the underlying layers, so it wrinkles up - there is no 'thickness' if you like, like the thin layer of skin isn't attached to anything underneath. It does feel a little fluidy - when I had the big seroma the fluid was easy to identify and could be squished around... I think there is just a little bit left, which Mr Levick said will just get naturally absorbed by the body in due course - and I've no doubt he is right!

I'm aware that by making a relatively detailed and frequent account of the healing process I can fall foul of the "watched pot" problem. However, the whole point of me doing this was my 'payback' to all of those who have come before, and for all of those yet to come along and free themselves of this awful condition!

I often think it is a really good sign when guys post all enthusiastically up to the point of surgery, and for a couple of weeks after, and then just disappear. That seems to happen with 99% of guys, and I'm guessing that means they recover quickly to a "normal" life, and the gyne just gets quickly forgotten about. That is GREAT of course!! - but a couple of years ago when I was in the research phase, and starting to save up etc., it was very frustrating for me, as I wanted to see what the long-term recovery process was going to be like, and what results I might expect, and very few people return here after a couple of months post-surgery, save perhaps for the odd 1-year photo.

I'm trying to make a concious effort to keep on posting my experience, with a consistent set of photos, up until the point where I am either 100% satisfied with the result, or 100% satisfied that it is not sensible to try and do anything more, if it is the best that can be achieved in my circumstances (if, for example, I end up contemplating revision surgery in a years time)...

So long as people are interested in following my progress, then I hope to keep on posting an honest account, be that good or bad!

What I'm learning at the moment is that as much as I *know* I must be patient, and as much as I *knew* recovery was a long process before even deciding on which surgeon to use, when it comes to being your turn in recovery, it can still be very frustrating nonetheless!! 

[improving]

Thanks for the updates donut, i don't post every time i log on here but I always check your thread.

Sorry to hear you're not 100% satisfied but you're still very early days in the healing process. I understand that its not much of a consolation when its you that is waiting patiently for things to even out. I would be the same.

To be honest I was still seeing changes well after 6 months, its a long roller coaster but i'm sure you will be satisfied with the end result. People heal up at different speeds and in different ways. I'd send Mr Levick an email and give him a quick ring.

[Squidge]

Hi Donut,

I've been reading your posts since finding this site a couple of weeks ago.  Sounds like you've come SO far, and if you'd have shown yourself that pic at the start you'd probably be thrilled with the results!  I have my surgery booked with Mr Levick in a few weeks time, and I'm already really struggling to be patient!  I want it done tomorrow; I've been living with so much shame about my body for about 15 years and every time I think about possibly wearing a t-shirt without a compression vest it feels like that build-up before Christmas you used to get as a kid - that feeling of 'will it really happen'?!  Looking at your photos now, I so wish I had a chest like that!  I've already told myself that if the results aren't 100% how I'd like (or even 80%), as long as I can walk confidently in t shirts and sit in a steam room without wanting to run out every time I think someone's noticed my chest, I'll be extremely happy!  I know it must be frustrating to compare your results with others who might look flatter/more perfect, but by the sounds of your posts and the photos you've taken, you're being really honest and candid and 'warts and all' about it, so it may well just be that other people's photos are a lot more flattering, and their actual results are more similar to yours than you think?  Either way, as others have pointed out, there's lots more recovery and healing to do, so chin up and remember you already have a chest that others envy, and will only get better with time! 

I plan to take photos and keep a regular record of my recovery for the same reasons you've given.  Reading these threads has really helped me prepare for the surgery (mentally as well as practically), and you're absolutely right about passing that on to others.  It's also given me the confidence to book the surgery in the first place, so thanks so much for the posts so far, keep it up and stay positive!

[thetodd]

Thanks chaps!

yes, I know, I know... PATIENCE!

To answer the question what it feels like:  well there is still very little sensation around the nips, just the smallest indications that feeling is starting to come back - little bit of tingling/numb feeling, best way I can think of describing it is a bit like when 'pins & needles' is wearing off.  As for how it feels under my fingers as it were, well on the left side the skin all seems to be normal and move around with the underlying layers of flesh (or whatever the proper name is) and feels just the same as anywhere else on my body. On the right side however, I can sort of push the skin around independant of the underlying layers, so it wrinkles up - there is no 'thickness' if you like, like the thin layer of skin isn't attached to anything underneath. It does feel a little fluidy - when I had the big seroma the fluid was easy to identify and could be squished around... I think there is just a little bit left, which Mr Levick said will just get naturally absorbed by the body in due course - and I've no doubt he is right!

I'm aware that by making a relatively detailed and frequent account of the healing process I can fall foul of the "watched pot" problem. However, the whole point of me doing this was my 'payback' to all of those who have come before, and for all of those yet to come along and free themselves of this awful condition!

I often think it is a really good sign when guys post all enthusiastically up to the point of surgery, and for a couple of weeks after, and then just disappear. That seems to happen with 99% of guys, and I'm guessing that means they recover quickly to a "normal" life, and the gyne just gets quickly forgotten about. That is GREAT of course!! - but a couple of years ago when I was in the research phase, and starting to save up etc., it was very frustrating for me, as I wanted to see what the long-term recovery process was going to be like, and what results I might expect, and very few people return here after a couple of months post-surgery, save perhaps for the odd 1-year photo.

I'm trying to make a concious effort to keep on posting my experience, with a consistent set of photos, up until the point where I am either 100% satisfied with the result, or 100% satisfied that it is not sensible to try and do anything more, if it is the best that can be achieved in my circumstances (if, for example, I end up contemplating revision surgery in a years time)...

So long as people are interested in following my progress, then I hope to keep on posting an honest account, be that good or bad!

What I'm learning at the moment is that as much as I *know* I must be patient, and as much as I *knew* recovery was a long process before even deciding on which surgeon to use, when it comes to being your turn in recovery, it can still be very frustrating nonetheless!! 

I completely get what your saying, recovery was sort of unmentioned thing back in the days when i had surgery. Im not sure why really, it just wasn't an open discussion as it is now and i think a lot of people (including myself) sort of covered it up because they thought they were the odd ones out. Its not really helped by the surgeons saying it takes a few weeks to recover, because its not the case and to be honest i found the after care with Karidis a bit of a joke. I went there after six weeks and he said your fine, and i just remember thinking no im not!

Because of this, i got really frustrated with the situation and this compounded in late 2010 i just flipped. I was convinced i had scar tissue and came on here ranting looking for kenalog shots convinced that Karidis had fucked up my chest. I spoke to Levick and was ready to go down to brum for the shots, so i sent a mail to Karidis outlining what i was going to have done. He sent me a mail to come and see him, i went down there with a speech in my mind (because i thought i was going to get stung with a £2k bill) and he basically gave me a honest opinion on what he thought i was experiencing. Cant really explain it, but i left there just feeling a bit lost and i sort of just coasted back to Euston a bit bemused. And sitting on the train back something just clicked, and i excepted my chest and realised it was in my mind. Its one of the most bizarre experiences ive ever had, but just hearing it from him made me feel so content.

This isnt me saying, Karidis is a motivational guru. But the truth is only you and Levick know what your final result will be and the end of the day Paul will have the final say and he will ultimately give you closure on this. In my eyes your on track, your healing a bit differently on one side but you had a huge amount of gland removed.

[Era]

Karidis's aftercare really is a joke. I only went to one follow up, tbh i dont like the guy he comes accross as smug to me.

[Donut]

Hi Madein84 and welcome!

I was like you - totally ashamed and avoided all situations of wearing t-shirts, and no-one except partner saw me topless since I was at school and forced to do swimming etc.

I also thought pre-surgery that I'd be happy with a "70-80% result" - so long as I could wear a t-shirt etc., and saw the prospect of going topless on a beach or whatever as being a bonus that I would be very lucky to get.

Truth is now I want as close to 100% as I can get. Not sure what has changed to be honest. It's not like surgery was *so traumatic* that I think I deserve 100% - like I said at the time, it was more like a short break in a nice hotel!!... and it's not like I experienced *so much pain* either - I haven't really had any at all, never took any painkillers since leaving hospital, and only had half of them there just to please the nice nurse!!

I actually think what it is is this: I can kind of visualise the possible end result. I can now see and properly feel where the outline of my (not very big!) pecs are, and the shape my chest should/could/will be. It is more a case of being "within reach of perfection" that's makes not being there so frustrating, if that makes any sense?

What I mean is before surgery I never really thought I would ever have a "perfect chest", so was more than content at just getting a profile that looked ok in a t-shirt. But now I can see that something close to a "perfect chest" might actually be possible, so that's what I now want!!

...this dilema is caused by Mr Levick doing a great job! - and me now seeing potential I didn't ever think I had; it is not caused by me being dissatisfied by his work in any way!!

Hope that makes sense... Difficult to explain!

[Donut]

Thetodd / Era

I have to say Mr Levick's aftercare has been fantastic. I've visited 3 times due to the seroma, felt almost embarrassed at "wasting his time" - but he is always so very cheerful and reassuring and nothing is ever too much trouble, or no question ever too stupid.

I am absolutely certain I made the right choice of surgeon, and absolutely certain I'll end up with the best possible result that can be achieved in my particular set of circumstances, taking into account I'm 40-odd and un-sporty and had a proper pair of burgers!!

...and yes, I'll carry on blogging warts 'n' all until everyone gets bored of me! 

[Era]

About your bad side i wouldnt worry about it too much,  i know its easy to say when your not the one with the problem but relax about it nontheless. Its obviously due to the seroma, that side is going to take a lot longer to heal. If i was you i would be gently massaging 3 times a day for 5-10 mins, keep in mind i said gently.
I remember my left nipple looked like Karidis had missed some gland from the moment i took the plasters off up until about 4 months in. It settled and looks great and normal now, when i saw it though i thought ffs im guna have to go through it again to get him to remove this bit he missed because it will never look right.
Yeah it does look dodgy but you just have to be patient, the skin does look a little loose but that will improve, you had quite a lot removed and the skin doesnt fit your new body instantly, it takes time to shrink. Massaging will help stimulate the elsatin or whatever it is.
Lastly you can always build up your pecs to fill out your chest more, that would help a lot with any loosish skin

[Donut]

Yeh, Mr Levick assured me he left nothing behind!

I do intend to try and build a bit of muscle. Wouldn't have dared set foot in a gym before the op. Just waiting for the nip to sort itself out so doesn't look quite so weird, then will make a start!

[Donut]

8 Weeks Post-op:

Sorry it's a bit late with these photos, been very busy!

Trying out new camera too, not quite got the setting right so not very good pics this time, but gives you an idea...

...not that there is much point trying to take decent hi-res photos with the PATHETIC little 192k file size limit on this forum!!!  grrrrrrrrr   

[Donut]

8 Weeks Post-op:

Here's a photo showing the scars, which are fading nicely... they're not quite in the "hairy area" - which would have disguised them totally, so hoping they will fade a little bit more yet?

Photo shows the difference with the two nips too - left side is really good, and with arms above my head, stretches out normally.  The right side though that I had the seroma trouble with is a bit weird... the skin is sort of baggy instead of being attached to the underneath layers, so doesn't stretch out the same with arms up. Weird!

[Donut]

9 Weeks Post-op

...and here I am at 9 weeks.

Still got the issues with the right hand side. Have emailed Mr Levick and am popping in to see him next week.  I still think there is some seroma fluid left in there that is preventing the skin and underneath layers bonding back together again as one. I can push the skin around independant of the underlaying layer of 'flesh' as it were, whereas anywhere else on body including left side of chest the skin and layers underneath seem to be as one if that makes sense? It is like the skin on the right side is just an almost paper-thin layer... Anyway, no doubt Mr Levick will advise!

Am still wearing vest 24/7, and will continue to do so until the right hand side sorts itself out, as am concerned will be left with a bit of baggy skin otherwise.

Lymph glands gone right down again, so that is good... they felt like a bag of marbles down either side of my chest! - not nice (though not painful as such).

That's it for now folks...

[Donut]

Nip creasing update / question:

Popped in to see Mr Levick this morning... His usual jolly self!

He was happy with progress so far, said there was nothing worth trying to drain, and was soft scar tissue forming so to keep up with the massage.

He said the nipple creasing / crinkling is normal. I have seen this in other guys pics, but can't remember which guys!!

So... My question: if you had similar nipple creasing issues, how long before it sorted itself out, and did you do anything to help it along?

As an aside, I left my compression vest off all day today, did a lot of driving, and after 12 hours without compression chest was definitely a lot worse looking than when I took it off this morning! - noticeably more swollen. Shall be leaving it on 24/7 for a while longer yet it seems.

[Ricardo7]

Mine took months to sort themselves out, I don't have an exact length of time but it took a while.

I still don't have much sensation in my nipples, I guess I never will as it would probably have returned by now!