Finally I have some time to write this! Seems this has been a popular thread whilst I was away.
OK, so I wanted to share with some others the process I have gone through and if I had known what I know now, would I have done anything differently.
First things first, I have to say I am absolutely delighted that I have gone through with this. Even at just 3 weeks post-op, the results are – for me at least – great. I have been extremely lucky and suffered only minor bruising and virtually no swelling as yet. I do not deny that the immediate 24 hours after the operation were extremely unpleasant – a lot of vomiting, unable to sit-up, general misery really. I have to confess that it was so painful and awkward, I wondered if I had done the right thing. Especially the drains. You wake up in a hospital bed, bound tight with bandages around your chest and these God-awful pipes coming out of your armpits. I almost felt guilty that I had put my poor body through this torture. But I think everyone feels most uncomfortable in the first few hours after an operation.
But by day 2, I had recovered dramatically and was able to wander around London quite happily. Any concerns about having it done had completely disappeared.
By day 4 I was back at work and really functioning pretty well, bar the wad of bandages wrapped around me.
In some ways, the most traumatic moment was cutting the bandages off. I had been looking forward to doing it for 5 days (and really, I guess, the 25 years before that), but when the moment came, I found myself finding a host of excuses to delay it! When I finally did it, I was staggered. I had this glimpse of a part of me that I had never seen before – the muscle definition etc in my chest. I think I mentioned in my last post, that is was like finally having a bad neighbour evicted, in that you had put up with the aggravation for so long and it is only after they have gone that you realise how bad it was!
Since then, all continues to go well. The dramatic hollows left on the chest are now filling out and the op scars are healed. I still have areas of zero-sensation of the left side and the whole area is still extremely tender at certain times. But I can sleep comfortably on my side now (and have been for the last week or so). But undoubtedly the most inconvenient thing now is the compression vest. I work in Spain and it is getting warm now, so anything other than a thin cotton shirt makes life uncomfortable.
In terms of Levick and a choice of surgeon. Well, I had a meeting with the Harley Medical Group and with another clinic in London before talking to Levick. I would just be repeating others here, but I felt Levick approached the issue as a surgeon, rather than a cosmetic surgeon, if that makes sense. He answered my questions, took time to explain the procedure properly and made sure I was happy with his answers. I found him, his staff and the whole experience up in The Priory ideal, considering I was having a chunk of fat and tissue pulled out of me! I cannot fault how it all went.
Reading others posts here about how they can remember teasing and ridicule as if it were yesterday reminds me so clearly of my experiences with this. I too can replay every moment from 25 years ago.
In some ways, telling yourself you are going to do this requires you face those old demons. I was in a state of denial about this for all those years. I am tall and quite slim and lucky enough to have a good job, so managed to “hide” it from me and others, through clothes and general belief that my life was near-ideal. To accept the need to do something would have meant accepting that I was lying all this time. I seriously think some of the darkest moments were when I was caught between finally accepting it but not knowing where to turn to for a solution. If anyone is in that place now, I hope this helps. I cannot stress enough that the hardest step I feel is to admit this is getting in the way of your life. It is not life-threatening nor crippling and God knows we are lucky to be healthy otherwise. But we are compromised with this condition and if there is a solution, then I urge you to do it. Yes it is invasive, quite rough surgery. But I seem to have healed very quickly and as mentioned, just a little bit of tenderness gets in the way of me feeling 100%. Actually, more than 100%, if you see what I mean.
The truth is, most people probably will never even notice nor care if you have it done. Even wives and partners will be pleased for you, not because they think it has made a difference. But that is the point – it is for you and your mental state. The repercussions for me are that I now look at every task and event in a much more positive light, because I am not hiding a little secret from myself. That sounds corny, but it is true.
I cannot stress enough the value in really thinking about having this done. I know for many the thought of surgery sounds just too traumatic. But it is worth it, in my opinion. I still catch myself grinning as I think about t-shirts, pools and general normal behaviour. At 38, I imagine I will remain delighted for the rest of my days.
For all those who have found this board, I hope these comments are useful. I have found the comments constructive, educated and it thoughtful - all a huge help in making the decision to go ahead. I still read others who are on the verge of doing it and identify with that fantastic/agonising limbo period between consultation and operation! Well done, I hope you are as pleased as I am.
Best wishes
SC
Topic: For all those who have just found this board... (Read 12603 times)
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