Consultation & Surgery with Mr Levick!!

[Big ste]

Yer good results are not as good as yours right side looks good left will just take more time think I'll use bio oil when I massage try tighten things up back in work next Thursday running out of films to watch lol can't believe how quickly it has gone 

[hopetochange]

Yeah you just need to give it time, I'm sure it will settle and even out. Your last picture looked fine to me.

Mr Levick was pleased with my progress, particularly that I haven't had any fluid build up (yet!)which is the first hurdle done. Said to keep the compression vest on as much as possible but at a minimum overnight for the next week or two.

Said it was fine to massage if it isn't painful, firm but gentle circular motions and can do some light stretches. Slowly does it.

He said that the lumps/bumps/swelling is all completely normal and will settle with time and the healing process. Funnily enough he doesn't think any scar tissue would have formed yet, if it does it's normally in months 3 - 6 so the lumps I can feel must just be residual swelling.

Not massively bothered by it as whatever happens, it will be 100% better than the boobs I had before 

[Big ste]

How ya get on with the massaging I had a go yesterday felt very strange didn't last long your right anything looks better than before

[hopetochange]

Yeah not bad, It does feel weird, especially the area around my nips where the glands used to be - it's still 100% numb and feels almost like I'm massaging a hole of nothingness!.

I try and do a few mins in the shower each day. Still a bit tender underneath & around the sides of my chest so go really easy there.

[Stan19]

Congratulations awsome result up to now.                                                                                                                   Stan

[hopetochange]

Congratulations awsome result up to now.                                                                                                                   Stan

Cheers 

[Donut]

Hey guys - congrats!

My 3 words of advise: compression, compression and compression! - keep it tight as you can bear for as long as you can bear - it pays off!

I solved the 'bulge' issue by wearing a compression T-shirt under compression vest... Much more comfortable! - If I was doing it again I'd have bought the Macom tops with sleeves in.

[hopetochange]

Hey guys - congrats!

My 3 words of advise: compression, compression and compression! - keep it tight as you can bear for as long as you can bear - it pays off!

I solved the 'bulge' issue by wearing a compression T-shirt under compression vest... Much more comfortable! - If I was doing it again I'd have bought the Macom tops with sleeves in.

Thanks Donut. Good advice I think! Great thread too by the way, I read every page & it helped a lot.

I think in the early days, it's probably natural to obsess too much with how things appear, it's a huge thing to have done (and a lot of money to spend too!!)

But clearly we have just got to be patient and enjoy the process.

[Donut]

As Mr Levick said to me: the one thing patients rarely are is patient!

[hopetochange]

Has anyone got any advice about returning to exercise? Just wondering how you started back and what you did/didn't do.

I'm now just gone 4 weeks post op. Movement in arms is almost back to normal. A few lumps and bumps that are tender.

I was thinking about going for a swim initially to help loosen things up and then start building back up from there, depending on how it goes.

[ha032742]

I went straight back to weights at the 4 weeks point as I had absolutely no discomfort/restriction of movement. Started off light but quickly upped the weight back to pre-op levels as found it too easy. Dr. Karidis actually recommends doing weights as it almost acts like a massage to the area.

[hopetochange]

Cool thanks. I went for a swim and it was fine, actually my chest felt much better afterwards! First few lengths of breast stroke felt a bit weird/tight but after that it was great.

Might have to dust the dumbbells off then!

[scotty1986]

Is that your first swim for a while mate or did you still go with the gyno?

[hopetochange]

I go swimming quite a lot, I last went a few days before my op.

I was paranoid about the moobs, especially doing anything that involved taking my top off but tried not to let it stop me doing things I wanted to.

Even better now I don't have to worry about them

[hopetochange]

7 week post op update 

Hi all, been meaning to get an update and some more pictures up! Finally got round to it. Not a huge amount of change since week 3 to be honest.

A few things that are bothering me a little - although I know it's still early days and got a few more months of healing to do yet! Trying to be patient. Still have slight bulges by the arm pits, although they do seem to be going down slowly, some days are worse than others. Still have distinct ridges (Although not really visible in the pictures)around the bottom and top of my chest, so gives the appearance of a 'dent' where the gland tissue used to be. Lymph node bumps are still a bit sore, especially if I catch them or stretch too far. One other thing I've noticed is that the skin has a slightly darker tone where the glands have been removed, it's not bruising, just a slightly different colour to the rest of my chest, I can only assume it's just where the tissue underneath is healing - did anyone else have this? My left nipple is slightly creased, not massively, just has a crease about a centre meter along the areola.

Progress - I started exercise again, just took it easy at week 4 and then started back into my normalish routine in week 5/6. Doing some HIIT and weights, have done chest exercises/press ups too and that's been fine, no tightness or anything. Still more than happy with the results so far, can't wait to get my top off when the weather warms up a bit!! Scarring is still red, has faded a little but not as much as I'd hoped. Still a bit numb around where the glands used to be, can feel some sensation starting to come back now, my nipples are the same, still numb but have started getting a few sensations back now and again.

Still wearing the compression vest as much as possible, some days still 24/7, others I take it off during the day for a bit of a break. It does feel comfortable with it on and I know it helps pull the chest in.

Anyway, pics to follow. Let me know what you think.