My story so far.... (added pre-op pictures)

[blueblueblue]

I've had gynecomastia since around the age of 16. (or when i first started to notice it when i lost weight and began to go to the gym) So i decided to go to the hospital because at first I was unsure what the lumps behind my nipples where, (as you can expect from me being young) so I got referred by my GP after he also reassured me 'it's nothing serious, i can't tell what you're talking about,' which is exactly what the consultant also told me at the hospital, so I left it.

Around a year down the line, it started bothering me again, possibly to a far more worse stage when i refused to go out, stopped working out of pure hatred and disgust of my own body, and felt there was nothing I could do to change it no matter how much I went to the gym. So i went back to my GP who referred me again, this time, I went to a different hospital and was sent to a "breast specialist" who gave me 'Tamoxifen.' (Which Karidid and Levick were both very shocked at) I stayed on the Tomoxifen for around 3 months before my GP told me they would no longer renew the prescriptions due to them not being licensed for the use of gynecomastia.

So again I went back to the hospital (another local hospital) to be told again, it's nothing... just a little excess fat which everybody has, after an ultrasound on my breast.

So after a while of looking for a 'self diagnosis' I came across this site, and I'd just like to thank everyone involved in making this forum such a fantastic tool for people who have gynecomastia which not many doctors seem to understand themselves.

So I ended up at university, doing fairly well in my studies until the summer before my last year (which I have just finished) when I went away on holiday and hated the thought of taking my top off.

So around 4 months ago I decided to take the plunge and book a consultation with Levick which I had and wasn’t overly satisfied with some of his responses and some of the stories on here, so I booked a consultation with Karidis in at the beginning of April, and have now booked my OP for 1st June, which I am nervous, scared, worried but yet excited at the prospect of getting rid of this problem from my life.

Just a few questions for people who have had their operation with Karidis and stayed overnight in London.

• What time where you allowed to leave the hospital as I’m thinking of booking a train home that night?
• Where are some close, cheap places to stay the night before? Ideally somewhere that provides twin rooms.
• How sensitive did you feel after the operation on the journey home that night?

I will upload some pre-op and post-op pictures nearer the time or after I’ve had my op.

[thetodd]

Cant you get someone to drive you there? if you get to the hospital early you will get a spot right outside (make sure its a saturday, and i mean very early 6-7am). Saves worrying about traveling and that. Your GP was a bit late in giving you tamoxifen but it does work in the first 2 years of gyne forming, but youve probally had the gland growing for more than youve noticed

The journey home will be fine, youl feel sensitive but the anesthetic will still be flowing around your system. Its not really painfull at all id say its more discomfort especially having to wear the vest.

Karidis/Levick tip toe over recovery periods in their consulations but take it from me, its longer than what they say. And by that i dont mean you will be bed ridden but your chest will change. You'l swell and youl get scar tissue so make sure you massage it at the 3 week mark get some bio oil it makes it so much easier! Dont expect to be whipping your shirt off proud in a few months because it will take some time in your head to be "ok" with it

Anyway bad parts out of the way, you will get a fantastic result from karidis, the hospital and staff are great. I think they start biffing out at 5:30ish but ask the hospital and get in as early as possible. I really reccomend getting it done on a saturday London is really busy on the weekdays!

Post some pre op pics up mate, we'l give you some opinions on what to expect

[blueblueblue]

It's abit far to drive there, I'm coming from Manchester way so the journey would have to set off at around 3am so I think it would be better having a good rest beforehand as obviously i'll be extremely tired afterwards with the anesthetic.

I think i'm mentally prepared for the scar tissue, the only thing i regret is not having this done 6months - a year ago so I would be ready for summer.

I'll try and get some pictures up by the end of the weekend, my case isn't that severe, but big enough to trouble me. My op is on the 1st June which is a Tuesday just after bank holiday, so there's no changing that right now so i'll just have to grit my teeth and bare busy London.

How often do you massage thetodd? Once a day?
Also in Karidis' information book i got sent it mentioned taking Arnica one week prior to surgery, did you do this?

Thanks.

[fed-up]

Nice to see this thread BlueBlueBlue,

Really looking forward to see your results, I'm from North Wales, & took the train home the same night (a 5 hour train ride) - not a problem at all to be honest. I had very little pain or discomfort.

I didn't take those Arnica tablets prior to surgery, I don't remember him saying - although I did take them Post surgery religiously.

Glad to see you've decided with Karidis - You will not be disappointing.

Good Luck 

[blueblueblue]

thanks fed-up, did you stay over or get the first train there in the morning? I think the first train from me arrives in Euston at 8am, and they said be there for 7.30

Thanks again. Pictures will be up shortly, mi'd say my case was quite similar to yours fed-up by looking at your pictures.

[thetodd]

Try to massage throughout the day, 3 times a day hard with my knuckles because ive got such a lard mass of it ... it does work lol weird at first

yeah manchester is a bit far north shame that, theres load of hotels around there's a travel lodge somewhere nearby. Dont worry to much about arnica there supposed to bring down bruising there a herbal rememedy id just take them the day of your op thats what i did, i bought some extra ones from boots though.

[fed-up]

thanks fed-up, did you stay over or get the first train there in the morning? I think the first train from me arrives in Euston at 8am, and they said be there for 7.30

Thanks again. Pictures will be up shortly, mi'd say my case was quite similar to yours fed-up by looking at your pictures.

I stayed over the night before my operation, (don't remember the name of the hotel), and I got the half 7 (or 6) train back in the evening to Llandudno.

Was easy, even the tube was simple from St Johns to Euston station.

[blueblueblue]

Here are the pics, I'd be grateful for some feedback. It took more guts than I thought of just taking pictures of myself, because I actually hate seeing myself with no top on.

Bare in mind, my nipples are hard, my right nipple especially is usually very puffy and sticks out through t-shirts which is one of my major pet hates.

Thanks

[Whiff]

Honestly... you look fine to me, natural and muscular. I dont think you have the condition and definately dont need surgery. It may do more damage than good and of course it's 4k which im sure you could find a good use for.

I appreciate it bothers you but has anyone ever said anything to you about it without prompting?

[xoxoxoxo]

you don't f*cking have it dude!..

[thetodd]

I dont think you have it either, i mean really youve got a really good chest! Your chest sticks out a tiny bit but i think its cause youve got quite a broad muscular frame

Youd benefit from some weight lifting i rekon youve got a great body seriously,dont waste your cash/time on surgery

EDIT: Just re-read your first bit and that your pretty much in line for surgery anyway, looking front on (and i mean very closeley its minor) i think your bothered because your chest isnt symetrical. One has side more fat than the other side. So if it really does bother you that much i think itl even out for you (depending on scar tissue etc)

[blueblueblue]

I dont think you have it either, i mean really youve got a really good chest! Your chest sticks out a tiny bit but i think its cause youve got quite a broad muscular frame

Youd benefit from some weight lifting i rekon youve got a great body seriously,dont waste your cash/time on surgery

EDIT: Just re-read your first bit and that your pretty much in line for surgery anyway, looking front on (and i mean very closeley its minor) i think your bothered because your chest isnt symetrical. One has side more fat than the other side. So if it really does bother you that much i think itl even out for you (depending on scar tissue etc)

Thanks thetodd, like i said, I couldnt get a picture when it was warm so my chest is tensed up because of the cold. I admit that I do only have a minor case and nothing compared to some people on here, but enough for it to bother me, especially because I play alot of sport and like to look after my body, which is hard when this is getting in my way.

I've been weight lifting for years and was at my peak around 2 years ago but nothing ever changed, when i went down to around 6% fat it looked even worse, so I stopped the gym for quite a while to make it look more 'normal.'

My right side is quite different to my left and has a lot of gland behind it, Karidis himself was surprised at how much gland was behind my nipple and causes my nipple to be extremely puffy (which stops me from wearing any tight fitting t shirts or t shirts without logos on the front)

[blueblueblue]

So i'm now 1 day post op and just had an experience of changing the bandages, which definately was an experience in itself.
I got quit eupset looking down at my chest, especially my nipples as they do seem quite inverted, is this normal?
How long do the nipples take to sort themselves out?

I will upload pics probably in about a week

Thanks guys

[kingboob]

Hi, your preop pictures don't show anything to be embarrassed about and you certainly didn't have breasts IMO.

anyhow, now that you have the surgery  you are going to experience the healing process............  swelling and scar tissue along with general disruption to the whole area can actually make things appear worse at stages.   In my experience creasing or folding to the nipples can improve significantly over time  and gentle massage does help........... however it does depend on how bad the problem is and what the cause is (IE: swelling/scarring or too much tissue may have been removed meaning the nipples get *stuck* to the muscle underneath rather than sitting on a thin layer of fat & tissue)

People have noticed improvements up to a year after the op.................. but if it is really badly inverted and tethers down it may never be 100% normal.