Surgery with Alex Karidis 5/4/11 + pics! (Updated regularly)

[emanresu]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I appreciate you trying to set my mind at rest - and TBH I'm not overly worried because it's early days yet - but it has wiped the post-op smile off my face somewhat.

I'm booked in to see Karidis in May, so I'll see what he has to say on the matter. Perhaps things will be improved by then. Either way I'll upload some more pics in a couple of weeks so you can see the progression; thereafter every month.

[chopper]

I won't lie mate, I looked at your pics and thought "what have i set myself up for in a weeks time" but I know from reading so many threads that the swelling and scar tissue goes mad and then it all calms down and the end result usually seems well worth it ... i'll be on the emotional rollercoaster a few weeks behind you guys...excited but scared lol

[improving]

I think the swelling does look quite large and i can see why you'd be a bit down about it right now, but to be honest from your pre op photographs i think you had rather a lot removed. The sunken nipple wouldn't bug me too much as you've got to think, there used to be something underneath that nipple and now its all gone and its just sticking to lower tissues.

Sounds like a frustrating waiting game, and a reminder to all that its not a a total quick fix and it requires patience. Sure, everyone reacts differently to surgery, and its a lottery as to how your body will respond. But i think we should all be prepared for a bit of swelling like this.

These forums are such a good resource with pre op, just post op, and long term post op people on here, its just a wonderful place to get information from first hand experiences, so probably not the best place but thank you to all who post! When i get done at karadis i'll make sure i post my journey too.

[PecDec]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I appreciate you trying to set my mind at rest - and TBH I'm not overly worried because it's early days yet - but it has wiped the post-op smile off my face somewhat.

I'm booked in to see Karidis in May, so I'll see what he has to say on the matter. Perhaps things will be improved by then. Either way I'll upload some more pics in a couple of weeks so you can see the progression; thereafter every month.

I'm thinking the same mate don't worry about it. Going focus on recovery and getting back into the gym. Making sure eating properly and training hard. With the combination of that and the recovery hopefully in the next couple of months should see the results I'm after.

Make sure you get the pics uploaded, I'm going to try keep mine updated on a weekly basis.

I spent too much time reading up about the surgeon, where to have it, what i need to do etc. I knew about scar tissue but didn't research it enough to prepare myself for what actually happens. Stopped looking and worrying about it, going wait 6-8 weeks before making any opinions about the OP result. Scar tissue will go in time, if you google "liposuction hard lumps" everyone gets the hard scar tissue and goes in time.

[somedude999]

Mate you look so much better than before even with the scar tissue/fluid you are currently holding.
Keep positive, you look better than u did before by miles so any improvement from here on is a bonus, and I'm sure there will be plenty of improvement )

All the best

[vegasgo]

Emanresu - I'm in the same boat at you. Here's my story - https://www.gynecomastia.org/smf/index.php?topic=21855.0

Whilst I'm 'flat' I have sagging skin at the bottom of each breast, and some lumpiness. I also had inverted nipples but these sorted themselves out after 6 weeks or so. I was in similar shape to you pre-op. Trouble is, the larger the moob, the more chance of sagging skin - only so much can shrink back to normal.

I've seen Karidis twice since my op in November. He is talking about revision, whether that be fat transfer or skin removal (with scars). I still have a couple of stone to lose (been slack here recently, which is no good!), and until then I don't think my results will be clear.

I'm going back in the summer and I WILL be at my ideal weight then. Then we'll see how we go from there. Trouble is, there isn't really an ideal exercise for sagging skin in this area. I'm swimming loads, and hopefully with the weight loss my final result will be much clearer.

In the meantime, I suggest you do your best to lose any excess weight, and try not to let things worry you too much. There is still time for things to improve, but for me personally there's been no change from about a month post op (apart from my nipples getting back to normal). Revision is always an option if need be.

[thetodd]

Vegas please keep us updated on what procedure you get with karidis, id be interested to hear what your finnally offered. I never knew he done fat transfer so that could be interesting for lads with inverted nipples etc. Do you know whether the skin removal would be peformed locally?

Good luck on the weight loss, swimming is quality and quite underrated fitness wise. If your up for taking supplements i know people who have took alli with great success!

[vegasgo]

Will do todd. Would post up new pics but no real change since the last lot. Skin removal would be under a local, though probably won't go down this route as the scars will look as prominent as any sagging skin. Fat transfer an option, though not always successful. Not sure about supplements - know how to lose weight (nearly 4st last year) without them, just been too slack this year - lose a few, gain a few... Did try Adios but it made me fart loads!

As far as my satisfaction levels after the op, I look great in a t-shirt now, that's 80% of the battle. Still conscious about taking my top off in public, but realise my final destiny is in my own hands so it won't stop me going swimming.

[emanresu]

Quick update. Everything's started to settle down and looks + feels a lot better. The nipples are still inverted at the point of the incisions but they've started to pop back out again, which is a huge relief. The lumpiness has pretty much cleared up too. The only problem remaining (apart from the still inverted nips) is there's rather a lot of hard tissue sitting right on my chest + some fluid sitting on top of that, just under the skin. It means that my chest still doesn't have that completely 'flat' look, which it did immediately post-op.

Make sure you get the pics uploaded, I'm going to try keep mine updated on a weekly basis.

Will do mate. I'll be uploading some more in a few days, which will be the one month post-op mark, then every month thereafter.

Emanresu - I'm in the same boat at you. Here's my story - https://www.gynecomastia.org/smf/index.php?topic=21855.0

Whilst I'm 'flat' I have sagging skin at the bottom of each breast, and some lumpiness. I also had inverted nipples but these sorted themselves out after 6 weeks or so. I was in similar shape to you pre-op. Trouble is, the larger the moob, the more chance of sagging skin - only so much can shrink back to normal.

Just replied to your thread mate. It would be great to see some more recent pics if you have them.

[kingboob]

Will do todd. Would post up new pics but no real change since the last lot. Skin removal would be under a local, though probably won't go down this route as the scars will look as prominent as any sagging skin. Fat transfer an option, though not always successful. Not sure about supplements - know how to lose weight (nearly 4st last year) without them, just been too slack this year - lose a few, gain a few... Did try Adios but it made me fart loads!

As far as my satisfaction levels after the op, I look great in a t-shirt now, that's 80% of the battle. Still conscious about taking my top off in public, but realise my final destiny is in my on hands so it won't stop me going swimming.

 
I saw your pictures last year and although you have now removed them I can remember that you had really large moobs pre-op, and I actually think you got a fairly decent result but I'm sure Karidis can tidy things up for you with a small revision (and I hope he doesn't charge you for that either).

However,  I do wonder if looking good in a t-shirt is the only realistic goal for guys with very severe gyne and I think more surgeons should be upfront and make it clear that severe cases can never go back to *normal* and may require 2+ surgeries to get the best result (which is what I was told several times pre-op by my surgeon, so I knew what to expect). 
 
Also, if I were you I would be wary of skin removal unless it is the only option..................................I had skin removal because of extremely large moobs and saggy skin after massive weight loss. It is not an attractive option unless absolutely necessary;  the scarring left behind is just as embarrassing when it comes to getting undressed in public as the moobs were in the first place.......... I would still not go topless on the beach or whatever; although in fairness I do have a badly stretched / hypertrophic scar (whatever the medical terminology is) and hopefully I'm going to get that improved with a revision very soon. 

Having said all of that, I don't want to sound too negative because obviously the benefits of having large moobs corrected are massive and totally worthwhile. Just being able to wear normal clothes, being able to exercise without things jiggling about, increased confidence, being able to go topless in private (  ) and so on.......... a total life transformation basically.   

But realistic expectations are a must.

[PecDec]

Keep the photos coming mate because your about week or so more into recovery than me.

Glad to hear the scar tissue is improving around week 4.

I've noticed improvements but still far from happy with it.

Still a lot of recovery to go though so just waiting it out.

Revision is free from Karidis which is great but remember he doesn't cover hospital fees that will cost £1600-1700.

Still if you need it done you're still saving £1000s.

[emanresu]

Revision is free from Karidis which is great but remember he doesn't cover hospital fees that will cost £1600-1700.

Still if you need it done you're still saving £1000s.

My right nipple is sticking out now (it's puffy again) and I would hate to be forced to spend £1700 just to have an abnormal nipple corrected!

I'm assuming that a simple procedure, conducted under local anaesthetic, shouldn't cost as much as the full operation, simply because you don't need to hire the theatre/room/nurses/specialists etc + pay for all the drugs? Please correct me if I'm wrong but I distinctly remember thetodd saying in one of his posts that the hospital fees for a revision could be as low as £300.

More pics coming tomorrow.

[chopper]

I havent looked into it, but is it possible the puffy nipple is coming from the swelling and scar tissue under the nipple and hopefully in time when it goes down the nipple will return to normal?

[thetodd]

It depends on what your having done, their clinic has a room upstairs that they perform small procedures on and they can give you a local anesthesia up there. He told me £300 but to be honest id add a few more quid onto that. As soon as you hear the words "general anesthetic" your looking at a two grand bill

Karidis is frustratingly blase about money, i suppose thats easy when your a multi millionaire the only person who gives you the final cost is his coordinator. I remember her saying to me "i always seem to be the bearer of bad news" ... £130 for a sodding blood test and a £75 charity donation to an independant hospital!

emansresu i still think that nipple looks abnormal because of all the scar tissue surrounding it so dont worry.

[MG12]

My nipples are the same emanresu. Both of them are puffy, one quite badly and a little painful to the touch as well. I'm putting it down to the healing process.

I also have two quite obvious creases on my nipples where the incisions were and on the opposite side (at the top). I was a bit concerned but it's all come about since I stopped wearing the vest and the swelling has kicked in  The creases are noticeably better after a massage and I've only been massaging less than a week ( I'm 3 and a half weeks post op) so I'm guessing over time the effect will be more and more permanent and it'll all flatten out.