Hello chaps,
First of all I'd like to say a big thank you to all who have shared their surgery experiences, I'm sure like myself there are many hundreds of guys out there who come across this forum in the search for a solution to their problem. Until now I've just lurked but feel an obligation to at least stick some before and afters up when the time comes, hopefully as inspiration rather than a scare story!
Now for some waffle about my 'case' and feelings at this stage....
I'd have to describe my gyno as pretty mild, as confirmed by Karidis himself at the consultation, but it certainly has a profound impact on my life. The clothes I wear, activities I do etc. Several months ago I started looking to see if there were any strategies for coping, in fact I think the idea I had was taping my chest up! I came across some compression vests and a few days later mine arrived. After I got used to the tightness I found a new lease of life but it was far from perfect. If I wore a thin t-shirt it was clearly visible, but worse of all it was just so ridiculously hot. Nonetheless it gave me a taste of what it would be like to have a flatter chest.
During this time I also found this forum. I have to say at first I was pretty shocked by a lot of before and afters and it put me off surgery completely, this was in all the general forums and mostly the work of surgeons across the US I guess. Later on I discovered the UK forum and as it turns out we seem to have two of the best surgeons in the world on our little island. The results with Levick and Karidis speak for themselves, at worst decent and at best almost too good to be true. I live in London so Karidis was the logical choice.
I booked my consultation and suddenly the time had come. Still not entirely sure what I was doing I rocked up at the hospital and plonked myself amidst the middle-aged women to fill out some forms. I think I would have felt pretty self-conscious if the reality of the situation had hit home. Karidis himself was very matter of fact, but he didn't tell me anything I didn't already know....testament to this forum and the great accurate info provided, I knew exactly what he was going to tell me and I think he was pretty pleased that my expectations for recovery etc. had already been managed. We looked at some pics (all of which looked familiar!) and he gave me a quick squeeze and asked me to flex my pecs. The verdict - yes he could help and would remove the gland and do some lipo. 10mins later I'd paid the £1000 depsosit and got the date I wanted (I have two weeks off work from the day of the op). I left with spring in my step for sure.
That was on Wednesday and today is the first day I've doubted my decision. I find myself wondering if it's worth the risk, I mean my chest isn't that bad, right? I look at some cases on here and feel I should be thankful, am I really that vain?....but it does stop me from wearing tight t-shirts...or anything with thin material...or going swimming...or ever taking my shirt off in public...I'm starting to feel a bit anxious and surgery isn't for a month. I've paid the deposit now, not that the money is the be all and end all, in fact I think £4500 is an excellent investment in my future, provided everything goes well....but what if I'm in that 1% that needs a revision? Then it's more money and a year of torment with still no guarantee of being able to wear the clothes or do the things I signed up for this for in the first place. This is how I feel right now, perhaps a glimpse of the future and the post-op rollercoaster.
I went through all the papers they sent me this afternoon and the one thing that sticks in my mind is that someone is supposed to pick me up. I hadn't really considered this at all, my master plan was to have two weeks off and just go into hiding. I didn't want anyone to know. Has anyone gone through this alone, forum aside? Have you been ok to make your own way home alone after the op? If it comes down to it I have someone in mind but I have no intention of telling my family.....is that crazy? Despite my fears I don't want them to try and talk me out of it.
Anyway there you have it, as I said I'll do my best to post pics and provide updates. I hope I've got the balls to go through with it, I think you'd have to be super human not to worry about voluntarily going under the knife.
Topic: Surgery with Dr. Karidis - 1 week post op. (Read 5751 times)
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