Surgery with Levick 7th May 14 (2 week photos added)

[Swils29]

I feel your pain mate...it's a nightmare the first week.

I found it uncomfortable the first day wearing the second compression vest (dug into wounds under arms). I'm almost a week into wearing that, and forget it's there sometimes, but at other times I'm wary it's visible under clothes. Especially last weekend as it was scorchio here and had thin tshirts on.

I only bought one vest, so I'm sleeping in the vest you are wearing now whilst I wash and dry the other. I'm hoping this is ok!?!?! In hindsight I should have bought 2 and switched as necessary! If advise others to do that if they can.

Counting down the days/weeks until I don't have to wear it. I think ill aim for 4 weeks if that is what's recommended. Even looking forward to switching to a nike compression top (less visible). Has everyone else stuck with 4 weeks???

I'd stick with your vest for 1 more day Paul786, you've come this far, just one more day will be worth it.

[paul786]

I actually ditched the compression band this morning and had a shower LOL
for me the compression from that was limited and the whole thing was nasty

when I say limited I mean when I was relaxing I would notice because the band is stiff
it would not actually be compressing my chest it would kinda belly out because of my dodgy posture
when relaxing.


when in bed it worked its best TBH.


anyway been out with the Mrs today with my compression vest on and all was well
and its turns out the vest is much tighter than the band and is constant compression it feels good upto now.


I will however put the binder back on when I wash and dry the vest (I only bought 1 too....bloody rip off £65 for a vest)

[Swils29]

It's good to get it off I have to admit. After a week of wearing it all of the time...and feels a bit more normal and less restrictive in the next one!!!

Looking forward to the day when no vests are required at all.

2 weeks to this very second I was in theatre being sorted by levick...seems so long ago now.

I'll try and post some pictures tonight/tomorrow showing progress, but to summarise the bruising has almost disappeared, things aren't as flat as last week but still flat in comparison to pre op, can feel hard lumps and bumps around wounds and running down side of chest, and everything still feels very weird to touch!

I feel excellent though, mobility is great - still bring careful stretching and not getting arms over my head, not lifting anything heavy, and just looking forward to things getting back to normal.

Reading other posts I think it's at 3 weeks you should start to massage, is that correct?

I'm going to start light exercise next week (lower extremities only), then build up from there. No chest work though!!!

[paul786]

Levick told me no gym cardio for 4 weeks and even then only light and build it up


I have just emailed Mr Levick because I am still in a fair bit of pain but its understandable with the about they took out of me
my chest is really swollen and bruised ( no pain no gain)


But its  much much better than it started and will only get better from here on in

They say 6-12 months before you see the total final result

[Swils29]

I play golf and asked levick how long before I could get back to it. Said nothing at all week 1, maybe putting week 2 then just listen to body after that, gradually get back into it.

In terms of the gym, I've read a good article by Dr. Silverman which gives you a plan to get back into it. Sounds sensible and I'm hoping to follow it, but if at any point anything doesn't feel right I will stop. See link below.

https://www.gynecomastia.org/gynecomastia-men/living-gynecomastia/post-surgery-workout-instructions

Also as promised attached are pictures 2 weeks post surgery. I'll post 1 week photos and burger shot in next post for comparison.

[Swils29]

Burger shot and week 1 pics attached to compare to previous post

[Donut]

tightest compression for longest time you can bear it = best results... a simple formula!

You've put up with moobs all these years, spent £4k getting it sorted by arguably the best surgeon there is, so why compromise on a few extra weeks of minor inconvenience by rushing to get the vest off?

I kept compression vest on 24/7 for 3 months - tried removing it earlier, but swelling soon set in.  Don't think swelling goes in first week or two, that's just from the initial poking around of the surgical procedure - in most cases 'swelling proper' doesn't even start for a couple of months!

[paul786]

I love the vest ..not they binder tho ....The joy of Tshirts with no moobs haha


that said I still have loose skin there that i will most likely have to be removed via a revision boooo

[Swils29]

Not looking forward to proper swelling, but suppose its all part of the process. Looking forward to the day when healing is all done with to be honest!

I'm getting a strange 'tugging' sensation around left nipple area. Presuming this is where the majority of stuff was removed from! Feel it when I get up after lying down. If I move up and down quickly would feel it too. Anyone else felt anything similar?

[august123]

great result, hoping to get my surgery by the end of this year or atleast before next summer

[Swils29]

great result, hoping to get my surgery by the end of this year or atleast before next summer

Thanks. Have you identified a surgeon already? I spent a while deciding if I should book it. It's a lot of money, but I figured I spent a lot of money/time on gym fees and hiding the condition that I thought it would be well worth it. So far it's probably the best £4k I've spent in my life! Feeling normal is fantastic....and it's only money after all...given time it will be forgotten about but living life without gyno will be something I'm grateful for every time I pull on a shirt/tshirt or when I'm taking off my top around the pool or at the beach!

Once you get it booked time will fly...did for me and before you know it your on the other side 

[august123]

great result, hoping to get my surgery by the end of this year or atleast before next summer

Thanks. Have you identified a surgeon already? I spent a while deciding if I should book it. It's a lot of money, but I figured I spent a lot of money/time on gym fees and hiding the condition that I thought it would be well worth it. So far it's probably the best £4k I've spent in my life! Feeling normal is fantastic....and it's only money after all...given time it will be forgotten about but living life without gyno will be something I'm grateful for every time I pull on a shirt/tshirt or when I'm taking off my top around the pool or at the beach!

Once you get it booked time will fly...did for me and before you know it your on the other side 

i have, Levick is who ill be going with hopefully, I've actually been lurking these forums before, but finally decided to sign up, I've known I've had it since i was 17 as i was pretty overweight as a kid so decided to do something about it, but obviously as everything else improved my chest wouldn't get that proper pec shape, so lead to the usual hiding etc. then i eventually gave up on gym also, so now being 20, i really want to get it sorted asap, but being a student doesn't really help with the finances, but hopefully this summer i can come up with at least 2/3 of the cost. but my plan is to pretty much build as much muscle as i can specifically on my chest until i get the surgery.

[darkmagician]

Not looking forward to proper swelling, but suppose its all part of the process. Looking forward to the day when healing is all done with to be honest!

I'm getting a strange 'tugging' sensation around left nipple area. Presuming this is where the majority of stuff was removed from! Feel it when I get up after lying down. If I move up and down quickly would feel it too. Anyone else felt anything similar?

I'm 7 months post op now,

the tugging sensation is normal mate, so is the pin prick feeling. I think the pin prick feeling is actually your severed nerve channels beginning to regenerate so it's actually a good sign.

Keep your vest on for 4 weeks 24/7, take it off only when showering. Then wear it for 2 weeks at daytime only, that seems to be the general rule of thumb round here.

[Swils29]

Thanks DarkM. Yes I'm going to aim for 4 weeks! Bit of a pain but had it on for almost 2 weeks already and that's flown by, another couple will soon pass!

Any idea what causes the tugging sensation? How long before it goes?

August123, I wish I'd had surgery years ago, but never knew about the condition or the procedure, and just figured I could work hard at the gym and it would go. But no matter what I did it it was always there! 

The sooner you get it sorted the quicker you can lead a normal life without worrying about it. Levick is a quality surgeon, and his free revision policy certainly gave me the confidence to go with him!  Good luck with the saving mate!!!

[Donut]

Hey august123 - you should start a thread and document your saving / goals... Really helped me focus and knuckle down to raise the money, which in my case was particularly difficult and hampered for various reasons! - but the support of everyone on here kept me going and now I'm 4-months odd post-op and live in t-shirts!