6 weeks post op

[flex1appeal]

I was going to wait a bit longer to post cause I know I am not done healing yet. I still have noticeable swelling. Moreso on my left side than right. The swelling on my left side is definately a combo of fluid retention in the soft tissues and partly scar tissue which is now fading each day. I have a small amount of swelling below my pectoral region on my right side. Doc says it may take several months for this swelling to disappear completely. But I am patient and have no worries because I see it changing every day still and I am only 6 weeks post op. I will say that if it is avoidable, I'd recommend not having your areolas cut. I can see the scars and don't think it heals quite as nice as the armpit incision. But small price to pay for flatness. And flatness is definately what I now have. I am working out hardcore again and am attempting to rebuild lost muscle to fill in the void. I have noticed that it is helping. I can tell you it will surely be another 6 weeks this go around before I am close to fully recovered. I have so much fluid still underneath my nipples. And yes, I can tell it's fluid and not anything else because, a) I have drained it with a needle periodically, and b) it is squishy when I push on it. Squishy in the sense it makes fluid waves under the skin. Fat doesn't do that when pushed on.I can wear a very tight shirt and no notice of gyne anymore. Can't even tell I ever had it. I wear tank tops in the gym and feel like a million bucks. So, I will post a few pics over the last few weeks so you can see the progression.

Ok, Here is me 10 days after surgery and 5 days after the drains were removed. As you can see, I swelled up big time! LOL Don't worry, it gets better eventually. Just wanted you to see what I am healing from. Gotta have a beginning don't ya know!

http://img401.imageshack.us/my.php?image=swollen25nov06ie3.png

Ok, onto the healing photos. These pretty much start on december 2nd and go once a week thereafter. Not exactly a week each time but give or take. Last set of pictures will be christmas day. I'll post these in groups of 4http://img207.imageshack.us/my.php?image=02dec06pic4af9.png and tried to keep them in the same shots to keep it consistant. I will only post dec 2nd pics for now cause it is late. I'll finish posting more pictures tomorrow.

staring with 02dec06:

http://img183.imageshack.us/my.php?image=02dec06pic2ce1.png

http://img407.imageshack.us/my.php?image=02dec06pic3uk2.png

http://img207.imageshack.us/my.php?image=02dec06pic4af9.png

http://img409.imageshack.us/my.php?image=02dec06pic5ja8.png

More to come tomorrow

[Time_to_fix_it]

Hi Flex,

Well done, you are on the road to recovery.  You are quite right about letting things take their course and not panicking when the swelling comes and goes.  I’m about 10 weeks post op and I still have swelling that comes and goes.  Massaging helps tremendously but I’m a long way from being fully healed.

I have read so many times that the 6 months point is the important one.  By then we should be about 95% healed and will be able to judge the results properly.

In the meantime, all the very best to you.  It’s great being rid of those damn things isn’t it?

[wolfman]

Looks great man congrat, its gonna be even better when all swelling is gone,


Wolfman

[flex1appeal]

Alright, so let's get a few more pictures up why don't we?

Now we are onto december 9th:

http://img175.imageshack.us/my.php?image=09dec06pic1ck6.png

http://img182.imageshack.us/my.php?image=09dec06pic2mg7.png

http://img401.imageshack.us/my.php?image=09dec06pic3dq1.png

http://img172.imageshack.us/my.php?image=09dec06pic4kc4.png

now on to december 14th:

http://img136.imageshack.us/my.php?image=14dec06pic1ni8.png

http://img242.imageshack.us/my.php?image=14dec06pic2zo3.png

http://img175.imageshack.us/my.php?image=14dec06pic3vn7.png

http://img241.imageshack.us/my.php?image=14dec06pic4be3.png

lastly, onto december 25th:

http://img401.imageshack.us/my.php?image=25dec06pic1us6.png

That's all I will post for now. I am now 6 weeks post op and you can easily see the swelling under my pecs and moreso under my left nipple. I have this line of swelling under my right nipple but the doctor says it should subside in a few more weeks. It has gone down considerably just in the past 2 weeks so I am not too worried. I would have thought the right swelling would be gone by now since it has been the same since surgery while the left side was twice as bad initially but is healing much quicker is seems. We'll see. I am starting to see more shape resuming in my muscle itself which indicates the swelling is subsiding now. I'll post more next week.

flex

[wolfman]

U look great, nice chest

[**Gynefor**]

As far as I can see, the results are there : excellent. Congrats mate ! 

[Jamessidis]

Terrific result 

[flex1appeal]

Swelling still there on my right left side around my nipple and some fluid there as well. But it should be gone in a few more weeks. I can tell it is becoming less and less each morning I awake. I also have very minimal swelling on my right side. Not as prominant as the left or as prominant compared to itself a week ago. These pictures are from today. I should have more to come next week.

http://img465.imageshack.us/my.php?image=31dec06pic1qn1.png

http://img187.imageshack.us/my.php?image=31dec06pic2oh0.png

Oh, and here is a refresher of before I had surgery at all:

http://img522.imageshack.us/my.php?image=20jun06before1zm9.png

http://img92.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gyno1cd5.jpg

http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gyno2ok0.jpg

[flex1appeal]

I was just looking at my before pictures again and cannot believe the transformation. I never really realized how much the doctor removed from my chest. I really think he did a great job. WOW....I feel happy and like a brand new guy with a brand new start looking at my pics. I wish everyone here someday gets to feel this kind of joy!

flex

[Mr_Nip]

I know what you mean, Flex.  I looked at my before pics again a few days ago and I was going "holy s___".  I can't believe I looked like that.  I think I must have been blocking it out of my mind when I looked in the mirror or something for all those years.  I don't remember looking that bad, but there it is in the pictures.  No wonder people were pointing at me on the beach.  Congrats again on your great job.

[flex1appeal]

No shit mr nip. I agree with you. Pictures say it all that's for sure. You can see the huge difference in mine. Though, it will be anoth 2-3 months for me to fully start enjoying the results. But I am hoping that summer, I will be fully recovered and ready for the best chest competitions I use to do. LOL. Ok, so maybe I may not be ready for that ever again but I can aspire to get there!

[wiz]

Looking at the before and after pics... you certainly have had a great recovery. Congrats buddy :-) How often did u massage the area?? am into my 4th week.. massage around twice a day for 20 mins. Dunno if it enuf??

[flex1appeal]

I still massage and I am 7 weeks post op. I massage out of habit all day long now. I feel like I am being stared at I do it so much. People must think I am weird for fondling my chest so often. LOL. I don't care though.

[nukem2k5]

Looks great man.  Like you said, and as it was for me, it'll take at least 2-3 months for a majority of the swelling to go down and for you to start seeing the real results.  Maybe even up to 6+ months.