The beginning of the end - 2 months post op

[Z31T]

So now that I'm awake, I'll give a little more detailed update. The surgery itself, like everyone says, is a breeze. They even give you nice pillows and blankets so its like you're taking a comfy nap. I remember drifting in and out of sleep at bit near the end, and I could see them finishing up in the reflection of the light above me. It didn't bother me at all, I guess because I was extremely sedated and I couldn't feel a thing. I was awake by the time they were putting the compression vest (strap, binder, band, whatever you want to call it) on me. I didn't feel a thing in recovery and for the next several hours, and eventually started to feel some pain, which standard tylenol took care of and I slept like a baby. First day post op, I woke up, feeling sore but with no real pain. All i every took were two tylenols. I saw the doctor again that morning and everything looked good and I was cleared to go home.

Today I got to take my first shower, which was great because I'm one of those people that just feels disgusting if I don't get a shower for even a day. I carefully removed everything, and it looked pretty much the same as yesterday; a little swelling and it looked like some slight bruising had developed. I'm a little sore and sensitive, but still no pain. Oh, and a word to the wise from the stupid..I thought it would be a good idea to leave the gauze pads on while I was showering. Bad idea, because the tape becomes a gooey mess. It took me a full ten minutes to get it off both sides, especially because it was covering the top halves of my nipples. All said and done, I replaced the dressings and I was good to go. My biggest concern with removing everything was getting the compression vest back on by myself comfortably. it was alot easier than I thought, and it feels as tight if not tighter than when the nurses did it.

I'll update again later this week.

[Z31T]

Pictures: These are just today, two days post op, immediately after removing the dressings





With a shirt on with no dressings or compression:



Contrary to what alot of people are saying, the compression vest I got is not very noticeable at all even under a t-shirt. The only part that might be is the seamed end of it that sticks out a bit in the front, but I guess I can position that anywhere I want it.

Also, not sure why the light changed like that between the second and third pictures, oh well.

[Z31T]

4 days post-op:



The right side is obviously more swollen and bruised than the left, but all the bruising is now yellow (which means its going away..?). The swelling puffs the right side out a little more, but overall I think it looks great and I am very happy with my results only 4 days out. Also, although the right side has more bruising and swelling, the incision is healing a bit faster than the left side. I guess everything is healing at its own pace and the plan is for it all to even out in the end. Ironically the most painful part by far is the armpit area where the little nicks are, but that even only hurts just a little to the touch.

Today was the first day it really hit me that things were really different. I guess the last couple days I was distracted by all the tenderness, numbness, and swelling that I didn't get to really take in the visual result. Its one of the greatest feelings ever, and its beyond what I imagined myself looking like before I had it done. I couldn't be happier at this stage, even though its very early in the healing process. I'm really starting to feel alot less vulnerable (for lack of a better word) now that most of the tenderness and a good bit of the swelling has gone down. I can actually walk around without having to intentionally soften my steps to keep from feeling it in my chest. Like i said I can now begin to appreciate my results and hopethings only improve from here  

[Z31T]

Today was my first day back at work. I'm on my feet all day at my job, so I had taken a full 6 days off for recovery time, as I wanted the initial healing to get as far as possible before I started moving around again. At this stage I had virtually no pain, only to the touch and when I overextended my arms. Surprisingly, going from sitting around and resting all day to a full 9 hour work day brought only positive changes. From beginning to end of the day, the overall sensitivity of my chest decreased and my pain free range of motion increased. I also noticed a significant decrease in swelling. This was also the first time I had driven a car in a week, and on the way to work looking around and shifting were uncomfortable. On the way home everything felt perfectly normal and unrestricted. Point being, if anyone is also in the recovery stage, get off your ass and move around a bit!  

[Z31T]

1 week post-op:





Lots of improvement in the last three days. Like I mentioned in my last post, going to work and moving around yesterday really made a difference. Swelling has gone down significantly on both sides, with almost none on the left side and alot less on the right.

[siphon]

good posts and the final results look very promising! must be an exciting feeling. a few more weeks for me and i'm up, and i can def feel my energy and motivation changing and brewing.

[Z31T]

Thanks siphon. The hardest part is definitely waiting. Being onto the healing process really is an exciting feeling. My right side already looks worlds better than in the last picture there, but I'm waiting for the two week mark to post another update, as over the last couple days I've had some scar tissue form. SO far its not a concern at all and everything still looks good and flat.

[Z31T]

Ok, I'm at two weeks and three days now. The scar tissue process has started and its looking hopeful that I'll get a pretty light dose of it. My right side seems to have the worst of it, although there are definitely some hard spots on the left side too. The right side has lagged behind the left this entire process, so I'm hoping everything evens out pretty soon.

Aside from visuals, my chest feels perfectly fine. No pain, no swelling, and no bruising. I'm still wearing the compression vest although I'll admit I've had it off for a few long periods of time around the lady friend. Nothing changed at all, and I felt absolutely great in just a t shirt. It's really awesome to be able to just go out and do whatever without feeling self conscious at all. I also had a big job interview today, and feeling perfectly comfortable in my own skin definitely made a difference. I'm really glad I got this done, and I can only hope things do nothing but improve from here. I will update again i nthe future.

[siphon]

looking great man! that confidence that you had a problem and solved it must be a great feeling. looking fwd to that!

[Z31T]

Thanks! The scar tissue definitely pushes things out a bit, but my nipples are still flat on top of it. I don't see why its such a huge psychological setback for many. It's not like the gynecomastia that was there before at all. The scar tissue is hard and feels like part of my chest whereas the gynecomastia was soft and flabby and moved around in its own. It really just looks like i have nice pecs 

I've also started putting scar cream on the nipple incisions which hopefully will help with the appearance in that regard. I'm not sure how well I'll adhere to the using it every day thing, especially for 8 weeks like the bottle says, as I don't plan to wear the compression binder or anything past the four week mark. I already don't feel like I need it anymore, but I'm completely used to it so I might as well pull through.

Best of luck to you, and it truly is a great feeling. I think I mentioned it, but I didn't really begin to realize that until my chest began to feel natural/healed. Maybe that's just me, but at this point I couldn't be happier. I haven't seen Dr. Jacobs post here in a while but I certainly owe him a thank you!

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

My pleasure -- glad you are pleased.

Dr Jacobs

[Z31T]

4 weeks post op now. Things are definitely healing, but it now seems to be localized to the nipple area only. There is some residual swelling under both nipples, and a good chunk of scar tissue under the right, which I'm assuming is not leftover gland because of its odd shape and location. It does puff my right side out a bit, but I think that's mostly the swelling, as I can flatten my nipple by pushing very lightly on it. Hopefully over the next couple weeks things will heal up even more and become less sensitive.



right side


left side

[hammer]

The swelling still should go down in time. I know with both of my knee replacements they were two of a kind, not exactly recovered the same way.

You should be happy with the way you look, as you are flat chested now!

Good luck with the rest of the recovery.


Bob aka Hammer

[Z31T]

Thanks bob, I'm confident in further improvement over time, and I can definitely say I'm happy with the way I look even right now! I'm wearing tight white t-shirts every day without a second thought.

[zlu4000]

congrats   firend - u chest look very good


i have my surgery done 3 days ago

but i feel  that the vest is so tight,, and the chest look  sweeling and big ....and im not comortable with wear shirts yet..

i wanna ask u ,,, when u have seen u result for da first time ? after how many days ? 

my doctor told me that my chest is lat now.. bt im so woory.. this vest disturb me and i not feel any diffrence