Checking in with my 2 week results

[Squirrel698]

Hello everyone,

It's been two weeks since my surgery.  I'm overall very happy with the results.  I went to Dr.  Bartlett in Brookline, near Boston for a double incision and nipple graft.  The biggest problem so far has been my left side not draining well at first.  I had to keep the left drain in for an extra week.  Not the worst thing ever, it just made it difficult to sleep and wear most clothing.  He took it out yesterday and I'm happy about that.  My left side is still noticeably more swollen then my right.  Which I'm not thrilled about but very few people in this world are actually symmetrical so even if it stayed like this it wouldn't matter too much.  The incision site is really sore, and itches occasionally on and off, but nothing to bad at all.  I really don't need the pain meds.  In the picture my face is a bit hairy for no shave November.



Now for some questions.  When get I start exercising again?  I know I have to wait until 6 weeks for running.  However what about floor exercises, such as sit ups and push ups?  I gained 10 lbs at least during this whole process and I want it gone as soon as possible.  Regarding sleeping, I hate sleeping on my back.  Everything always ends up aching.  Is it safe to sleep on my side or even on my stomach yet?  If not, how long do I have to wait for that?

An interesting fact of all this is that Dr. Bartlett took 4 hours to do my surgery.  Whereas Dr. Garramone only takes about 90 minutes, according to his website.  I'm not sure why go many guys go with Dr. G.  There's a lot of complaints about him on here and out on the web.  I get the impression, possibly wrong, that it's like an assembly line for him.  Whereas Dr. Bartlett is more about the personal touch and getting it done right.  It's true that after the first week I noticed, comparing myself to other first week pre op guys that I had a lot more bruising then they did.  Dr. Bartlett used a different type of procedure and maybe that's the cause, I just thought it was curious.  The bruises are fading now.  I suppose I'll have to wait for a final result a year from now to know if I made the right choice or not.  It was twice as much to go to Barlett as opposed to Garramone.  It just to me a perfectionist is just what the doctor ordered.

If you are curious about how one doctor, Dr. Daniel Medalie, does the procedure and have a strong stomach for surgery check out this video.  I found it very informative. 


   

[aleon515]

I have absolutely no complaints on Dr. G. He is business-like, but will absolutely answer your questions. He is VERY committed to treating trans folks and is totally respectful. No one in his office ever misgendered me. I was treated well and with respect. He put me at ease examining my chest so I was not the least bit dysphoric about it. He might not be the most touchy feely guy out there. But I didn't go to a surgeon for touchy feely, I went to him as he has a LOT of experience and consistently good results. I don't have to have a surgeon love me-- just do excellent work.

On any kind of surgery the guy (or gal) who does the a lot of surgery gets the best results. Being able to do the surgery in 90 minutes (what mine was) is advantageous as it takes less anesthesia-- I was average sized. Anesthesia is bad for you, can even cause depression and other symptoms post op.

I think there are other surgeons out there who do an excellent job and decided between them. But I don't think you should talk about what you don't really know about. There is no evidence whatsoever that his results aren't, for the most part, really good with most people who see him. I've actually seen people who complain and other people look at them and think that they are good.

I have watched the surgery video below. It was fascinating to me, but I had a little trouble stomaching the initial cuts and lipo. But after that I found it rather fascinating. I should post some pix I suppose. I have a youtube channel though and quite a few people here follow me, so it might be a bit repetitious.


--Jay

[DriftingCrow]

Thanks for sharing Squirrel, you're looking great.

[Squirrel698]

Thanks LearnedHand! 

I don't mean to offend you Aleon.  I'm glad it worked out for you and you liked Dr. G.  I was under anesthesia for the full amount of time and I haven't suffered ill effects that I know of.  To me the risk of depression was worth him spending extra time but that's just me.   

[aleon515]

Thanks LearnedHand! 

I don't mean to offend you Aleon.  I'm glad it worked out for you and you liked Dr. G.  I was under anesthesia for the full amount of time and I haven't suffered ill effects that I know of.  To me the risk of depression was worth him spending extra time but that's just me.

You didn't really offend me. But I know he hears about this stuff and it offends him. He has discussed it on FB. It would be fine if these things were true. But you asked why someone would chose him and I let you know.

Not everyone responds poorly to anesthesia but it is better to be under for a shorter time than longer, but obviously you certainly want enough to get the job done.


--Jay

[Bimmer Guy]

Hi, Squirrel.  You are looking great!  I love seeing result photos, so I hope you keep posting them.

Garramone was an easy choice for me.  In MY opinion, he gives the best and the most consistent results.  I saw hundreds of photos and without question, his chests were the most consistently appealing.  So, I felt confident my chest would look good.  I think that in some ways he is actually TOO consistent.  I told my girlfriend we are a bunch of Garramone clones walking around.  I can spot a Garramone chest the moment a picture pops up!

We all have preferences in how our chests will look.  I think he gives the most masculine chest.  I hate that "loop/scoop" kind of look I have seen some other surgeons give.  To me (in some cases), it can give the subtle look of a female breast.  I assume that all surgeons "follow the line of the pec", as Garramone says he does, but for some reason, his "lines" are more straight across (but not completely straight across, since our pecs are not boxes) than some other surgeons (but again, what we like AND SEE is "all in the eye of the beholder"...yes, that is my disclaimer).

Additionally, he also purposely makes the nipples a bit smaller than the standard.  He believes that a smaller nipple is more masculine looking.  I agree with him.  Of course, I am sure any surgeon will give you any size nipple you request.  I saw a youtube of a gendqueer person who wanted a larger nipple as they "really wanted to be a blend of both genders", and that is what Garramone gave them.  They were quite pleased.

In terms of the assembly line, you are certainly right.  I was "Garramone #4", according to the sign attached to my bed.  I thought it amusing and took a picture.  To me, results are what matters.  It doesn't matter if it takes the guy 20 minutes to do the surgery, if it is better than any other surgeon (based on MY preferences for a male chest), than what do I care?  The guy has a down to a science at this point.  To me, the fact that it doesn't take him long means that he is very good at it, not that he rushes or doesn't care.  This is the only surgery he does (at least on "the regular").  He does anywhere from 10-15 per week. 

Price wasn't an issue for me I am fortunate to have a mother who has the extra money and was willing to loan it to me.  I made the choice based on results.

[Bimmer Guy]

As an aside, what is the average length of time it takes a surgeon to complete top surgery? 

[aleon515]

I agree your results look very good!

Truth be told, a lot of plastic surgeons do similar procedures like that a few at a time. I don't think that in the surgery center that he works out of there were more than 1-2 other surgeons that were workign that day. Dr. G is coming out of that background. I feel that they look similar but I think that it is because he does a lot of them and isn't surprised by much of anything re: surgery. But I like the aesthetic of his chests. I also dislike the loop-scoop thing and so on.

I don't think the price was an issue, as once you afford the surgery you can chose who you want pretty much. I mean there are some very very expensive guys (mostly guys) out there. Unless you don't need to travel, in which case I think you save in a major way.

How much time?
I don't think 90 minutes is so out of the box for this. I'm thinking it is probably relatively fast, but I think he does the work and knows what he's doing and with lots of experience he can pretty much know in advance what he has gotten himself into. I have no idea waht the average time is though.

--Jay

[Bimmer Guy]

Squirrel, I didn't respond to your questions.  Garramone told me 6 weeks for all exercise.  He also said 6 weeks before sleeping on your sides/stomach.  I think that for the first 3 weeks I never rolled over.  My girlfriend told me by the fourth week, she would wake up to my body jumping.  Everytime I rolled to the side I would get some shooting pain, so I would jump and then roll back over.  I never woke up.

It is 5 weeks now and I still have a small touch of soreness on the furthest ends of the incisions on either side of my chest.  I am still waking up in the morning on my back.

[aleon515]

I've heard 6 weeks for exercise and sleeping on your side from a number of surgeons (just watching videos and talking to guys). I am sure I will be happy to sleep on my side again, but I am now able to be pretty comfie on my back. I got a bed pillow, a neck pillow, and a body pillow for each side. I also put one on top of me (this is to keep my 17 lb cat off my chest!), wedged in like that, I feel very calm and comfortable. I can't possibly turn over and the neck pillow keeps my head from going to either side. I don't sleep completely flat (though I am allowed to).

I don't know that I am going to be able to jump up and do all that exercise in 6 weeks. But all normal activity is going to be sweet at that point. I am stir crazy just not being to go out without planning for it. But my friends are really being wonderful.


--Jay