Top Surgery Recovery Updates (a place for all members to update after surgery)

[ZanBuck]

Thanks Brett, I really appreciate the feedback. I'll leave them alone and let them progress naturally (I just like to be able to actively do something about making things progress forward, I know I just need to be patient).
No matter how much I read, being able to ask questions of other people feels more real. Most of the guys in my support group are pre-surgery, and the few that aren't its been a few years since their top surgery so they don't remember many specifics about the beginning. A year ago I never would have dreamed that I would be going to a support group, or that I could actually start being happy with my body.

Hope everyone is doing well.
~Alex

[aleon515]

My clone (Brett) has been asking, so here is my 6 month update. I think the right nipple looks like it still needs to "come out" a bit. Anyway here it is. I am developing teensy tiny pecs. I have to point them out, as they are very teensy tiny. LOL      Jay

[Bimmer Guy]

Hey, Jay. 

You are looking GREAT my friend!  Nice thin lines.  Are you still using Scar Away gel or are you feeling good about how they look and are comfortable with the knowledge that they will get better over time?

I can see your pecs in comparison to the past.  Honestly!  I know you have been working on it.

I do think your chest looks really great.  I am happy for you!  Go, Garramone!

[aleon515]

Hey, Jay. 

You are looking GREAT my friend!  Nice thin lines.  Are you still using Scar Away gel or are you feeling good about how they look and are comfortable with the knowledge that they will get better over time?

I can see your pecs in comparison to the past.  Honestly!  I know you have been working on it.

I do think your chest looks really great.  I am happy for you!  Go, Garramone!

Thanks my clone friend. Yes, I am still using Scaraway gel. I have kind of decided to use it for a year, but I do think they will get lighter in time anyway.

Thanks re: pecs. I do think there is *something* there, it's very slow when you are at my advanced age. Perhaps I can't do quite as aggressive a workout and feel like it is still safe. Though I have a gay friend (no, not that
way ) who said his took forever and he is way younger than I am.


--Jay

[MaximmusFlavius]

I have been waiting since way before this thread began to post my own photos. Now I can

I had double incision on the 28th of April with Mr Yelland in Brighton, UK.

The first picture is from a few days post-op, the others are from this morning (11 days post-op). I had my dressings etc removed yesterday.







I still have a bit of swelling that will hopefully go down with time. But for now it just looks like I have pecs!

[Kreuzfidel]

Maximmus, your chest looks amazing!!!  Wow, I'm pretty impressed with Mr. Yelland's work.  That's incredible.  You really have something to be proud of, mate! 

[Bimmer Guy]

Congrats Maxximus!

It looks really good.  Yes, enjoy the extra pec look right now! 

It has been 7 months for me and I still smile everyday I look in the mirror.  I just took the dog for a walk about a half an hour ago and paused, having that moment of dread that I had to grab the binder (I had just gotten out of bed, so still a bit fuzzy).  I smiled after I remembered.  Those moments don't happen as much (thinking I need to grab my binder), but noticing the feeling of my shirt right against my chest certainly still does.

Thank you for posting the picture with your bandages.  I am always curious to see how the surgeons wraps us differently.

What is the recovery plan?  Meaning, do you have to put anything on your nipples?  Do you have to wear a vest?  Etc.

Congrats again.  It looks great!  Thanks for posting!

[MaximmusFlavius]

Maximmus, your chest looks amazing!!!  Wow, I'm pretty impressed with Mr. Yelland's work.  That's incredible.  You really have something to be proud of, mate! 

You just made my day, cheers!!

Thank you for posting the picture with your bandages.  I am always curious to see how the surgeons wraps us differently.

What is the recovery plan?  Meaning, do you have to put anything on your nipples?  Do you have to wear a vest?  Etc.

Congrats again.  It looks great!  Thanks for posting!

I had to wear a neoprene back binder for compression on top of the bandages. Mega uncomfortable pain in the backside to begin with, but totally worth it! I have to continue wearing it for a couple of weeks just to keep the compression and protect everything. I feel incredibly vulnerable without it now I've got used to it. I wasn't told specifically to cover my nipples and actually forgot to ask, but I've covered them with some gauze as I'm worried they'd get stuck to the binder. I was given some micro pore tape to put on the incisions for a week or so, until the roll runs out basically!

Also something I forgot to mention before is that Yelland doesn't use drains.

[Bombadil]

Maximmus your chest looks great.

ZanBuck- your chest looks really good too. I will definitely be following your recovery. I live out your way and if there is a local option that would be great. I don't know when I'll be able to get surgery but someday.

[aleon515]

Maximas, you chest is looking great. Funny thing though, I think that he has a very distinctive look to his surgeries. Not really like Dr G but his own distinctive that I think looks great. I have a friend that went to him.

--Jay

[Darrin Scott]

Sorry it took me a while to respond. I saw there was a request for my chest. Here it is 2 months post op. I might get a revision for the top part where my chest meets. I go next week for another check up.

[Bimmer Guy]

Hey, Darrin.  You are healing REALLY great for only two months!  Your incision lines are so light.  Have you been using any scar treatment?

When you spoke about revision, you said where you chest meets.  Do you mean where both sides come together (the middle of our chest)?  What is it you are looking to be different?

Anyway, looking good!

[Darrin Scott]

Hey, Darrin.  You are healing REALLY great for only two months!  Your incision lines are so light.  Have you been using any scar treatment?

When you spoke about revision, you said where you chest meets.  Do you mean where both sides come together (the middle of our chest)?  What is it you are looking to be different?

Anyway, looking good!

No scar treatments yet. Yeah, where both sides come together. I am only 2 months post op so maybe the swelling will go down. I won't have one done until I'm at least a year post op.

[MaximmusFlavius]

3 weeks post op. The asymmetry actually looks more pronounced in these photos than it does in the mirror, probably due to the angle of the picture. The lines around the incisions are imprints from the micropore tape and compression, not skin wrinkling.

[Bimmer Guy]

Wow, really looking great there, Maxximus.  You can see where the swelling is going down, and your natural pec definition is coming through!

Congrats on the healthy healing and thanks for coming back to keep us updated!

[NathanExplosion]

Hey guys! Long time no update! We've been CRAZY busy lately, but here's a 3.5 month update from me!



The sort of "dog ear" thing I have going on on the side is much less prominent when standing up. This is a sitting picture so I'm a little squished, lol.



You can see a little better here. They're getting flatter every day, too.

Our scars have been lightening a LOT using the Biocorneum. Except we've been lazy lately and haven't done it in a week or two... Gotta get back to it.

Everything is smooth sailing, now - no more complications and life is back to normal. I need to post a recommendation for Dr. Horowitz.

[Bimmer Guy]

Hey-Hey, Nathan, looking great!  I was JUST thinking about your guys yesterday and wondering how you two were getting along.  Glad you are so happy with your chest!   

[grownupteeth]

Hi guys, just had DI yesterday morning with Dr. Rockmore in Albany, NY.

When I was doing research on surgeons there wasn't a lot of info on the internet about him, so just wanted to share my own experience - seriously can't recommend him + his team enough    Really thin incision lines, results look amazing so far, and there's almost no pain (just general muscle pain from the anaesthetic, and I'm only taking Aleve, no painkillers). My insurance was ending at the end of the month, and they went above + beyond to move appointments around and talk directly to the Aetna etc. so I got the whole thing covered two days before my insurance expired.

If you're considering going to him, feel free to ask me anything! I'll post pics soon.

[Bimmer Guy]

Hi guys, just had DI yesterday morning with Dr. Rockmore in Albany, NY.

When I was doing research on surgeons there wasn't a lot of info on the internet about him, so just wanted to share my own experience - seriously can't recommend him + his team enough    Really thin incision lines, results look amazing so far, and there's almost no pain (just general muscle pain from the anaesthetic, and I'm only taking Aleve, no painkillers). My insurance was ending at the end of the month, and they went above + beyond to move appointments around and talk directly to the Aetna etc. so I got the whole thing covered two days before my insurance expired.

If you're considering going to him, feel free to ask me anything! I'll post pics soon.

Excellent.  Glad you are so happy.  Congrats on your surgery!

[grownupteeth]

Hey, I highly recommend Rockmore! Being close to home really made the experience incredibly easy, comfortable, and economical. Aside from logistics, Rockmore is incredibly consistent with results- and that was important to me. I consulted with Rockmore as well as Costas in Concord and Bartlett in Brookline. Ultimately, Rockmore won me over. He's a chill dude and I couldn't be more happy. I appreciate his willingness to make me comfortable. My consult was nearly an hour because I came in with a list of questions. Rockmore answered every single one, thoroughly and personably.

About my experience: I had my Jackson Pratt drains in for 13 days and think Rockmore really listened to my body's needs. I didn't bruise, was able to shower after 6 days, and called the office anytime I had a silly question. Nurses always called me back almost immediately and the office is always able to fit you in for post-op appointments. The whole experience was incredibly smooth and a million times easier than I'd anticipated. I was able to set up my appointment the day of my consult and pick my surgery date. Then I realized I needed to reschedule the date a couple days later, and the office was so accommodating and didn't even question why I had to postpone. Payment is due 14 days before surgery. I waited until the very last minute and didn't have any issues. Everyone at the surgery center was awesome, I wasn't misgendered the entire time!

I can't emphasize how painless and smooth the whole experience was. Rockmore is surprisingly well known in the New England region and rightly so. On the net you really have to search to find stuff on Rockmore... but it's out there! Before surgery, I spoke with several guys who had gone to Rockmore and met a few folks through a local group. He's got a solid reputation in my area. I've got a bajillion pics on my tumblr and document my chest daily. If you've got any specific questions, feel free to get in touch

Hey, just wanted to say thanks for all your help/info when I was researching surgery...I had DI with Rockmore 3 days ago and it was the best experience ever! Much appreciated