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

[Bimmer Guy]

Honestly, everyone heals differently, so it could be completely fine.  I would email your surgeon the photos and ask for a call.

Almost 4 weeks post op. Supposed to stop dressing my nipples on Friday but I don' think I will be doing that just yet.

Can anyone tell me if this is normal? Both of my areolas are fine but the nipples themselves are gross. They're both yellowy, but the right one is like liquid, like it's straight up pus with a hard little scab in the center that moves around when I touch it. I'm just concerned about them falling out or something. The left one doesn't move around.


Right nipple.


Left nipple.

[Alexthecat]

So there was like a little tiny scab looking thing on my nipple. It had been there for awhile. After a few flicks with my finger nail it came off and gobs of white puss oozed out. Anyone have that happen to them this late in the healing?

[MaximmusFlavius]

I thought it was about time I posted an update, so here are pictures of my chest 4months and 3 weeks post op. My surgeon was Mr Yelland, Brighton, UK.



The asymmetry is nowhere near as pronounced as it looks in this picture. The scar on the right side does not dip anywhere near as much in real life (compare to the second picture).



The scars have stretched more that I would have liked but that's due to me doing too much in the way of physical activities too soon I think. I also have annoying acne which I am more self conscious of than my scars. A few times I've had spots come up underneath the scars.

[Bimmer Guy]

Hey, Mazimmus, you are looking good!  You didn't post who your surgeon was?  I know you posted it before, but would you mind editing the beginning of your post to include it?  You have a good result, so guys may want to know from these pictures who your surgeon is!

For what it is worth, your scars don't really look stretched to me.  Everyone's skin heals differently and I have seen guys who took great care to not move much still have scars the width of yours.

Are you using any kind of scar treatment?

Thanks for the update!

[MaximmusFlavius]

Hey, Mazimmus, you are looking good!  You didn't post who your surgeon was?  I know you posted it before, but would you mind editing the beginning of your post to include it?  You have a good result, so guys may want to know from these pictures who your surgeon is!

For what it is worth, your scars don't really look stretched to me.  Everyone's skin heals differently and I have seen guys who took great care to not move much still have scars the width of yours.

Are you using any kind of scar treatment?

Thanks for the update!

Done 

The only scar treatment I've been doing is applying kelocote most mornings and evenings (I sometimes forget). I also have a massage bar a friend gave me from lush that I use occasionally called therapy.

[harlee]

I'm 2 days away from being 1 month post op and this is what it's currently looking like...
I feel as if the stitches weren't still there, my areolas would be almost invisible I was hoping they would be more healed at this stage. Also on my left side (right in the picture) I am experiencing some swelling and now bruising. Before it was a lump, I could feel my muscle or something twitching in that area (around 2 weeks post op). The lump formed after I accidentally coughed pretty hard at around 2 and half weeks. Just recently in the last week it's gotten the bruising colour. I'm not sure what to do, even wearing the compression bandage isn't making it smaller. Any advice? 

[devention]

Contact your surgeon and tell them what's going on. You may have burst an interior stitch by coughing and it's fluid buildup. Send pictures if they ask.

[Bimmer Guy]

I would definitely contact your surgeon.  Chest looks great, by the way!  Congrats on your surgery!

[amd]

Hi all,

I think I figured out how to post my latest picture, from 5 weeks postop DI with free nipple graftswith Dr.
Garramone. You can see the swelling under my right arm that I am worried about

[devention]

That looks great, AMD!
I wouldn't worry too much about the swelling at this point. From what I understand, swelling is pretty normal until up to a year post-op. It might be dog-earring, though; I'd ask Garramone about it.

[amd]

That looks great, AMD!
I wouldn't worry too much about the swelling at this point. From what I understand, swelling is pretty normal until up to a year post-op. It might be dog-earring, though; I'd ask Garramone about it.

Thanks, devention! Yeah, I am trying to be patient.  It still feels really sore and tender under there, so it very well could be partly swelling that will go down more.  I may wait a bit and send him more pics if it doesn't go down. I guess if it is dogears, I would just eventually get a revision. It wouldn't be the end of the world, as much as I scrutinize it every day.

[Bimmer Guy]

amd,

Welcome to clonehood! (this is what we call Garramone's top surgery guys around here...we see him as very consistent in his work).  It looks like Garramone has created yet another great chest!

In terms of the swelling on the right side, I admit mine was not that severe.  Yours is a different type of swelling then mine was and I would suggest that it is not the side swelling I have typically seen on Garramone's patients (however, that is not to say it is NOT normal swelling for his work).  It is not a dog ear.  If he says it is swelling and that you should not be concerned by it, then I would go with that.  The man does 500 surgeries a year, I'm sure this isn't new for him.

Hang tight and enjoy the new chest! 

[amd]

amd,

Welcome to clonehood! (this is what we call Garramone's top surgery guys around here...we see him as very consistent in his work).  It looks like Garramone has created yet another great chest!

In terms of the swelling on the right side, I admit mine was not that severe.  Yours is a different type of swelling then mine was and I would suggest that it is not the side swelling I have typically seen on Garramone's patients (however, that is not to say it is NOT normal swelling for his work).  It is not a dog ear.  If he says it is swelling and that you should not be concerned by it, then I would go with that.  The man does 500 surgeries a year, I'm sure this isn't new for him.

Hang tight and enjoy the new chest!

Thanks, Brett, proud to join the clone ranks! I am enjoying my new chest so far. It actually helps to know your swelling wasn't that pronounced.  Dr. G originally thought from the pictures that it was a seroma that needed draining. When ultrasound showed it wasn't, he said it could be general tissue swelling. I am going to keep an eye on It, though, especially reading about how sometimes swelling can be an infection sometimes. My side isn't red or hot but it is tender. I keep realizing that my healing is going to be bumpy and by fits and starts, not perfect from day one.

[harlee]

I'm about 6 weeks post op now and doing much better  My swelling and bruising is going away on its own which is good. I like the shape of my nipples but  they still look better from a distance at the moment. There is soft puffy white skin on parts of my areaolas which has been peeling off sometimes in the morning when I change the bandaids. The skin underneath is very pink. I hope this isn't a bad thing!  I havent heard anyone else talk about this white skin, only scabs.. which I didnt seem to get 

[devention]

The pink skin is perfectly normal. It can sometimes take a while for the correct pigmentation to come back to nipple Grafts.
Your chest looks great, man.

[Bimmer Guy]

Your chest looks fantastic, harlee.  Congrats!

[aleon515]

Hi all,

I think I figured out how to post my latest picture, from 5 weeks postop DI with free nipple graftswith Dr.
Garramone. You can see the swelling under my right arm that I am worried about

Swelling is somewhat normal. I was actually swollen under one arm for several months. I think you look great 5 weeks.  Welcome to the clone army buddy!

--Jay

[amd]

Swelling is somewhat normal. I was actually swollen under one arm for several months. I think you look great 5 weeks.  Welcome to the clone army buddy!

--Jay

Thanks, Jay, I am a proud member of the clone ranks!

[amd]

I'm about 6 weeks post op now and doing much better  My swelling and bruising is going away on its own which is good. I like the shape of my nipples but  they still look better from a distance at the moment. There is soft puffy white skin on parts of my areaolas which has been peeling off sometimes in the morning when I change the bandaids. The skin underneath is very pink. I hope this isn't a bad thing!  I havent heard anyone else talk about this white skin, only scabs.. which I didnt seem to get 

Harlee,

Your chest looks great, and the bruising seems to have healed amazingly well. Congrats!

I am right at 6 weeks postop too, and my nipples are still doing weird things. It's not exactly white like you're describing, but they're mottled (different shades of pink mostly, but some parts quite light).  I will see if I can post a picture. I kinda wonder if part of it is that I kept covering them with bandaids and some kind of goop (neosporin, then just petroleum). Not sure. But mine definitely have that puffiness too.

Anyway, congrats and happy healing!

[harlee]

Thanks everyone I've just been worried that I'm healing too slow since I don't seem to be as far along as other people who are also 6 weeks post op! I really wanted the nipples to be healed before I go back to work.. which is next week 

I kinda wonder if part of it is that I kept covering them with bandaids and some kind of goop (neosporin, then just petroleum). Not sure. But mine definitely have that puffiness too.

I'm still using the antibiotic gel stuff too. Maybe I should stop? I just thought you were supposed to stop when they looked normal?