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

[Bimmer Guy]

Jeatyn,

I don't think the dog ears is a big procedure.  I think it is a pretty minimal slice and re-sew.  I looked it up once. 

In terms of the nipples, from your pictures they don't look too long, just sayin'.  My nipples are permanently erect (if you are saying hard).  If I wear a tight thin shirt, they are noticeable.

On the whole, I do think that your chest looks really great.  The pecs have filled out really nicely, you can tell you have worked on them!  Personally, if I were you, I would get the dog ears fixed, but that is me.  If it were an issue of a recovery for the same length of time and all for recovery, like you, I would hesitate.  I really think it is a relatively minimal procedure, though.

[Jeatyn]

They aren't actually erect all the time, just look like it, when it is actually cold they are even more noticeable xD

I guess I'm just gonna have to ask exactly what would be done to fix them and what the recovery would be like....and if there are any sort of deadlines. I absolutely can't miss any more time at uni. I got top surgery at the end of term last year and then hysto at the beginning of term this year.

There's a few graduate jobs available through a partnership with the uni and I hope to get one of those, which would start pretty much immediately after the term is over. I don't have time for more recovery xD

[harlee]

I'm 2 and a half months post op with Dr. Garramone I think he did a great job!

[Bimmer Guy]

I'm 2 and a half months post op with Dr. Garramone I think he did a great job!

Wow, looking FANTASTIC, harlee!  Welcome again to the Garramone Clone club.  I know you were concerned about your areolas.  They look great! 

Thanks for posting an update.  I always look forward to updates from guys.

[harlee]

Wow, looking FANTASTIC, harlee!  Welcome again to the Garramone Clone club.  I know you were concerned about your areolas.  They look great! 

Thanks for posting an update.  I always look forward to updates from guys.

I called Dr. G at around 8 weeks post op because I was concerned and he told me to just stop covering the areolas altogether. So I did and they started to come good  My right one is a different colour in some places (you cant see it too well in the picture) but hopefully that will change over time too!

[devention]

They aren't actually erect all the time, just look like it, when it is actually cold they are even more noticeable xD

I guess I'm just gonna have to ask exactly what would be done to fix them and what the recovery would be like....and if there are any sort of deadlines. I absolutely can't miss any more time at uni. I got top surgery at the end of term last year and then hysto at the beginning of term this year.

There's a few graduate jobs available through a partnership with the uni and I hope to get one of those, which would start pretty much immediately after the term is over. I don't have time for more recovery xD

From what I understand, recovery time is really short. You basically go into their office, get a local anesthetic, the doctor removes the extra skin, and you get sewed up. Couldn't give you an exact figure for recovery, but it probably wouldn't be any different than getting a skin tag or mole removed (just bigger). I can't imagine it being longer than a couple weeks, if that.

[Polo]

So I've been searching through the pages of this thread and others, and I don't seem to find much in the way of periareolar surgeries. Does anyone have experience with a peri surgery, namely with Dr. Garramone or Dr. Crane (Brownstein's legacy)? Dr. Garramone seems uncomfortable with it, and I can't find pictures for Dr. Crane.

[aleon515]

You might look into some other surgeons. Perhaps Medalie? But there are other surgeons doing peri that are very happy to do it and do a great job. Dr G doesn't really do it, and if there are no results on the webpage, perhaps Dr Crane doesn't either, or isn't comfortable (more into lower surgery anyway, I believe a partner is doing these surgeries now).

--Jay

[Polo]

I was just looking at Medalie, actually, not sure why I hadn't found him before. I'd welcome any one weighing in on him as well. Dr. McLean in Canada seems to do good work but I'd rather stay stateside for any intensive medical procedures... Thanks for the reply, Jay

[Bimmer Guy]

I was just looking at Medalie, actually, not sure why I hadn't found him before. I'd welcome any one weighing in on him as well. Dr. McLean in Canada seems to do good work but I'd rather stay stateside for any intensive medical procedures... Thanks for the reply, Jay

Hi, Polo.  Did you read all of this thread?  There is at least one example of Medalie's work.

You may want to do a search for him on this Top Surgery child board as he is talked about a great deal on Susan's, in general.  If you can't find anything in a search, I would suggest making a thread about him.  I bet that you will get a number of responses.

This sticky thread has been for recovery updates, rather than discussions around surgeons.

[JayDawg]

I had top surgery December 17, 2014 with Dr. Parker at Parker Plastic Surgery (http://www.parkerplasticsurgery.com/) in Athens, Georgia. He and his staff were great. My parents flew in from Texas to help me out post-op and spend the holidays with me.

Here are my before/after pics at 8 days. The drains just came out yesterday, and I still have gauze over the drain holes and nipples; just uncovered for the pictures. I am also wearing my compression vest. He wants it on me for 4 weeks total, I think.

[Bimmer Guy]

Hey, JayDawg, looking great!  Awesome Holiday present you gave to yourself!  Thanks for coming in and posting pictures and the link.

Does Dr. Parker have much experience doing FTM top surgery?  I don't see anything on his site about it.  How did you find him?

Please keep us updated with pictures and let us know how you are healing.  Glad you have your parents to help you out.

[JayDawg]

Does Dr. Parker have much experience doing FTM top surgery?  I don't see anything on his site about it.  How did you find him?

I was trying to find someone close to home to do my surgery. I found one example of Parker's top surgery on transbucket. I live in Athens, so his office was definitely convenient to me. At the free consultation, I was shown a little photo album of 10 or 12 other top surgeries he's done and they all looked good. I was really impressed with all of his before/after pics for all types of his surgeries - he has excellent aesthetics and symmetry in all of his work, and scarring was fantastic. He uses a quarter for nipple resizing, but I requested a nickel for mine, and I'm happy with the size. I think they will be perfect when healed.

I know one other person that had him for top surgery in October, and he is also happy with his chest. Dr. Parker would not at all mind doing more of these surgeries; I don't know why he doesn't have anything about them on his web site, but I suspect it's because he mostly caters to women and cosmetic surgery. My mom is actually considering using him for some facial work next year.

[Bimmer Guy]

I was trying to find someone close to home to do my surgery. I found one example of Parker's top surgery on transbucket. I live in Athens, so his office was definitely convenient to me. At the free consultation, I was shown a little photo album of 10 or 12 other top surgeries he's done and they all looked good. I was really impressed with all of his before/after pics for all types of his surgeries - he has excellent aesthetics and symmetry in all of his work, and scarring was fantastic. He uses a quarter for nipple resizing, but I requested a nickel for mine, and I'm happy with the size. I think they will be perfect when healed.

I know one other person that had him for top surgery in October, and he is also happy with his chest. Dr. Parker would not at all mind doing more of these surgeries; I don't know why he doesn't have anything about them on his web site, but I suspect it's because he mostly caters to women and cosmetic surgery. My mom is actually considering using him for some facial work next year.

JayDawg, thanks for telling us about another good source for top surgery. 

Unfortunately, I think the main reason why many surgeons don't post that they do this work is because they are worried that cis individuals would be turned off by it and they would lose business.  There are a ton of plastic surgeons out there to choose from so if a cis individuals sees something that turns them off, they can just click to the next plastic surgeon's website when perusing for a surgeon for their tummy tuck.

Dr. Fischer managed this by creating a separate website.  Before Garramone changed to top surgeries only, he had the same thing (I believe I am remember this correctly..don't think I am mixing him up with someone else).

No disrespect to your surgeon, this may not be the reason for it, just putting out my thoughts.

[Henri]

Hi everyone! It's been an insane amount of time since I've been here, but a lot of life has happened and it's been a great adventure. I recently got top surgery! My surgeon was Dr. Garramone, and I'm really happy with the results so far and had a great experience. I'm healing fairly well as far as I can tell.

I have some swelling on the left side (side with the shoulder tattoo) near the side which is fairly visible. I've been wearing the ace compression bandage as instructed and soon will be taking it off for good. The swelling on the left has been pretty consistent throughout healing and I'm guessing it will probably take months to disappear. Did most of you have swelling of this sort even after you no longer had to wear the ace bandage (or other sort of compression) and it went away with time? I'm very eager to finally let my incisions breathe haha. Just wondering if this type of swelling is fairly normal to have for some months or so.

17 Days Post Op:

[Bimmer Guy]

Another fantastic Garramone chest!  Welcome to the Garramone clones!

It really looks great, man.  That small swelling on the side will for certain go down.  Swelling can actually take up to a year and I had some on my right side for about 6 months.  You really have a lot less swelling than I would think for only 17 days.

Congrats!

[Henri]

Hehe, I'm glad to join the ranks! :'D

Ah, that's good to know 'bout the swelling. Tomorrow is the day I finally get to stop wearing the post-op ace compression and I still have about the same amount of swelling. Good to know time is basically the only cure haha. So ready to be able to just wear a shirt and not have back pain from the compression!

Also, something interesting I noticed today while changing my nipple dressings, is that there were actually hairs growing on the nipples themselves. Has anyone else had this happen? Is it normal? I very carefully tried pulling at them to see if they came out, which they all did very easily, so I'm not sure if they're going to keep growing back? I thought the nipple grafts wouldn't have hair growing on them because of the type of skin (my nips didn't originally have hair follicles on them or anything).

[Bimmer Guy]

Hehe, I'm glad to join the ranks! :'D

Ah, that's good to know 'bout the swelling. Tomorrow is the day I finally get to stop wearing the post-op ace compression and I still have about the same amount of swelling. Good to know time is basically the only cure haha. So ready to be able to just wear a shirt and not have back pain from the compression!

Also, something interesting I noticed today while changing my nipple dressings, is that there were actually hairs growing on the nipples themselves. Has anyone else had this happen? Is it normal? I very carefully tried pulling at them to see if they came out, which they all did very easily, so I'm not sure if they're going to keep growing back? I thought the nipple grafts wouldn't have hair growing on them because of the type of skin (my nips didn't originally have hair follicles on them or anything).

Are you sure the "hairs" aren't pieces of thread?  That is common for a Garramone chest.  You are supposed to clip them off as they come out, don't pull if there is any resistance.

My one nipple (not the areola, the actual nipple), had like 9-11 coming out at once.  It was an interesting picture to take from the side, seeing all these little "hair like" threads sticking straight out.

[aleon515]

I agree, looks like threads to me. DO NOT pull.
And welcome to the clone army. You look great.

--Jay

Are you sure the "hairs" aren't pieces of thread?  That is common for a Garramone chest.  You are supposed to clip them off as they come out, don't pull if there is any resistance.

My one nipple (not the areola, the actual nipple), had like 9-11 coming out at once.  It was an interesting picture to take from the side, seeing all these little "hair like" threads sticking straight out.

[amd]

Congrats, JayDawg and Henri!  You both got great results.



I put this in another thread, but here's my healing update. Picture is my chest at 17 weeks postop after DI with Garramone. I may get a revision for the little bulge of tissue under my right armpit, not sure yet

I have had total scar care ADHD so I don't really know what has helped and what hasn't. Right now I am annoyed with the little buggers because they seem to be doing whatever they want (including a couple hypertrophic patches and really widening under myleft armpit where I had a couple internal sutures poke through).