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

[RaptorChops]

I can finally join this forum! This is my chest 1 week 1 day post op by the amazing Dr. Garramone. I'm pretty happy with it. Both nipples look pretty good. One question though, how soon should the outer layer start coming off? When I changed the bandages on them this morning my right nipple seemed to pull up a little on the bottom. Should   I be worried? Thanks in advance.

Grats on your surgery. Your nipples will peel and bleed but they will eventually fill in wherever they peel. Just continue to put neosporin and the Xerofoam on them. They can take up to 3 weeks and maybe even longer to actually heal. Mine are still in the process of healing and i'm at a little over 6 weeks post op. Obviously don't pick or pull at it, let it do it's thang

[AndrewB]

After seeing my results, all I have to say is: if you're considering Dr. Jennifer Murphy at the Sunnyside Medical Center in Oregon, go for it! Here's 1 week post-op with very little swelling or bruising, and awesome aesthetics. See for yourself!


I don't know which stitches are dissolvable, but I am going in to remove at least some sutures, somewhere, next Tuesday. Until then, it's business as usual. 

Edit: modified post to detail surgeon & location.

[RaptorChops]

Andrew- THERE ARE THE NIPS YEAH SON!!!!! It looks really good and hey soon you'll be able to get rid of that binder tan . My sutures were like clear plastic and all I did was cut it close to the skin. I still have a few that the nurse didn't take out but I'm leaving them alone and letting them do their thing. I'll tug them out if they start to bother me.

[AndrewB]

Andrew- THERE ARE THE NIPS YEAH SON!!!!! It looks really good and hey soon you'll be able to get rid of that binder tan . My sutures were like clear plastic and all I did was cut it close to the skin. I still have a few that the nurse didn't take out but I'm leaving them alone and letting them do their thing. I'll tug them out if they start to bother me.

Yes!! Everything looks awesome; I was a little worried, not going to one of the popular surgeons, but I don't think I could be any happier with what I got. Her methods seem a bit different than what I've seen from a lot of guys on here, but it worked out just as well, I'd say. 

[Bimmer Guy]

Andrew, I think your chest looks excellent.  I think you are right that even if she hasn't done a lot of these surgeries, she did a very good job.  You should modify your post to give her full name and location. I suspect people scan through this thread looking mainly for pictures and names of docs who did the surgeries.

It looks like the usual double incision method.  What did she do differently from other surgeons?

[AndrewB]

Andrew, I think your chest looks excellent.  I think you are right that even if he hasn't done a lot of these surgeries, he did a very good job.  You should modify your post to give his full name and location. I suspect people scan through this thread looking mainly for pictures and names of docs who did the surgeries.

It looks like the usual double incision method.  What did he do differently from other surgeons?

Edited based on your suggestion.  She actually has done quite a few top surgeries, but there's just not a lot of results of hers online, probably because she's not private practice, she's an in-network provider specifically for Kaiser Permanente Insurance.

It wasn't so much her surgery methods that were different, but more stuff in the postoperative. For example, she stitched bolster dressings to the nipples grafts, which I don't think I've seen a lot with guys on here, but maybe I'm just blind and forgetful.  aside from that, it's mostly just care, use of non-disolving sutures on some of the incisions (I'm not sure if all or just some), and the solid areola and nipple grafts; I've seen some surgeons take the areola and graft separately, but mine was just one solid piece, she just cut down the outer areola.

[Alexthecat]

I've seen some surgeons take the areola and graft separately, but mine was just one solid piece, she just cut down the outer areola.

That depends on how big it is to start with. If the nipple is huge then it needs to be separated from the areola so it turns male.

[Bimmer Guy]

Edited based on your suggestion.  She actually has done quite a few top surgeries, but there's just not a lot of results of hers online, probably because she's not private practice, she's an in-network provider specifically for Kaiser Permanente Insurance.

It wasn't so much her surgery methods that were different, but more stuff in the postoperative. For example, she stitched bolster dressings to the nipples grafts, which I don't think I've seen a lot with guys on here, but maybe I'm just blind and forgetful.  aside from that, it's mostly just care, use of non-disolving sutures on some of the incisions (I'm not sure if all or just some), and the solid areola and nipple grafts; I've seen some surgeons take the areola and graft separately, but mine was just one solid piece, she just cut down the outer areola.

Hi, Andrew.  First of all, shame on me for making assumptions that your surgeon was male (I went back and modified my post).

There are definitely surgeons who use bolster dressings and it makes sense to me that a surgeon would take the areola/nipple together if the size makes sense.  I haven't heard of other surgeons doing that, but it certainly makes sense if it can be done.

I guess when I say "many of these surgeries", I mean 40<.  That is just in my head, though.  You might want to put a picture on transbucket for other guys to see for her to get some exposure.  Can I ask if you had a large chest prior to surgery?

It is great that you mentioned Kaiser Permanente insurance.  I think it is good to mention if we were able to get our top surgeries covered by insurance and which one.

Incidentally, I am 95% positive Curtis Crane is in-network for KP (plus United Health care and CA medicaid).  So, if you want bottom surgery at any point, get it before your insurance changes.  I am assuming you are on your parents insurance and can keep that until age 26?  I just wanted to highlight that for you. 

Again, congrats!  You look great!

[AndrewB]

Hi, Andrew.  First of all, shame on me for making assumptions that your surgeon was male (I went back and modified my post).

There are definitely surgeons who use bolster dressings and it makes sense to me that a surgeon would take the areola/nipple together if the size makes sense.  I haven't heard of other surgeons doing that, but it certainly makes sense if it can be done.

I guess when I say "many of these surgeries", I mean 40<.  That is just in my head, though.  You might want to put a picture on transbucket for other guys to see for her to get some exposure.  Can I ask if you had a large chest prior to surgery?

It is great that you mentioned Kaiser Permanente insurance.  I think it is good to mention if we were able to get our top surgeries covered by insurance and which one.

Incidentally, I am 95% positive Curtis Crane is in-network for KP (plus United Health care and CA medicaid).  So, if you want bottom surgery at any point, get it before your insurance changes.  I am assuming you are on your parents insurance and can keep that until age 26?  I just wanted to highlight that for you. 

Again, congrats!  You look great!

Hi Bimmer, before surgery I think my surgeon measured me at around 36C, but they hung pretty sad and low, mostly due to losing 35 lbs before my surgery; at some point I was a 42D. Binding didn't help, but I think the weight loss was the main culprit.

Also, while if I were in CA that might be the case for Crane, I think because I'm in Oregon that it might not. Either way, I'm not really interested in current technology, and I'm fairly young, so I'll probably just hang around a while to see if they start growing genitalia for us on rats or something (wouldn't that be bizarre?  ).

Thanks again, I was going to take a pic this morning before I showered and post on transbucket, I just had to wait for my drain holes to heal a little, per nurse's orders.

[FTMax]

Andrew! Looking great dude, and glad to hear that you've had a good experience and are happy with everything. Your whole experience with Kaiser seems to have gone very well. Do you know what specific plan you're on?

[AndrewB]

Andrew! Looking great dude, and glad to hear that you've had a good experience and are happy with everything. Your whole experience with Kaiser seems to have gone very well. Do you know what specific plan you're on?

Thanks Max! Unfortunately I'm not sure what plan I'm on, since it's through my dad. He works at Intel, but that's all I really have that might narrow it down. I do know that covering trans surgeries is an option for larger companies now, and Intel decided at the start of the year that they would include it. I wish I had more info, maybe I'll ask my mom tonight.

[genderirrelevant]

I had my top surgery this morning with Dr Tony Mangubat in Tukwila (Seattle area).. Feeling like I'm doing okay. Had a peek already when changing the dressing. The drains are just short 'straws' coming out near the middle with no blood grenades.

I'm going to take my oxycodone, do another dressing change and head to bed. I haven't slept all day after the anaesthetic wore off.

[RaptorChops]

So I'm almost 2 months post op and the only thing that's really bothering me are sutures that are randomly showing up. The main one that hurts is under my right arm pit where the drain was. It stings and burns when I do too much and I can feel it when I graze my fingers over it. I had two on both sides of the middle of my chest which I was able to cut a bit near my skin but they are both still slightly irritating.

Anyone have any solutions? I don't see my doctor until Octoberish and I can't cut or pull the one out that's bothering me. It's turned into a bump almost..ughh it's bugging me lol. Maybe I should just try and put a bandage on it or something. It's just hard to get anything to stick there because of sweat and deodorant.

[AndrewB]

I remember on one of the surgeon's recovery websites, they said don't pull sutures but instead cover them with neosporin and a band-aid until they dissolve. Other than that, I'm too early into recovery to have any real suggestions, but at least a band-aid would keep it from rubbing against clothing, skin, etc.

[Bimmer Guy]

So I'm almost 2 months post op and the only thing that's really bothering me are sutures that are randomly showing up. The main one that hurts is under my right arm pit where the drain was. It stings and burns when I do too much and I can feel it when I graze my fingers over it. I had two on both sides of the middle of my chest which I was able to cut a bit near my skin but they are both still slightly irritating.

Anyone have any solutions? I don't see my doctor until Octoberish and I can't cut or pull the one out that's bothering me. It's turned into a bump almost..ughh it's bugging me lol. Maybe I should just try and put a bandage on it or something. It's just hard to get anything to stick there because of sweat and deodorant.

I would:
1) take a picture of it and send it in email to the doctor.  call the office to let them know you sent it
2) call the office and describe it and ask what to do
3) put anti-biotic ointment on it and slap on a band aid.

[Dante]

@RaptorChops - I agree that putting a bandaid on it would be a good idea, to at least keep it from snagging or rubbing on things.

I had my one month post-op appointment last week, everything seems to be fine but I was told I have to wear the binder for two more weeks, which was a little disappointing. My left side is still pretty swollen--with the binder on it looks only a tiny bit smaller than it did before, and I'm really self-conscious about it, even though I don't think it's that noticeable unless my shirt is pressed quite close to me. But it is often windy where I live, so that's a fairly common occurrence, and it's bothering me quite a bit. 

Anybody have any advice on coping with the swelling? I know it's pretty much a sit a wait type of affair but I want to feel comfortable before I have to go back to school next week.

[FTMax]

RaptorChops - Ointment and a bandaid for a few days, send a picture to Fischer in the meantime and see what her ladies say. They may tell you to clip it yourself. That is what I ended up doing with two of them.

Dante - I had very minimal swelling, but if you can stand wearing a compression vest or shirt, they should help. An ice pack on the worst spots may also make you feel a bit better.

[RaptorChops]

Thanks Max i'm gonna keep doing that on the area instead of keeping the Scar Away on it until it clears up. Unfortunately the suture is barely poking out and I can't cut it. If it keeps bothering me in a week i'll send Dr.Fischer a photo and see what she or her nurses say.

[genderirrelevant]

6 days of recovery seem to going well so far. My energy is pretty good, I've walked ~7K today in short stints. I'm having a lot of drowsiness and maybe more trouble than usual focussing. I stopped the oxycodone so I hope that mental sharpness improves soon. TMI but the constipation is going away with no problems.

The chest looks great under the marker lines and gore. It feels right. I'm finally content with something I see in the mirror. I can hardly wait until the swelling goes down and I don't have to wear the binder anymore.

[Majikbrat]

Hi guys.  I am a cis-female Mum of a 17 yo FTM.  He is still early in the process and on track to getting HRT.  YAY!

I promise not to gunk up your thread with a bunch of posts from me.  I KNOW and respect that this is YOUR thread.  But I had to say a few things to you.

First may I say, you guys are amazing.  So funny, and compassionate with each other.  And you are all badass.  You look amazing.

Second, you have helped me more than you can ever know.  I was terrified about my son taking this step, because my mother had a radical double mastectomy 15 years ago and she looked a hot mess.  It was awful.  I was so scared for my boy.  Then I read every post in this thread, over the course of 3 days, and I feel so so much better.  The two surgerys are completely different things.  I knew that in my head, but now I know it in my heart also.  Thank you.

The third is a funny.  Buy about page 10 I had completely forgotten you were all misgendered at birth.  You were just guys to me.  Guys having plastic surgery, but just guys.  Then I hit a post near the end by one of you that had a hysterectomy at the same time as top surgery.  My brain went "Wait, what?  Why is a guy having a hysterectomy?"  then of course the "Duh!" moment. This was with seeing all of your pics, even some before pics.  So if you worry if you pass, don't.  Not a single one of you made my brain think "female".

Thanks,

Majik

PS  I will now leave the thread to you guys.  But I bookmarked so I could share it with my son when it is time.