Top surgery Scars

[haeden]

I've seen some guys that have basically no scars (Laith Ashley blows my mind) is it because they had a smaller chest so the scars would be smaller or is it something they do after?
I just watched a video with Laith and he said he used silicon strips but he really didn't go too deep into how he treated his scars.
I will hopefully be able to get my surgery in August but I am really concerned about scars especially since I'm black and we heal differently. So does anyone have any tips on what they did? Blacks will use coco butter for pretty much anything but is if safe to use after surgery?

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[invisiblemonsters]

silicone strips or silicone gel works wonders because it allows the skin to "breathe" and results in flatter/softer scars. allowing the skin to be hydrated allows it to heal better, which is what silicone does. that's why it is better to use silicone then something like an oil, which dries out your skin. which is why you will see people tell you not to use vitamin e oil or bio oil. even massaging your skin with lotion works wonders. the massaging you do with lotion, or a silicone gel (i used kelocote) helps the scars. it helps them from being raised (hypertrophic scars). you can't use that stuff, not even lotion right after surgery. you would have to wait until your scars closes/is healed/stitches gone (in about a month) to be able to use it.

[Laura_7]

This could help you:
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,189332.msg1698168.html#msg1698168

There are silicone products which need to be applied to the skin for weeks, a few hours a day.

And concerning pigmentation there are medical tatoo specialists.
http://drchristinemcginn.com/services/tattoo.php
There is an FTM example included.

Just talk it all through with your doc.


*hugs*

[unclesean]

Best site I've seen on scar prevention and treatment is http://transguys.com/features/scar-care .

Silicone is the one and only treatment that has any evidence supporting it. 


In the "top surgery recovery updates" thread here and on transbucket you'll see how guys' scars fade over time. 

The good news is that healing can happen really fast.  I had my chest reconstruction two months ago and already the scars are really thin and easily disappear with sunscreen on them.  A friend had surgery just over a year ago, and his scars are barely visible now. 

Just like with response to HRT, genetics plays a big role.  As you are aware, people with darker skin pigmentation have a greater risk of keloids.  I don't think there's any way to know in advance how you'll do unless you have had other scars to compare. 

What you can control, within your budget, is who your surgeon is and your general health, not smoking or drinking or doing other things that mess up circulation or dry out skin. 

Good luck, and if you're anything like me, the surgery is more than worth any scars that result.  Sitting here with no shirt on enjoying the breeze with not a single regret.  Hope yours goes just as well. 

[invisiblemonsters]

Best site I've seen on scar prevention and treatment is http://transguys.com/features/scar-care .

Silicone is the one and only treatment that has any evidence supporting it. 


In the "top surgery recovery updates" thread here and on transbucket you'll see how guys' scars fade over time. 

The good news is that healing can happen really fast.  I had my chest reconstruction two months ago and already the scars are really thin and easily disappear with sunscreen on them.  A friend had surgery just over a year ago, and his scars are barely visible now. 

Just like with response to HRT, genetics plays a big role.  As you are aware, people with darker skin pigmentation have a greater risk of keloids.  I don't think there's any way to know in advance how you'll do unless you have had other scars to compare. 

What you can control, within your budget, is who your surgeon is and your general health, not smoking or drinking or doing other things that mess up circulation or dry out skin. 

Good luck, and if you're anything like me, the surgery is more than worth any scars that result.  Sitting here with no shirt on enjoying the breeze with not a single regret.  Hope yours goes just as well.

that is why i suggest kelocote. it is for people who have hypertrophic scars/keloids. it worked wonders for me when some of my scars were becoming hypertrophic. i know others who have used it and will back up how great it is. not only that, but it is a gel so you add a thin layer and then you can just put your shirt on unlike with the strips where it can peel off, etc.

[FTMax]

Silicone products are good for scars, whether in gel form or strip form. I used cocoa butter and then coconut oil on mine, and then some scar strips that I got as a gift. It was too much of a chore for me, and I don't really care about aesthetics so I stopped.

The lady doing my electrolysis for phalloplasty told me there's some kind of acid that can be used to flatten out keloids. Apparently that's what she used for her C-section scar. I'm not sure what exactly it was. There's also the option to have them surgically fixed. I think my surgeon mentioned that there was some kind of injection you could use on keloids to breakdown the tissue, but again, I'm not entirely sure as it didn't matter to me.

[Laura_7]

The lady doing my electrolysis for phalloplasty told me there's some kind of acid that can be used to flatten out keloids. Apparently that's what she used for her C-section scar. I'm not sure what exactly it was. There's also the option to have them surgically fixed. I think my surgeon mentioned that there was some kind of injection you could use on keloids to breakdown the tissue, but again, I'm not entirely sure as it didn't matter to me.

Well thats usually something that can be done later. There is also laser treatment.
If scars are tended to right from the beginning imo there is a good chance for a much better result.


*hugs*

[DarkWolf_7]

I've seen some guys that have basically no scars (Laith Ashley blows my mind) is it because they had a smaller chest so the scars would be smaller or is it something they do after?

Keyhole and peri pretty much leave no scars and DI will fade to not really noticeable over long period of time.

[haeden]

Thanks everyone this is great info! I'll check out these links for sure. I just got a transbucket account to check out Dr. Medalie (he did Laith Ashley) and all of them look good. I'm thinking about going to him now and not my original choice of Dr. James Parker. Parker's results just aren't as good and I can't remember what all the pictures look like. I really wish he would put stuff up online.
Anyway it's the keloids that scare me. I don't mind having a small scar but having a huge keloid go across my chest is too much for me. Of course the surgery out weighs the scars but I'd really love not to have huge scars and with Medalie even guys that DD -DDD had small scars or they weren't even visible in the picture.
I'd have to of course speak with my mom about this all because Medalie is in Cleveland and I'd need a letter for him where as Parker is here in Georgia and I don't need a letter.

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[haeden]

Do you guys think it is too soon to stock up on this gel and to be sure coco butter can't be used until much later? So this is kind of like how a tattoo heals? Keep it moisturized and clean and massage it(not with tats but still)

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[invisiblemonsters]

Do you guys think it is too soon to stock up on this gel and to be sure coco butter can't be used until much later? So this is kind of like how a tattoo heals? Keep it moisturized and clean and massage it(not with tats but still)

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for me, i had to order the gel because they didn't have it on the shelf. it's about $40 a tube. the tube is small, but it lasts you a long time because you are only suppose to use it once a day and use only enough for a thin layer. so if you wanna stock up, you can but if not and they don't have it in stores like mine didn't, you'd have to buy it before it ran out for you.

[FTMax]

It is pretty expensive stuff, so if you're committed to using it, I would definitely start buying it now as you can afford it.

Also, I can't remember how you're planning to pay for surgery, but I don't think Medalie takes insurance anymore if that is a consideration for you.

[haeden]

for me, i had to order the gel because they didn't have it on the shelf. it's about $40 a tube. the tube is small, but it lasts you a long time because you are only suppose to use it once a day and use only enough for a thin layer. so if you wanna stock up, you can but if not and they don't have it in stores like mine didn't, you'd have to buy it before it ran out for you.

40 bucks?! Dang! Yeah that will have to happen after I buy my swim binder. I'm pretty low on cash since I'm saving for this surgery. Would you recommend the gel over the strips?

Also, I can't remember how you're planning to pay for surgery, but I don't think Medalie takes insurance anymore if that is a consideration for you.

I was paying out of pocket for it since the surgeons here don't accept insurance and I don't have insurance anymore.  He doesn't accept it anymore according to his website. His site says between 6500 and 7500. I'm already saving for 6500 so if I go with him I would just need to add a little more for travel and a therapist to get the letter.
You used Graham right? Did his letter get you t and everything else too? Since I'm doing top surgery first but think later I'll want to start t I was wondering if I'd need a separate letter


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[yaka]

The only 2 things that work for flattening scars are micropore paper tape and silicone gel (kelo-cote is the best) or strips.

The tape is only about $2 a roll. The gel is about $30-40 for a small tube (lasts a long time though). It's more convenient to use than the strips, which don't really stick on as well sometimes. Also you can use silicone personal lubricant (yes the sex kind) which is probably cheaper.

Have you had keloids before?

[Alexthecat]

I was paying out of pocket for it since the surgeons here don't accept insurance and I don't have insurance anymore.  He doesn't accept it anymore according to his website. His site says between 6500 and 7500. I'm already saving for 6500 so if I go with him I would just need to add a little more for travel and a therapist to get the letter.
You used Graham right? Did his letter get you t and everything else too? Since I'm doing top surgery first but think later I'll want to start t I was wondering if I'd need a separate letter

Graham's letters are very informational. I don't think an endo could receive a better letter. His letter was accepted with my endo even though it was over two years old. I think it would depend on your endo and what their process is. For example I told my endo I had top surgery he basically came out and said that I was already half way transitioned might as well keep going.

I had to fax my letter before the endo would even see me so you could always do that first before you go trying to get another one.

[haeden]

Graham's letters are very informational. I don't think an endo could receive a better letter. His letter was accepted with my endo even though it was over two years old. I think it would depend on your endo and what their process is. For example I told my endo I had top surgery he basically came out and said that I was already half way transitioned might as well keep going.

I had to fax my letter before the endo would even see me so you could always do that first before you go trying to get another one.

Yeah I kind of figured the same I mean I have top surgery so I don't think this is just a phase or whatever excuse you can come up with lol .
Right now I don't think I want anymore than top surgery but I feel like once I get the surgery I'm going to want more and that the dysphoria of my chest is preventing me from experiencing any other dysphoria. I do know I want a hysterectomy but that's because of painful cyst and hating my period so I'll probably try the depo shot first since its way cheaper I just hope it doesn't mess with my lupus

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[invisiblemonsters]

The only 2 things that work for flattening scars are micropore paper tape and silicone gel (kelo-cote is the best) or strips.

The tape is only about $2 a roll. The gel is about $30-40 for a small tube (lasts a long time though). It's more convenient to use than the strips, which don't really stick on as well sometimes. Also you can use silicone personal lubricant (yes the sex kind) which is probably cheaper.

Have you had keloids before?

i heard the "personal lubricant" isn't good because it isn't pure silicone and i think the other stuff they add too?

as for your quesiton haeden, i tried strips from other products besides kelo-cote because others recommended strips but they didn't stick on and if they did, it wasn't for long. i have a physically demanding job and couldn't deal with them coming off all the time. so, i went for gel. much easier to use.

[FTMax]

Also, I can't remember how you're planning to pay for surgery, but I don't think Medalie takes insurance anymore if that is a consideration for you.

I was paying out of pocket for it since the surgeons here don't accept insurance and I don't have insurance anymore.  He doesn't accept it anymore according to his website. His site says between 6500 and 7500. I'm already saving for 6500 so if I go with him I would just need to add a little more for travel and a therapist to get the letter.
You used Graham right? Did his letter get you t and everything else too? Since I'm doing top surgery first but think later I'll want to start t I was wondering if I'd need a separate letter

I didn't need a letter to start T, just for top surgery. You would need a separate letter for both with most places, since the providers will be different. But you may get lucky if you tell them you've already had top surgery.

[haeden]

I didn't need a letter to start T, just for top surgery. You would need a separate letter for both with most places, since the providers will be different. But you may get lucky if you tell them you've already had top surgery.

Really you didn't need a letter? That's cool how did that happen? Hmm well if I have to get two letters hopefully it won't be too bad and hopefully I'll have insurance that will at least cover the doctor visits for it

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[unclesean]

i heard the "personal lubricant" isn't good because it isn't pure silicone and i think the other stuff they add too?

as for your quesiton haeden, i tried strips from other products besides kelo-cote because others recommended strips but they didn't stick on and if they did, it wasn't for long. i have a physically demanding job and couldn't deal with them coming off all the time. so, i went for gel. much easier to use.

Agree, get the Kelo-Cote gel or something similar that is meant for this purpose.  Pretty sure that the way it seals up is part of what helps the healing process, not just slathering silicone on the skin.

The strips (Mepiform by Molnlycke, in my case) were fine but fell off all the time, and when you're spending that much money on them, you don't want to be hunting around for them on the floor or rinsing them off after they fall in the dirt.   

On eBay I found a 60oz (?) tube of KeloCote that will last several months for about 75% of the regular price in drugstores or Amazon. 

The only trick to the gel is that when they say "put a very thin layer on", they mean VERY thin.  If you don't spread it thin enough you'll have to wait a long time to get dressed while the sticky stuff dries.  If you do it right though it's only a couple minutes.  Just put the gel on when you first get out of the shower and by the time you have done a few other things your gel is dry and you're good to go.