It'll vary based on surgeon. But speaking to my own experience, I had DI exactly a year ago today. I had a consult at the beginning of February last year, spoke to a nurse and the surgeon about what I was looking for, they gave me all the info and answered my questions. There was a very brief physical exam just to see what procedure would be best since I was borderline in size between peri and DI. I scheduled surgery before I left the consult and left with lab work orders and prescriptions. I had to go off T 2 weeks in advance of surgery.
You can't eat anything 10-12 hours before surgery. The day of surgery I got there an hour early and met with a nurse to sign off on paperwork. She gave me anti-anxiety and anti-nausea medicine that my surgeon requires. After she left the surgeon came in, gave me a gown to change into (I could leave underwear on), and marked my chest up. She went over the same things with me that the nurse did. Then the anesthesiologist came in and we talked. It was my first surgical procedure and I wasn't sure how I'd respond to anesthesia at all, so it was a short talk. She walked me back to the OR and helped me get comfortable on the table. They hooked the IV up and I was out within thirty seconds.
Woke up a little over 3 hours later in a recliner, very nauseous. They gave me an extra anti-nausea pill and some ginger ale. It took maybe 15 minutes for me to get myself together enough to stand up and walk out to the car. We stayed overnight at a hotel about a mile away from the surgeon's office. Some friends that live locally brought me dinner. My surgeon called around 7pm to check on me and see how everything was. I emptied my drains 3-5 times between getting to the hotel and leaving the next morning.
That morning we went back to the surgeon's office so she could take a quick peek and clear me to go home. It was a very quick visit. They reiterated that I should record how much I'm draining and to take my pain meds regularly for the first few days. Then I went home. Spent a week sleeping in a recliner in my living room. I didn't have any big issues being able to take care of myself. I went back to the surgeon's office a week post-op and had my drains removed. She told me to wear the surgical binder for the next three weeks, but it made my skin break out. I called at 2 weeks post-op and she told me I could stop wearing it entirely since I had never had much swelling.
And that was about it. So, a total of 4 visits to my surgeon's office (consult, operation, post-op check up, drain removal). Drains for a week, compression binder for up to 4 weeks. I went back to work as soon as my drains were out, but most guys need 2-4 weeks to feel good enough. No lifting or raising your arms up for a few weeks (varies by surgeon).
I think that's about it? Happy to answer any specific questions you have.
