Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I've been referred for top surgery via my GIC and apparently the surgeon has a different method of doing things, I always assumed I would be getting DI - I don't know what this new method is called, it seems like a cross between DI and peri.

It's a two stage surgery, the first step involving just one incision on the pec line - and I'm fuzzy on the details here, but apparently he will also cut around the nipple and leave it on a stalk, so they don't lose any sensation or whatever. Then as much tissue and skin as possible is removed without damaging the nipple stalk, and the incision is sewn up.

After this you're still left with moobs, just much smaller ones, for 6 months while everything heals up. Then the second stage is just liposuction to get rid of the rest.

I'm not sure how I feel about this method, on the surface less scars and completely in tact nipples sounds great but I can't get my head around how it actually works....it just doesn't make any sense to me. I feel like I'm gonna be left with saggy skin and weirdly placed nipples.

Plus having surgery and then still having moobs for the next 6 months is like, blaaarg, I'd love to just get it over and done with.

Congratulations on the referral.

Unless NHS referrals have changed, you have a choice over which surgeon you go to, so investigate your options and make a choice. Don't let the clinic choose for you.

I think this is the same surgeon as one of the options I was given and I decided not to go for it because I didn't want to go through two operations when I could just do one, simple. It's a lot to put your body through and knowing now that I've had serious complications after both surgeries I had (chest and hysto), I am so, so glad I didn't do a two-stage.

That said, it could be the right option for you, you just need to think it through and see what other choices you have.

Quote from: Jeatyn on February 26, 2013, 05:06:06 AM

Plus having surgery and then still having moobs for the next 6 months is like, blaaarg, I'd love to just get it over and done with.

1000 times this.

a surgeon here in aus charges twice for it too lol. ($14000~)

I couldn't get excited about a two step procedure. Yikes.

--Jay

Have you found any examples of this surgeon's work and results through the healing stages? Of course, not everyone's body is the same and there will always be differences in healing, but it might give you a better idea of what'll happen to you if you see a selection of results.

Honestly, even with funding, you should go with what type of procedure you feel will work best with you. One stage of surgery is rough enough as it is, do you think you'll be okay going through a two stage procedure for this?

Quote from: Zerro on February 26, 2013, 04:03:46 PM
Have you found any examples of this surgeon's work and results through the healing stages? Of course, not everyone's body is the same and there will always be differences in healing, but it might give you a better idea of what'll happen to you if you see a selection of results.

Honestly, even with funding, you should go with what type of procedure you feel will work best with you. One stage of surgery is rough enough as it is, do you think you'll be okay going through a two stage procedure for this?

Agreed.  I would go with your gut feeling on this, Jeatyn.  Also factor in since it's going to be two surgeries, that's increased travel time, lodging etc. if applicable.

If it were me, I would try to get it all done in one go, but it's your call.

There's a way to do this in a one step procedure. 

Glad to know I'm not just being picky about the two stage thing if a lot of you would be iffy about it aswell. Especially considering I was willing to go for the nipple-less option when it came to getting DI if it would reduce recovery time :P going for two stages just for in tact nipples when I don't care either way seems silly. My health also isn't great in general, I can't see myself recovering particularly quickly from top surgery.

However, a massive factor for me is time - 10 months is the average waiting time for this guy which is AMAZING to me on the NHS. I waited longer than that to get seen for my slipped disk :D The last surgeon I was looking at when I lived elsewhere was more like 3 years plus. He's also local, only around an hour away.

if you're waiting 10 months anyways you could just do something to find a way to pay for it privately, even if it took a bit longer - it probably wouldn't take 3 years.

I dunno your situation though, obviously.