Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi,  10 days ago I had chondrolaryngoplasty with Kaiser.   All is going well, according to the surgeon.  Very slight soreness when swallowing, voice sort of comes and goes but at times it sounds normal.  The concern I have is that the area where I had a relatively small, vertically sharp protrusion removed now looks like a large adam's apple.  It feels like the incision scar is stuck to the tissue underneath.  Surgeon said to massage it vigorously as often as possible, and wait a while.  I searched around the web and could not find reports of this with other people-- am I worrying for nothing?

Is there any chance whatever this swelling or subcutaneous scar tissue will not get smaller?  He also said there are internal sutures still dissolving...

Thank you.

I have read that adhesion can happen but I don't know about any other issues.
I don't recall having dissolving stitches, mine were on the outside and had to be remove about two weeks post surgery.
Massaging the site can be helpful to stimulate circulation and the healing is promoted doing that.

We had another member who had an adhesion after the same surgery and it didn't let lose. If it small, it might break lose with the massaging but if it doesn't, it may require surgery to break it lose. The discussion takes place on several threads but  the fix is discussed here (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,208389.msg1969788.html#msg1969788).

Quote from: JaneEstelle on June 30, 2017, 10:01:02 PM
I have read that adhesion can happen but I don't know about any other issues.
I don't recall having dissolving stitches, mine were on the outside and had to be remove about two weeks post surgery.
Massaging the site can be helpful to stimulate circulation and the healing is promoted doing that.

Thanks!  I had the sutures removed today (the external ones)  but he said there were also internal.

Quote from: Dena on June 30, 2017, 10:13:52 PM
We had another member who had an adhesion after the same surgery and it didn't let lose. If it small, it might break lose with the massaging but if it doesn't, it may require surgery to break it lose. The discussion takes place on several threads but  the fix is discussed here (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,208389.msg1969788.html#msg1969788).

Thanks!  Alas, the link says "no longer exist or is off limits to you"

Quote from: Wendy Lynn on June 30, 2017, 10:24:14 PM
Thanks!  Alas, the link says "no longer exist or is off limits to you"

Dirty word, you are correct. One of the problems being a moderator is you get access to the deleted bin. The OP removed the thread and while I can see it, you can't. A summery is the poster is located in the UK and had the problem fixed at Charing Cross. The second surgery involved correcting the problem and then reducing the scar from the first surgery as much as possible.

Thank you.  I found one other person who eventually made hers go away.  I"m not even 100% sure it IS an adhesion now that I play with it more.  The skin does move around independently, but only a little, just under the scar.  There's a lump under the scar and the scar appears to be stuck to that.  Hmmm.

As I recall, the problem the OP in the other thread had was the adhesion was so bad that it kept her from raising her larynx when she used a feminine voice. I don't remember much about how my surgery felt because I was a little nervous about handling it in the early stages. Mine healed without any issues so this is something I have little first hand experience with.

Quote from: Wendy Lynn on June 30, 2017, 09:27:32 PM
Hi,  10 days ago I had chondrolaryngoplasty with Kaiser.   All is going well, according to the surgeon.  Very slight soreness when swallowing, voice sort of comes and goes but at times it sounds normal.  The concern I have is that the area where I had a relatively small, vertically sharp protrusion removed now looks like a large adam's apple.  It feels like the incision scar is stuck to the tissue underneath.  Surgeon said to massage it vigorously as often as possible, and wait a while.  I searched around the web and could not find reports of this with other people-- am I worrying for nothing?

Is there any chance whatever this swelling or subcutaneous scar tissue will not get smaller?  He also said there are internal sutures still dissolving...

Thank you.

You might download a Kindle copy of Dr. Ousterhout's book.  This is what he wrote on the older method (anterior neck approach).

" The Anterior Neck Approach

With the anterior (or front) neck approcach, the surgeon approaches the Adam's apple through a transverse or horizontal incision over the top of the thyroid cartilage. Once exposed, the cartilage is reduced to an acceptable shape. The skin is then sutured or stitched closed. The anterior neck approach generally works well, yet it almost always leaves a telltale, front neck scar. (See Figure 11-2.) Unfortunately, the scar often attaches to the underlying cartilage. When this occurs, it can become even more pronounced with every swallow. How so? In the normal course of swallowing, the entire tracheal mechanism moves upward under the epiglottis, a thin elastic lid that closes over the windpipe to prevent food or liquid from entering. During that action, the scar is pulled upward under the skin, drawing attention to it. Many plastic surgeons, including me, were initially trained in the anterior neck approach. But the scarring issues prompted me in the mid-1990s to look for another, less conspicuous way to expose the tissue. The submental approach provided a very doable solution."

He then continues to describe a different way of doing the surgery that eliminates the issue with the scarring under the skin - - which is what I think you are describing.

Hopefully,  the massaging will allow the scar tissue to break down. 

Hi Wendy Lynn,
found your discussion here, as I am looking for the information about same condition as you wrote it here. I just had my Tracheal shave about 10 days ago. And somehow the Adam's apple looks even bigger then before surgery now. And the skin stuck and its awful to see at the mirror when I swallowing.

I wondering if your condition is better now, do you found any solution for it or its just get lose within the time?

Your answer, your information and your share is very appreciate. Thank you!

:)

Hello to all,

I also just had my trache shave about one month ago. My surgeon put the incision about 1 & 1/2 inches above my trache. There is a soft lump that is slowly going down right under the incision. I too, was advised to massage the lump in order to make it go away sooner.

Quote from: Dani on November 15, 2017, 04:59:46 PM
Hello to all,

I also just had my trache shave about one month ago. My surgeon put the incision about 1 & 1/2 inches above my trache. There is a soft lump that is slowly going down right under the incision. I too, was advised to massage the lump in order to make it go away sooner.

That sounds like it would sting a lot I hope I don't have to do that. :/

Quote from: Ellement_of_Freedom on November 15, 2017, 05:54:18 PM
That sounds like it would sting a lot I hope I don't have to do that. :/

No not at all. The little lump is actually painless and it is getting smaller every day. Just give it a month or so and keep massaging the lump. It will eventually go away.  :-*