Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transsexual talk => Female to male transsexual talk (FTM) => Topic started by: Snowdoggy on June 24, 2008, 02:13:13 PM

Title: Pie Wedge chest surgery
Post by: Snowdoggy on June 24, 2008, 02:13:13 PM
Does anyone have any info on the pie wedge technique (think is the correct term) other than that it is not desirable by most ftms as the scarring looks obviously breast related. I went to see my surgeon regarding my upcoming chest surgery and the way he described what technique he is going to use sounds like the pie wedge. Has anyone else any of you know or any of you had this technique? I have seen some photos of someone else who was operated on by this same surgeon and the results look really good but it looks like he used the double incision method on them. The scarring was underneath each side of his chest whereas from what my surgeon described he will be cutting from each nipple across to under each armpit.

I am not very large and from what I have managed to find on this method it tends to be used on ftms who are not small enough to have keyhole but are medium sized and double incision for the larger end of it.

Any info or links to any sites with some photos would be greatly appreciated as I can't seem to find any photos of results after this method has been used.

One other thing I would like to know is if I am not happy with the pie wedge option do I have the right to ask him to use the double incision method or am I bound by his professional opinion on the best option for me?
Title: Re: Pie Wedge chest surgery
Post by: Nero on June 24, 2008, 02:15:33 PM
never heard of it. what technique is that?
Title: Re: Pie Wedge chest surgery
Post by: sneakersjay on June 24, 2008, 03:53:17 PM
I haven't heard of it either.  Of the two (so far) surgeons I'm considering, both do double incision or keyhole.  I'll likely have double incision.

Jay
Title: Re: Pie Wedge chest surgery
Post by: Dennis on June 24, 2008, 04:23:09 PM
Never heard of it either, but I have seen two guys with scars that go where you describe, nipple to armpit, and it looked really visible in both guys.

You're not bound by your doctor's opinion. You're the customer. If he doesn't want to do what you want, look around.

I'd clarify with him though, what he means. Has he done ftm chests before?

Dennis
Title: Re: Pie Wedge chest surgery
Post by: 4Sparky on June 24, 2008, 11:18:12 PM
I've heard of the "Inverted T" method - not sure if this is what you're talking about but sounds like it could be. I was unable to find much information about it, but here are a few of the websites that mentioned it.

http://www.ftmtransition.org/chestsurgery.htm
http://www.ftmguide.org/chest.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male_Chest_Reconstruction (I know we cant always trust wikipedia but hey, who knows)
http://www.ftmaustralia.org/pdf/chestsurgery.pdf

How this helps...

Posted on: June 24, 2008, 11:16:59 PM
Sorry...I was typing too quickly and not paying attention....HOPE it helps :-) Take care
Title: Re: Pie Wedge chest surgery
Post by: Jamie-o on June 25, 2008, 05:24:23 AM
I think I saw a couple pictures on Transter that were done that way.  As I recall, there's a guy in Chicago who usually uses that method.  But I may be confusing it with the T/Anchor method.  Seems to me I read somewhere that the pie wedge is often used in breast reduction surgeries for non-ftm women.
Title: Re: Pie Wedge chest surgery
Post by: Snowdoggy on June 25, 2008, 12:58:20 PM
Yes, from what I have read up it seems it is used on women who have had breast cancer also. Not very happy about having this method used as if I ever need to shirtless or even with a muscle shirt (the scars will be obvious even with a muscle shirt on because they go across and into the arm pits) the scars will look obviously breast related.

I have emailed my surgeon and my partner phoned the hospital today and they have told her that he will phone me to discuss my worries when he is not busy. Hope it is soon as they did tell me about a week ago that I may get in for my surgery as soon as 2 weeks from then and am getting very anxious that (a) he may refuse to do the op which means waiting a long time for a new surgeon or (b) if I insist on having the double incision he may not do a good job of it because of my objection to the method he wanted to use. Am I just being paranoid here? I was pretty scared about having the op before all this came out (never had any surgery before) but now It's all I can think about and it's wearing me out.