Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transsexual talk => Female to male transsexual talk (FTM) => Topic started by: Arch on November 16, 2008, 11:29:27 PM

Title: Top surgery question
Post by: Arch on November 16, 2008, 11:29:27 PM
I understand that some surgeons will do top surgery without a nipple graft--that is, the nipple stays attached to the underlying tissue. This method supposedly tends to preserve sensation better than nipple graft surgery.

I'm interested in learning more about this non-grafting procedure, but I don't even know what it's called. Can anyone provide the name of this type of surgery? Also, do you know of any surgeons who perform it?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: Mister on November 16, 2008, 11:48:58 PM
The exact name of this surg eludes me at present time, but the nipple remains on a pedicle of tissue.  I can't think of anyone who does this offhand, but it's not really regarded as the surgery of choice anymore.  I think there's some size limitations on it, too.  Sorry this response is sub-par.

I am the proud owner of two grafted nipples, however.  If you have any questions about that end of things, let me know.
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: trannyboy on November 17, 2008, 01:47:58 AM
Free grafts aren't ideal, that is where the neuro-vascular bundle is severed, resized and reattached.

Pedicled grafts can be resized and relocated without severing the neuro-vascular bundle. If you want to retain your sensitivity and best success you want this option.

There are of course multiple options for incision, tissue removal and sculpting that you must choose as well. I personally gave up my nipples but look great in terms of shape and form. Not many people even notice the missing nipples. Once my bottom surgery is done I will have them rebuilt.

->-bleeped-<-boy
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: Mister on November 17, 2008, 11:51:26 AM
Quote from: ->-bleeped-<-boy link=topic=49061.msg305417#msg305417 date=1226908078
Free grafts aren't ideal, that is where the neuro-vascular bundle is severed, resized and reattached.


My nipples healed with minimal scarring.  I have about 85% of the sensitivity I had pre-op.  The only marked difference in my sensitivity is that sudden cold (i.e. hopping into a cold shower) now feels tingly instead of plain old cold.  Free grafts aren't so bad.
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: Mr. Fox on November 17, 2008, 12:01:00 PM
They do not move nipples during peri-areolar, but that is only used if you have very small breasts.  Sometimes nipples need do need resized for that one, if they are large.
Adrian
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: JonasCarminis on November 17, 2008, 08:27:49 PM
Quote from: ->-bleeped-<-boy link=topic=49061.msg305417#msg305417 date=1226908078
I personally gave up my nipples but look great in terms of shape and form. Not many people even notice the missing nipples. Once my bottom surgery is done I will have them rebuilt.

->-bleeped-<-boy

do you have a picture?  its hard to imagine what a nipple-less chest would look like.  lol  also, how do they rebuild them?
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: icontact on November 17, 2008, 09:46:22 PM
Quote from: ->-bleeped-<-boy link=topic=49061.msg305417#msg305417 date=1226908078
Pedicled grafts can be resized and relocated without severing the neuro-vascular bundle. If you want to retain your sensitivity and best success you want this option.

Is it possible to resize your areola with this option? I don't have huge boobage but the nipples are another matter... ::)
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: Aiden on November 18, 2008, 12:04:54 AM
Unfortunantly i have both large moobs and nipples.  I don't have much sensitivity from the reduction surgery when I was 17 I'm not to worried about it either, long as it looks right.
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: Dennis on November 18, 2008, 01:20:34 AM
I never had any sensation before. Now I feel touch and it feels great. Mine were grafted. They look great too.

Dennis
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: Elwood on November 18, 2008, 02:25:13 PM
I know keyhole is like that. I'm seeking to work with Brownstein on keyhole procedure. I might not get to have my surgery for quite a few years...
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: Andrew on November 19, 2008, 03:41:22 PM
It's called a keyhole or periareolar. I had it done and posted pics -- they're in my gallery but it looks even better now a year and a half after surgery. Now I'm going to engage in some very transparent Beverly Fischer evangelism...tee, hee...she's great! I swim all the time, take my shirt off, run around topless, etc. with no problems, no scarring. I also have fairly good sensation.

You've got to be realistic about your surgical options, though. Your boobs need to be pretty small to expect a good outcome from this surgery. It isn't going to come out looking good if you're any larger than a B. All that extra tissue is going to pucker up and look messy. If you're big, you'll pretty much have to go with the double incision w/nipple grafts.

If you'd like to see updated pics of my keyhole, I'd be happy to take some new ones.
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: Arch on November 22, 2008, 03:19:21 PM
Quote from: Andrew on November 19, 2008, 03:41:22 PM
It's called a keyhole or periareolar.
I'm not talking about keyhole--even if I lose a lot more weight, I will be way too big for that. I'm talking about a more invasive procedure...judging by the responses, that surgery isn't too popular nowadays, so I'm not sure what to think. Are there any good books or websites that I can go to for more info?
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: Dennis on November 23, 2008, 03:53:51 AM
Reardon used to do it, Arch, but he's retired. I don't know of anyone else who does.

Dennis
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: Arch on November 23, 2008, 10:43:11 AM
Quote from: Dennis on November 23, 2008, 03:53:51 AM
Reardon used to do it, Arch, but he's retired. I don't know of anyone else who does.
Thanks, Dennis. I guess I'll have to do more digging. I wish there were a good central resource. Like, I don't know, a recent book called The Top Surgery Book for FTMs. Wouldn't that be nice?

Anyway, I tend to heal poorly and scar easily, and I don't want to lose much sensation. I'm trying to make peace with the idea of scarring, but the healing is a worry, and so is the concept of having less sensation--perhaps a great deal less.

Well, I have a few months yet for research, so I'll poke around here and there and see what I find.
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: sascraps on May 10, 2011, 07:39:10 PM
Thread resurrection!

But seriously, this has been in the back of my mind for some time now. So they can resize nipples? I've just been wondering about it, and especially today since I finally figured out that most of what I'm embarrassed about with my body are the huge boobs. And it's embarrassing to say, but I've noticed cisguys have such tiny ones, they're more like pimples while mine are more like the erasers you put on top of a pencil once you've worn down the original eraser...  ::) So I've been wondering if I could ever have a male-looking chest.  :embarrassed:
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: Lee on May 10, 2011, 07:52:46 PM
Yeah, they can cut down both the diameter and height of the nipple. 
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: emil on May 10, 2011, 07:55:19 PM
basically what they do is they just take a nipple graft......there's a youtube video on dr. medalie performing double incision where he shows how he grafts a smaller nipple...it's very graphic but still worth watching...helped me understand the actual procedures, even though i had to look away sometimes.
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: sascraps on May 11, 2011, 09:35:26 AM
Uhh, yeah, I'm not very good at looking at blood & guts either.  :eusa_sick:
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: bojangles on May 12, 2011, 12:07:20 PM
Arch, what you're describing sounds like the procedure I had done.
Nothing was done to the nipples. Super tiny incision above the areolas and small incisions under the armpits.
Does that sound familiar?
If so, I still have my forms and can see what my surgeon called it.
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: Lee on May 12, 2011, 12:14:43 PM
bojangles, do you know what the type of surgery was called, or do you have pics of it somewhere?  I'd love to check it out.
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: bojangles on May 12, 2011, 12:48:00 PM
Lee, I looked it up and my surgeon just called it "bilateral reduction mammoplasty" with an equally vague description in parenthesis.

May be similar to keyhole, but I'm not sure.
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: bojangles on May 12, 2011, 12:55:31 PM
Perhaps this is the technique Arch was referring to?

The Pedicle Method
The Pedicle Method is the most common technique and reduces size and volume of the breast and improves shaping while preserving both sensation and function. Several incision options are available, which will affect the size and location of the resulting scar. The nipple remains attached to your breast tissue (thus maintaining the option for breastfeeding) but is raised to a higher position on the breast. Surrounding skin and tissue is removed and shaped into a perkier, smaller breast. The remaining tissue is then sewn shut after being fit around your nipple in its new location.
Title: Re: Top surgery question
Post by: Arch on May 12, 2011, 07:03:08 PM
It was basically DI by the pedicle method.