Hey, I've joined this site because I have realized that even though I am fairly far along in my transition and am on hormone replacement therapy and already have top surgery scheduled for next month, I still have a lot of questions about things that my doctor doesn't always know about such as integrating during certain times such as work when the other guys are already buddies or things like different STP devices, etc.

I am also active on DCATS for DC area transmen but I would like to make more friends with a wider variety of people, and this site seems like a great place as I feel I can be totally honest and maybe even get to know a mentor of sorts if that situation comes up.

I am a 21 year old dude who is working in the Animal industry but has a passion for writing and drawing. I love music, especially dubstep and alternative rock. I am hoping that in the future I will have more time to pursue my interests when I am no longer so focused on saving.

Welcome good to have you here.  You are well on your way in transtioning being on T and have scheduled top surgery.  How long have you been on T?  Are you living as guy now?

Hi ChaoticTribe,

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Janet 

Yes I am living as a man and have been for some time now. Even before I came out I dressed in male clothing and had short hair.

I have been on testosterone for four months but used other hormones beforehand such as Depo Provera to suppress estrogen and stop bleeding.

Hi Chaotic Tribe, it's nice to meet you! Plenty of room for new friends here. Grab some snacks! Hugs, Devlyn

Glad you found us, ChaoticTribe.  You are now a member of a much bigger tribe.  Welcome.

Thanks you two I am really enjoying the site a lot so far

Hello,

My entire life changed when I had top surgery 12 years ago.  It was a great relief to not be attached to those things anymore because they just didnt belong on my body.  good luck to you.

Just had top surgery yesterday!! Going well so far. The pain medicine that I have really is helping well as of yet and although there are some things I can't do (lift much, reach far, etc) I am having an easier go of it than I had expected and only expect it to keep getting better!

I know that after I had top surgery the first time I looked in the mirror even with the bandages it was like I was a truly different person and looking like I was meant to be. 

Glad it is going well for you.  It does take a little while to start to fully move again with the arms but it is well worth the pain and wait.

How long did they have you in the operating room for your procedure?  I was in for about 3 hours.

It was only an hour and a half. My surgeon did it as a gynecomastia for male breast enlargement. Not bad, he said I was just a little bigger than what he would consider stage two. (stage one is just a bit of puffy glands under the nipple and stage two is more gland growth, closer to feminine).

Originally he had planned on starting with liposuction and then cutting out the glands, but when he got into surgery he had apparently not seen fat in my chest (I have been on T since May and was 98lb before starting, gained weight in belly and muscle once on T), so inside I was basically only glands.

Because of that, he ended up scalpel-ing everything out in a solid piece on each side, so that he could remove it all and eliminate odds of any bumpiness. This is because I am skinny enough my ribs kinda show so I didn't want any extra meat on my chest like some guys have, I was going for the super lean emo-boy look.

He took a photo immediately after surgery so swelling wouldn't set in yet, when I get my drains removed he will show me the picture so that's going to be on Wednesday unless he emails it first.

I had asked about getting extra skin removed but he said there was an 85% chance that since I am so lean (his fittest ever gynecomastia at 120lb) and young (only 21 with 'tough skin' supposedly good on collagen) that he thinks it will shrink right up without any extra looseness and that if there is any extra skin, I can have that removed on the 6 week away appointment to get my nipples resized as I'd like them smaller. The tips are the only part that really bugs me, just large for a guy.

Can't wait to see what I look like without all the wrappings on! Sunday will be my first day taking off the compression shirt (majorly tight!!) and bandages for a gentle cleaning with baby wipes.

I would have like to have had my nipples sized down too but just didnt have the money after all the healing took place.  I actually almost lost one of my nipples after surgery because it wasnt getting enough oxygen and starting turning black.  But my doctor was good and met me back at his office at 9 pm to look at it and sent me home with an oxygen tank and saved my nipple.

Oh goodness. Hopefully mine is alright. I didn't have an incision all the way around, just beneath the bottom half so they said mine should have no issues, which is why having mine resized needs to take place in 6 weeks once more healing has taken place.

I am toying with the idea of not having that done possibly if it doesn't seem I need to, but I know mine are just too obtrusive for my liking on occasions they get hard and I don't want to be stuck wearing a wifebeater or undershirt.

They did sever the pedicle or 'stalk' though so perhaps they won't get hard. Time will tell

My surgery went thru the nipples.  They removed the nipples completely and removed the breast tissue that way.  And when they were done they sutured my nipples back on.  That is why I had the trouble I did.  But that is how I chose to have the surgery done.  I didnt want scars running along my chest.

I understand about the nipples getting hard and being a larger size.  I have that issue too.  but men have large nipples too.  So I just go with it.  I always were a shirt anyway, even when swimming because I never have like seeing men walk around without shirts.  Like everyone wants to look at them.  I also dont like to see women in bikinis.  Leave something to the imagination for men or women.

Hi ChaoticTribe,

A big Aussie welcome to Susan's family. It's good of you to drop in and say "Hi". Hope you like it here, and you stay for a while.

There is a mountain of information, resources and friendship waiting for you here, you just need to jump in and start talking.

I'm pleased your op went so well and you are recovering quickly. You must be feeling very pleased with yourself. Seeing that body image that reflects what your mind is saying is a very powerful contribution to your self confidence, esteem and overall well being. I hope your journey progresses with similar alacrity.

Looking forward to hearing more of your story in time to come, but in the meantime, be safe, well and happy.

Lotsa huggs
Catherine