My entire wardrobe is button down shirts, but I've had lots of stuff in storage that I've bought just for this occasion I got them all out last night and did a bit of a fashion parade and I'm thrilled with how they look on a flat chest.

My hips and ass look huge in comparison now, but that'll soon get sorted out once I am fully recovered. I'm so excited to start exercising without anything hindering me

Yes, it is great to only wear one layer!  There was only once or twice that the weather has allowed me to wear a t-shirt outside since my surgery.  However, this past Sunday it was warm when I went hiking, so I was in a t-shirt only.  It felt sooo good to feel the breeze against my chest.  What I noticed first thing when I wore a light t-shirt was the feeling of the shirt against my sternum...it is a odd, yet great feeling!

I had to try on my t-shirts when I first got home (8 days after surgery) just to see how they looked! ha!

Quote from: Brett on December 22, 2013, 10:31:06 AMSo, have you found that you wake up every morning with a smile on your face?  It has been 9 weeks for me, and it still happens every day!

I still have moments when I run my hand over my chest and smile--and it's been over four years for me. Best $7500 I have ever spent. (Well, I'm pretty stoked about the car I just bought, but it cost only five thousand and some.)

Since it's in the 40s don't really want the breeze on my chest. In a few months maybe. But no compression...

--Jay

Looking forward to that tee feeling so bad.  And then the multitude of days following where I can just wake up and throw on a tee/polo/shirt or WHATEVER and not have to contort my way into a binder or two!  Lol.

Personally I'm looking forward to the next Taekwon-do competition I attend.  I got a lot of weird looks at my last competition because no one competing in sparring wears a tshirt under their dobok (uniform), not even the girls!  Girls wear sports bras and guys wear nowt.  You sweat a LOT and overheating isn't good.  For me I wasn't just wearing a tee, but also two binders underneath.  I was sweating like a pig with limited range of motion while getting the, 'Why you wearing a tee, bro?' looks.  Next time - no tee - no getting attention!  Cannot WAIT!

I find that with people who know about me (I'm mostly stealth) asking me questions they all jump straight to swimming or beach questions.  And very often it shocks them when I tell them that's all secondary concerns for me compared to the simple act of putting on a tshirt!  Anyone else finding that?

Jeatyn, do you not still wear any compression vest or anything now?

All I have now is a tube thing for compression, but I mostly just put it on to sleep because when I'm sitting it rides up and it digs in RIGHT where my incisions are - I figured this is gonna be doing more harm than good xD I have put some new patches/bandages/big bandaid things over my nipples, they were making me nervous looking at them, they look so fragile o_o I asked at my last appointment how long I needed to wear the tube thing for, how long until I could sleep on my side, etc....their answer was always "whatever feels most comfortable for you"

I'm healing awesomely, I expected the incisions to look hideous and red for months but they don't,the scabs have mostly fallen off already and it looks really neat and tidy, I think my scars are gonna fade nicely I have a dog ear on one side...and it's lumpy where the edges of the incision is in on the inside....in my former cleavage xD but I really don't care. I doubt I'll go in for a revision.

I was surprised at how GOOD some of my clothes felt on me, I have a really nice soft (thin and tight ) sweater in particular that felt heavenly against my skin, it occurred to me that I haven't felt proper clothes on me in years and years - just PJ's

I used to wear a minimum of 4 layers to flatten myself sufficiently, from shoulders to ass I haven't felt anything but spandex and sweat for years xD one compression body suit, one short binder, one t-shirt and a button down. I also had to put cotton wool pads underneath to soak up the sweat otherwise I'd literally be soaked through my shirt before I even arrived at class ... people just don't realise how much effort it was to get dressed and exist with all that going on ... "lets walk ten minutes up this hill to go to lunch" .... er, let's not, I might pass out o_o All I can say is thank god I didn't have to attend class during the peak summer months, I don't think I would have coped.

BUT NOW? Oh god. I can't even describe how excited I am to start getting out and about to feel the improvement. Even at home when I'm running on my treadmill, I'd wear a sports bra,  have all the curtains closed, and just try my best to power through the workout without bursting into tears at the sight and feel of those monstrosities bouncing up and down - most of the time I could only last 10 minutes.

Another thing I never really thought about because it's just been my life, since puberty, my upper back, shoulders and neck just feel sooooo much better. I'm standing up straight for the first time in forever. I weighed myself before and after surgery - 8lbs was gone. It's literally a huge weight off my shoulders

I have a compression vest thing so I still wear a binder of sorts for another 5 weeks. Lol. I don't mind though. I feel more secure with it right now because it means nothing rubs or pulls on anything, especially my fragile nipples!!!! Eeek! Only problem with mine is that it digs in under my arms in the worst way, and yet it's almost a blessing because that trumps any surgical pain. Distraction annoyance FTW! :-P

I think that two-three weeks is the worst time. I know people probably think right after surgery, but to me it was all very expected. I kind of got a bit driven to distraction by the dressings on the nipples (not the nipples per se) and burning feeling and so on. After that it was totally downhill. 6-7 weeks and no pain at all. I am a little worried when my cat reaches his claw onto my chest, but it's probably habit.

--Jay

Hi Jeatyn, thanks for all the brilliant information you've shared here

I'm on Mr. Rubin's waiting list, and it's reassuring to hear from someone else who's been through surgery with him.  He seemed very nice and considerate and trans-friendly when I went for my first consultation with him (I have another in a fortnight as he said he requires two, though I did manage to talk him into putting me on the waiting list at my first appointment - he said he'd have to take me off if I didn't turn up to my next appointment, but I assured him there wasn't much chance of that, LOL).  I'm having peri, so I guess our experiences may turn out to be quite different, but still - Rubin Buddies, UNITE!

Now just preparing myself to get through the 18 week waiting list!

Quote from: Clive on January 21, 2014, 08:05:53 AM
Hi Jeatyn, thanks for all the brilliant information you've shared here

I'm on Mr. Rubin's waiting list, and it's reassuring to hear from someone else who's been through surgery with him.  He seemed very nice and considerate and trans-friendly when I went for my first consultation with him (I have another in a fortnight as he said he requires two, though I did manage to talk him into putting me on the waiting list at my first appointment - he said he'd have to take me off if I didn't turn up to my next appointment, but I assured him there wasn't much chance of that, LOL).  I'm having peri, so I guess our experiences may turn out to be quite different, but still - Rubin Buddies, UNITE!

Now just preparing myself to get through the 18 week waiting list!

Oh that's awesome, it's pretty rare to meet someone so close to me on here. (I assume you must be close ) If you check out the sticky update thread I've posted loads more in there. If you want to ask any specific questions on either thread or via PM I will be happy to help.

I ended up having three appointments before getting on the waiting list because of an admin mix up, nice one on persuading him to put you straight on - I remember him making my second appointment and saying something like "go away and think about it and then come to the second appointment and we can talk about whether or not you want to go ahead" - like I'm gonna change my mind

Been following your progress Jeatyn for years (long time lurker, not as creepy as that sounds I swear!). I knew you were in the UK, but didn't realise where. I am also within easy distance of Mr Rubin, but for a number of reasons have decided to go with Yelland in Brighton. Not looking forward to 3 commutes down South in less than a month!

Anyway, just thought I'd say hi and let you know there are more of us in this area!

Quote from: MaximmusFlavius on January 21, 2014, 02:47:58 PM
Been following your progress Jeatyn for years (long time lurker, not as creepy as that sounds I swear!). I knew you were in the UK, but didn't realise where. I am also within easy distance of Mr Rubin, but for a number of reasons have decided to go with Yelland in Brighton. Not looking forward to 3 commutes down South in less than a month!

Anyway, just thought I'd say hi and let you know there are more of us in this area!

oh wow! Suddenly all coming out of the woodwork we should all totally go for a beer/coffee/some sort of beverage sometime xD

Definitely! I sent you an email (meant to PM you, but got the wrong button  )

Quote from: Jeatyn on January 21, 2014, 12:40:11 PM

Oh that's awesome, it's pretty rare to meet someone so close to me on here. (I assume you must be close ) If you check out the sticky update thread I've posted loads more in there. If you want to ask any specific questions on either thread or via PM I will be happy to help.

I ended up having three appointments before getting on the waiting list because of an admin mix up, nice one on persuading him to put you straight on - I remember him making my second appointment and saying something like "go away and think about it and then come to the second appointment and we can talk about whether or not you want to go ahead" - like I'm gonna change my mind

Thanks Jeatyn, both for pointing me to the thread and the offer of PM communication!

Quote from: MaximmusFlavius on January 21, 2014, 02:47:58 PMI am also within easy distance of Mr Rubin, but for a number of reasons have decided to go with Yelland in Brighton. Not looking forward to 3 commutes down South in less than a month!

Anyway, just thought I'd say hi and let you know there are more of us in this area!

That's so spooky - I was going to opt for Yelland, though at the last minute realised it would be too logistically difficult to get there and back so many times.

And who knew there were so many of us in this area? Jeatyn's right, we should totally all meet for a coffee or something, lol!

Quote from: Jeatyn on January 21, 2014, 03:21:31 PM
oh wow! Suddenly all coming out of the woodwork we should all totally go for a beer/coffee/some sort of beverage sometime xD

Good idea! It's too bad we all live in different places including in all different states, the UK, and Australia.

--Jay

Quote from: Jeatyn on January 21, 2014, 03:21:31 PM
oh wow! Suddenly all coming out of the woodwork we should all totally go for a beer/coffee/some sort of beverage sometime xD

Or caramels...