Thanks, Brett and Ayden.    I'm definitely not seeing the result I'd imagined I'd see this time 6 months ago - that being a GOOD thing haha

@ Ayden, yeah I've been on my regular routine now.  I'm only hitting the weights 3x a week and following up with half an hour of cardio to cut.  Slow-going, but hopefully gonna be worth it.

Quote from: Brett on August 08, 2014, 09:45:29 PM
I'm sorry Ayden, you did say the date in your post, 7/24!  I actually read half before work and half after (I was running late), and forgot!

Don't worry about being paranoid.  I was ultra, crazy, crazy paranoid.  I accounted for everything to ensure the best result.  And guess what?  I got hypertrophic scars.  Thick, hard, vessel induced scars (sounds scary...but true!).  This is something I couldn't account for.

Point is, try not to stress too much, as you only have so much control over the situation.   

How many weeks will you be out of work?  Don't you work with preschoolers?  How are you going to get around the whole not picking them up thing?  I remember you brought this up a long time ago.

I'm trying not to over stress myself! I had a nightmare that I bent over and my nipples fell off a few nights ago and now I keep squatting instead of bending over. At least I have really, insanely strong legs!

I know you have the bad scarring. Dr. G told me he didnt think I would scar badly, but he also said he had been wrong in the past. I figure, I have healed well from past injuries so we shall see. Either way, it's worth it to me to be rid of the twins.

I'm actually on medical leave from work. It's a small company and right now there is a huge shift at the school so I'm on medical leave until I feel I'm able to go back to work. When that time comes, if I chose to go back, all I need to do is tell my bosses. I'm still in regular contact with my bosses and their son and a few of the staff and teachers as well as parents, so I'm not too worried about job security. It really helps me to know that I don't have to worry about looking after little ones in this shape. They are too precious for me not play with and I don't want any of them getting hurt because I'm not tip top.

Quote from: Kreuzfidel on August 08, 2014, 10:22:58 PM
Thanks, Brett and Ayden.    I'm definitely not seeing the result I'd imagined I'd see this time 6 months ago - that being a GOOD thing haha

@ Ayden, yeah I've been on my regular routine now.  I'm only hitting the weights 3x a week and following up with half an hour of cardio to cut.  Slow-going, but hopefully gonna be worth it.

It's already showing, keep at it. When did you feel up to doing weights? That's what I'm amped for. I'm glad to see that you're back to normal in such a short amount of time! I'm hoping I get even a tiny bit of your luck.

Thought I update my peri-areolar from yelland.

6months post op.

Ayden, good to hear you don't have to worry about work!

In terms of scars, my history is that I heal really well, including scars.  Hypertrophic scars typically happen on the torso and shoulders and since I have never been cut there, there was no way to know.  This is something no doc can know in advance.  No worries about it though....very small percentage!

I tell you what, though.  I love the way my chest is shaped minus the scars.  I would take this shaped chest WITH the scars (under the assumption they will eventually fade, but will still be a WIDE faded scar, unfortunately), over a chest that isn't shaped this way with thinner, less pronounced scars.  I need to remember to remain grateful to have even been able to get this surgery.  Somehow your post was a reminder of this.  Thank you!

I do plan to return to Garrramone for a revision on the sides.  I hate feeling skin against the inside of my arms.  It is very uncomfortable and feels weird.  I keep thinking maybe it is in my head, that I just didn't notice before because I always had a binder on, but it really isn't the case.  It is very bothersome.  Other guys clearly have this same thing happening, but I have never seen anyone talk about it before.  So, that people know what I am talking about, read post #518, page 26.

I wish I had asked how long I would have to stay in the area if I got this done when I talked with Garramone a few weeks ago.  Does anyone know?  Meaning, when a person gets a little bit of lipo what the recovery is like?  I guess I have to look this up, as I have no framework for this.  I have this vision of staying there two nights and then coming home...which is just completely made up in my head. 

---------------

rexyrex,

I think that your chest looks perfect.  You can't tell at all that you had any type of surgery!  Really good.  Is Yelland part of the NHS?  Thanks for the update. 

Quote from: Brett on August 09, 2014, 09:25:48 AM
rexyrex,

I think that your chest looks perfect.  You can't tell at all that you had any type of surgery!  Really good.  Is Yelland part of the NHS?  Thanks for the update. 

He actually private, but he will work under the NHS too.

Quote from: rexyrex on August 09, 2014, 06:38:59 AM
Thought I update my peri-areolar from yelland.

6months post op.

Great result! I'm well jel. Yelland is brilliant, isn't he?

Quote from: FTMDiaries on August 09, 2014, 01:37:45 PM
Great result! I'm well jel. Yelland is brilliant, isn't he?

Indeed he is, nurses were also very good too.

Hello everyone! I had my surgery on August 7th with Dr. Garramone. He was super friendly, he joked around with me, talked about his favorite places to go in the area because I'm local. I live within 40 minutes of his office, and he said it's unusual to get someone so close come in because he usually gets people from all over the world.
I had very very little pain post op. Most of it has been in my back due to the ace bandage.
As for my chest, I learned that I am allergic to medical tape. My whole chest is covered in blisters and it's awful. The tape was itchy and burned and was stuck to me so bad that my friend actually ended up ripping it trying to get it off of me (the post op nipple dressing tape).
I actually don't like not wearing the ace wrap because my chest feels so foreign to me. I was overwhelmed by how it looked at first. I thought it looked weird and I wasn't sure if I even liked it. But I'm sure that's to be expected considering it has been a part of me for a very long time. The more I look at it, the more I love it. He had to join the incisions in the middle because of how heavy my chest was. I'm ok with that. I also noticed I have a little bit of extra skin under my left armpit that's really bugging me, but other than that, it looks great!
My whole chest is totally numb with random twinges here and there. I feel like I can feel my nipples reattaching, it's very odd. Very tight as well, which is the reason I don't like not wearing the ace, it makes me feel like the sensation is from the bandage and not my chest itself. Idk, I'm weird.
I kind of feel nervous about my right nipple because it looks like one of the stitches may have come out too early at the top and it's kind of peeling up? Idk. I'm really paranoid about losing them lol.
I also now look like I'm pregnant and never realized just how much my stomach stuck out LOL. It's also very weird to have my nipples so close to my armpits o.O

Linking some photos - warning, the blisters are gross.


Front view.


Left side.




Right side.

Skin puff.

EDIT: I forgot to note that the scars on my stomach are from birth and not in any way attributed to my surgeon. I've learned that I have to add that disclaimer because for some reason people have a problem with Garramone and I've seen them take photos of other people with scars not attributed to the surgeon and try to say that they're from him.

Hey,dapperseb, you look great!

Sorry to hear about the allergy.  Those blisters look painful!

Try not to worry about your areolas/nipples.  They are going to look good, then bad, then good, then bad....  you get the drift.  It will all work out in the end.

The left side is probably just swelling.  I would give it a good solid 9 months before you decide otherwise.

Welcome to the Garramone clone club!   

Happy healing and thanks for posting your sugery experience and pics!

Keep us updated.

-Brett

So I'm about 12 days post op now, things seem to be healing up nicely. I'm becoming less numb and more sore but I see that as a good thing because at least it's a sensation.
I do have one concern, my right drain hole has not closed up at all and if i pull the skin around it, it's actually quite large.
I was thinking about just continuing with my sterilization of the area and using some butterfly bandages to close it up and calling the doctor if it doesn't close up a little bit within a week.

Quote from: dapperseb on August 19, 2014, 06:41:45 PM
So I'm about 12 days post op now, things seem to be healing up nicely. I'm becoming less numb and more sore but I see that as a good thing because at least it's a sensation.
I do have one concern, my right drain hole has not closed up at all and if i pull the skin around it, it's actually quite large.
I was thinking about just continuing with my sterilization of the area and using some butterfly bandages to close it up and calling the doctor if it doesn't close up a little bit within a week.

Glad to hear you are carrying on ok, dapperseb.  I don't remember what my drain holes looked like, so I can't help you there.  But, are you saying that you can pull the skin apart?  As if you need stitches?  That would concern me a bit.  If so, I would take a picture of that and send in email to him.  Call the front desk and ask them to have Garramone look at it and email you back.  Or, if it isn't too bad, do the butterfly bandage, like you said.

Let us know how it goes.

Quote from: dapperseb on August 19, 2014, 06:41:45 PM
So I'm about 12 days post op now, things seem to be healing up nicely. I'm becoming less numb and more sore but I see that as a good thing because at least it's a sensation.
I do have one concern, my right drain hole has not closed up at all and if i pull the skin around it, it's actually quite large.
I was thinking about just continuing with my sterilization of the area and using some butterfly bandages to close it up and calling the doctor if it doesn't close up a little bit within a week.

If you are concerned, like Brett said, give them a call. The office won't answer emails from post op patients (from what I've heard from other guys) but they do well with phone calls.

My drain hole on my right side (it was always my problem side) closed up around day 15 or 16 I think. I just kept it covered with a bandaid pulled tight. It looked like it was open but my husband said he could see it filling in. Keep an eye on it and if you see any inflammation or it's painful you'll want to call them.

Make sure you take it easy man. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a fast recovery.

Thanks for your replies! We just put some butterfly strips over them and left them be.
I went to see my OBGYN today (she's the one who prescribes my T and does my blood work) for my 3 month hormone checkup and she asked to take a look at my chest.

She said everything looks really great and i told her about the drain holes, she said they haven't closed because there's still some fluid that wants to drain out. She told me to keep an eye on it and help it along by massaging around my drain holes and my body will take care of the excess fluid on its own.
She also told me to massage that puff of skin on my right side because it's fluid as well and everything should get sorted on its own if I massage it and keep compression on it even after I'm allowed to stop wearing the ace wrap.

Just noticed this one. Odd.

Yes, Scarguard is junk, why is it you all buy it from Dr Garramone (and it's not even discounted)? Everything I've read about Arnica is that it is good stuff. But he charges triple quadruple of what you can buy it elsewhere. It's not expensive under $10 a bottle. I don't know re: Bromelian, but this is not expensive either elsewhere.
I bought xeroform online (couldn't find locally).

I agree re: Dr Garramone. He was nice and professional enough. He's a surgeon so I don't exactly expect "cuddly".   I found him calming and encouraging. (Of course, he did say I was very good looking for my age, I think he meant my chest though. LOL)

Funny, how he's changed his mind re: NBR. I think the two of them (Leland at NBR and Dr G) have unusual personalities. Both nice guys but I can see they might have a more of a personality issue. Perhaps they both have the ability to rub folks the wrong way sometimes. Yeah it sounded like something awful happened.

Happy healing all you guys.

--Jay

Quote from: Brett on August 08, 2014, 06:29:49 PM
Ayden!  Congrats, clone brother!  So, glad you are doing well.  Thanks for being long winded.  I loved reading every detail!

I concur with you about Garramone's personality.  I have never understood those who experienced him in a different way.  However, we are all human, so I am sure he has off days.

1) Scar guard sucks.  Ditto what Jay said.  Why do you guys keep falling into the trap of buying Scar Guard at Garramone's (no offense ) ?  I think the supplements he sells are of use, but I bought them prior to going.  Cheaper and one of them you are supposed to start taking 3 days prior to surgery. 

I am glad that you are happy with your choice of lodging.  If you look at Garramone's site, you will see that he no longer recommends a specific hotel.  In conversation with Garramone's office recently I learned that things have settled back down between Garramone and NBR.  This is the second falling out they have had over the past 4 years.  They have such an odd relationship.  I think the owner's personality and how he relates to others can really rub people the wrong way.  He also has no filter and doesn't think about how he says things or even what he says, half the time.  This is what gets him into trouble, imho.  Garramone's FB posts certainly made it seem like something horrible happened.  Now you ask the office about NBR and they just give you a shrug and say some like staying there, some don't, they don't have an opinion.  Like I said, weird those two.

Please post pics when you are ready.  I am really very happy for you.  Are you glad that you gave yourself that one extra night before going home?  Also, glad to hear you got through the drain issue.  Glad you got into him quickly and got it taken care of.

You didn't post your surgery date at the beginning of your post.  What was the date again?

10.5 months update

Hey, guys.  So, it has been two months since my last update.  I just wanted to say that the hypertrophic scars have gone down a mild/moderate amount!  I am very glad for this.  Still raised, of course, but definitely somewhat deflated at least a small bit in almost all areas of the scars, which is new.  I think it is the massaging I have been doing most nights.  I know that time is a part of it, but there is a big enough jump over the past two months, that I really think that massage has helped.

I have also decided that I am going to get the liposuction on the sides.  Since I often have my shirt off in the house (seems I am always waiting for the kelo cote to dry, plus I am hot because it is summer here), I really notice the feeling of my sides against the inside of my arms.  I just can't get used to it.  It really creeps me out for some reason.  Of course, the improved look of my chest is the biggest reason for the revision, but this feeling is really propelling it, as well.

Does anyone know how long I will be out of commission?  I have no idea how liposuction recovery works.  Has anyone had a revision that included only liposuction?

I wish I had asked him on the phone.  I don't know why I didn't think to do that.  I am really conscious of taking up his time on the phone, which is probably why.

Any information or thoughts would be appreciated.

Quote from: aleon515 on August 21, 2014, 01:58:01 PM
(Of course, he did say I was very good looking for my age, I think he meant my chest though. LOL)

haha I just had to acknowledge this, that's so funny and slightly rattling at the same time.

Not at my age Birkin.

--Jay

Quote from: birkin on August 25, 2014, 02:00:38 AM
haha I just had to acknowledge this, that's so funny and slightly rattling at the same time.

Hey everyone!
Just a little update/question.
I decided to stop wearing the ace wrap because I feel like it's just too much trouble. It's too difficult to get on by myself in the mornings, even then I can only wear it for a few hours because it makes my ribs and under arms sore. I've had it off since early last night but right now right above my incisions under my arm pits is SUPER sore if I touch that area.
Does anyone know if it's possible to just compress that one side where the skin puffs out under my arm pit without having to wrap a bandage around me? I've been massaging it when I remember, but she said compression should help too.

Quote from: dapperseb on August 26, 2014, 08:02:17 AM
Hey everyone!
Just a little update/question.
I decided to stop wearing the ace wrap because I feel like it's just too much trouble. It's too difficult to get on by myself in the mornings, even then I can only wear it for a few hours because it makes my ribs and under arms sore. I've had it off since early last night but right now right above my incisions under my arm pits is SUPER sore if I touch that area.
Does anyone know if it's possible to just compress that one side where the skin puffs out under my arm pit without having to wrap a bandage around me? I've been massaging it when I remember, but she said compression should help too.

I wouldn't consider doing anything other than your surgeon says.  Which may include wearing something uncomfortable.  Call her.

Almost 4 weeks post op. Supposed to stop dressing my nipples on Friday but I don' think I will be doing that just yet.

Can anyone tell me if this is normal? Both of my areolas are fine but the nipples themselves are gross. They're both yellowy, but the right one is like liquid, like it's straight up pus with a hard little scab in the center that moves around when I touch it. I'm just concerned about them falling out or something. The left one doesn't move around.


Right nipple.


Left nipple.