I'm getting top surgery in 2 months. I forgot a little detail during my phone consultation with the surgeon: I'm on Androgel, and from what I hear about the limited range of motion following surgery, I wonder if I will be able to apply the gel to my shoulders every morning. I also can't ask anyone to do it for me, as the testosterone would transfer to them...

Has anyone gotten top surgery while on gel, any tips?

I'd like to avoid switching to injections so close to surgery (I'm pretty sensitive to hormonal changes and slow to adapt, and I've also been put on gel since the very beginning to avoid the hormonal fluctuations often associated with injections)

I've heard androgel can be put on the stomach instead, are there locations like that that you could use instead? I'd ask your prescribing doctor about it.

If you have someone, they can do it with gloves?

I was on androgel during my top surgery stage. And indeed, it can be applied to your stomach. I ended up applying it there, the upper areas of my thighs and as far as I could reach on my upper arms.

Ah thanks guys, I hadn't thought of that...

Mr. X: my endo only mentioned the shoulders, and this is what I found on the Androgel website: "Do not apply AndroGel 1.62% to any other parts of your body, such as your stomach area (abdomen), penis, or scrotum." --> but you said you had no problem, right? One thing I can think of is the absorption rate...did you notice any changes in absorption, when you switched to your stomach?

I'll call my endo to get his advice. But good point makipu, although I'd prefer to be self-reliant with my T, I can always ask someone to help me and use gloves during recovery...

You can put on inside of forearms. It doesn't really matter. Less fatty and less hairy is better. (I agree re: gloves if someone else does it, but I don't know why you'd need that.) I don't think the stomach is recommended because it's fatty. The genitals are not recommended because it's alcohol, won't do any good anyway.

I take t-cream, think I missed two doses, just because I didn't feel up to it. No biggie.

--Jay