If you have the chest surgery and you aren't on T, will your boobs come back due to the fat distribution areas of estrogen?

No. In ftm top surgery, the breast tissue is removed and a masculine chest sculpted. If you gained a lot of weight (on or off T) is the only way that could happen. But it would just be fat, not breast tissue.

Posted on: November 03, 2007, 01:48:24 PM

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However, (and don't say your age for safety reasons) if your breasts are still growing, I don't know what would happen. But you should definitely wait until you're positive your breasts are done growing. You should ask your doctor.

Thanks Nero.  Another question.

I'm interested in using Dr. Brownstein for my top surgery.  About how long after I send my chest pics to him does he get you in for surgery?

Not sure, but I know he's pretty booked up. Dennis will know.

Thanks.

Do you know if he requires a letter from a therapist? (I'm not on T yet)

99% sure he does.

Thanks Nero, you are a huge help

Wish I could be of even more help, but Dennis will likely be on in the morning, and he's been to Brownstein. He'll know way more than I.

Hi, I am also planning to have chest surgery before testosterone.  I was wondering how long does it take for the scars to be completely healed?

I don't know about double incision, but I had a super periareolar from Dr. Fischer, and it took a couple of months for my chest to be completely "presentable."

Sorry, missed this thread. Brownstein will require a therapist's letter. I got an appointment three months after sending pictures, but could have been sooner - it was my schedule that got in the way.

And healing-wise, my scars were faded enough by a year, but they continue to fade. You're not supposed to expose your chest to sun for a year anyway. I was on T at the time of my surgery. Apparently you heal a little faster without the T.

Dennis

Quote from: Brady on November 03, 2007, 12:37:44 PM
If you have the chest surgery and you aren't on T, will your boobs come back due to the fat distribution areas of estrogen?

yep I  had top surgery with brownstein to.  he ask me for my doc's letter & t prescription but I got this on his website so I dunno if its the same for everybody.

QuoteOn an individual basis, I may, or may not, prior to surgery, require a letter of referral from a therapist, indicating the appropriateness of the procedure and timing of this stage of your transition. The taking of hormones prior to surgery is also not a mandatory requirement, if approved by or recommended by your therapist.

QuoteTestosterone treatment may affect the breast tissue by causing some atrophy (decrease or weakening) of the glandular portion of the breast, causing it to become softer and perhaps creating some sagging of the tissue and skin. It will probably not significantly affect the breast size, except in unusual cases, though the breasts may appear smaller due to ptosis (sagging).

Testosterone may increase muscle mass, making the pectoral muscles more prominent. This effect does not influence the surgical procedure, as the operation is designed to remove breast tissue and excess skin, and to reconstruct a natural male appearing areola and nipple. It does not involve any surgery of muscle.

There is no absolute requirement that a patient be on "T" prior to undergoing surgery. There are several situations where patients would benefit from not being on hormones prior to undergoing breast reconstruction (top surgery). One would be a medical contraindication to hormone therapy because of underlying disease or organ dysfunction. Another would be in a large breasted individual where the effect of "t" would be to masculinize other secondary sexual characters such as facial hair, voice, possibly a receding hairline, and muscle development, etc. making "passing" difficult due to the difficulty in concealing breast size and probably creating more emotional distress rather than alleviating it.

Also, if a patient's therapist felt that hormones were not an essential part of a patient's transition or goal, surgery could proceed without it.

Another situation where testosterone would not be a prerequisite to surgery is in those cases where an individual has been living successfully in the male role for an extended period of time, at work, socially, and perhaps in an ongoing relationship.

Some patients feel that hormone effect allows better contouring of the chest during surgery. This is not necessarily the case. The goal is to create a natural male appearing chest, not to contour a "body builder" physique. That must be left to exercise and body building strength training. Surgery removes unwanted breast tissue, excess skin, and creates a properly positioned and proportioned nipple and areola. The tissue left behind must try to match the basic body morphology of the individual. Sufficient fatty tissue must be left behind to match the surrounding fatty tissue so as not to create a sunken appearance to the chest. Leaving too much fatty tissue would create the appearance of small breasts remaining.

http://www.brownsteinmd.com/femaletomale.html

he's a cool doc.  likes to joke & stuff.  I'm happy w/my results   u gotta call him & ask him.  tell him ur situation & go from there.