Wow that's a terrible title but I wasn't sure how else to describe them!

For some background information, I came out of a double mastectomy and nipple graft with Dr Megan Hassall about ten days ago!

I had incredibly large breasts, not sure of the exact size but just, way way too big.
I'm also a big guy, medically I'm not obese but I'm def in the overweight category.
I lost about 10 kilos prior to surgery on Dr Hassalls recommendation but she did say that because of my size there might be some aesthetic problems.

I'm thinking this might be one of those but I'd really like to know if anyone knows for sure what this is just to out my mind at ease.
I don't mind them, like if it's permanent I wouldn't even bother going in for fixes, but I'd like to know for sure what it is in case it's something to worry about like
I don't know
Unnatural swelling or fluid or something?

Here's some pics so you guys know what I'm talking about:

http://s14.postimg.org/fvpn7md81/image.jpg

http://s14.postimg.org/jtcwx101d/image.jpg

http://s14.postimg.org/ttceqo0oh/image.jpg

It's sort of harder to see in the pics than it is in person, but I have these weird curve/lump things under my arms towards my back

They're on both sides and sit pretty much right at the end of the scars
They're a little tingly to touch
They're not hard, poking it just feels like poking a boob to be honest

One is bigger than the other, like noticeably so

I'm just wondering if they are a result of me being too big for a proper aesthetic result, if people know what they are, if they're permanent, if there's a chance they'll go down a little

Pretty much any information anyone can give me would be really appreciated!



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It's just excess tissue. With bigger guys it's hard to avoid. I think I have this going on to an extent. It probably looks a little odd if you're shirtless with your arms down, right? But if you were to put your hands on your head with your arms shaped like triangles, it looks about normal?

That's what I've got a bit of. Mine don't tingle though. Since you're only 10 days out it may still be swelling or some fluid retention that will settle out with time. My surgeon said it could take people up to a year to settle out totally. If they're still there at 6 months, I would say contact your surgeon and see what her revision policy is. She may want you to lose more weight.

If mine don't look better after I lose weight for bottom surgery, I'll be asking the surgeon doing my bottom surgery to remove the extra tissue there when he takes the graft.

I'm hoping it's just extra tissue and not something scary like an infection!
I don't really notice mine when my arms are down, it's more obvious when they're semi-lifted?

I find it can be a bit uncomfortable to have my arms resting directly at my sides, do you ever get that?


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I was very large chested prior to surgery. I am now 16 months post op. I definitely still have that extra tissue and will be having a revision in October to try to correct some of that. I probably will not be completely flat on the sides because of how large my sides always were, but I hope to improve that area as much as possible. I agree with Max that it can take 6 months to a year for the tissue to settle and swelling to completely subside.

So unless they are getting bigger, getting red/hot (like infected looking) I wouldn't be too concerned about it yet. It is something that larger chested guys especially (even if you're not obese which I am not either) frequently have issues with post surgery.

Commonly referred to as 'dog ears', and what appears to be a little post-op swelling as well.  I was very large chested, but underweight, and also had this issue after my surgery.  After a number of months, the swelling subsided and I was left with some fairly sizable skin tabs (dog ears) which my surgeon removed during a revision procedure (about 9 months post-op).  It was fairly painless, done with a local, and took just a few minutes.  Wait and see what happens over time.  If the skin turns red and hot, there may be some infection brewing under the skin, but it looks pretty familiar to me.  Congrats on your new chest!

Scar tissue can grow in weird ways during your recovery, the skin is thinner and membranous at the scar and needs time to stitch itself together. I've been told for the surgeries I've had, that it's important to massage the scars and any scar tissue to help your body break down the extra and unnecessary tissue that has a tendency to build up. My guess is it's the body's version of creating stitches inside you, but as scabs can get much larger than necessary depending on the the speed of your platelets clotting, the scar tissue can get out of hand.
But you are bound to have a follow-up appointment to see how your healing is going, so ask your doctor. He's probably seen it before. The one major worry is red lines and other signs of infection. In the first month of recovery it's pretty much all your surgeon is going to care about, keeping you from developing an infection.


     Hugs,
- Katie
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Thank you everyone! I feel much better now, I'm not even sure what I thought it might be but it does sound exactly like the dog ear things you've mentioned!

I'm not really looking to go for more surgery so I'm not sure about revisions...
If I had revisions, would I end up in drains again!?
I'd rather have flaps forever than have to have drains in...


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Quote from: billystuart92 on September 11, 2015, 09:46:53 PM
Thank you everyone! I feel much better now, I'm not even sure what I thought it might be but it does sound exactly like the dog ear things you've mentioned!

I'm not really looking to go for more surgery so I'm not sure about revisions...
If I had revisions, would I end up in drains again!?
I'd rather have flaps forever than have to have drains in...


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It really will depend on what the surgeon recommends if they bother you after 6+ months. Depending on the revision they might not even have to knock you out completely. Drains will depend on the surgeon too but I doubt it. You will just have to ask them. I know a guy that has had dog ears for 20 some years.

The more I look at them the less they bother me
I don't think they're terribly noticeable unless you know to look for them


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 Like others stated it's just excess tissue. I would let yourself completely recover and all that. They don't look like the ones I've seen though so it could also just be swelling.If it still bothers you your surgeon can probably do just simple lipo on it to get rid of them. Check with your doctor and see if the revisions are included with your surgery. I don't think you would need drains again either.

slight "dog earing" purely an aesthetic issue