For all you guys who have had top surgery, what was the recovery like? What did you have to do, how did you manage simple things like showering, when did you finally feel fit enough to carry on everyday life, etc etc...and how long did it take your scars to fade to a barely noticeable level?

I've only been post op about 8 nearly 9 months now.. my scars are still noticeable and red but still slowly fading.

My recovery time was 1 week I could have got back to work fine.

Jay

From the date of surgery I would say about 10 days. From the time I returned home a little under a week. For work it really depend on what you do, for a desk job I would say 2 weeks if you work in a warehouse much longer depending on how heavy the stuff is and the specific surgery, DI or keyhole. I had DI three months ago and the heavy stuff over my head is still a bit uncomfortable.
Andrew/Myles

I don't know if I was typical, but here's something you might not have considered. My body was stressed for weeks after surgery. I was tired and had to take naps in the middle of the day for quite some time. Good thing I was on summer break.

As far as physically feeling pretty good I'd have to say 3 weeks.  Still about 5-6 weeks before regular lifting, and several months before the heavy overhead stuff.  Still have reddened scars 11 mos post op though fading, and pretty much can do anything now without fear.  Occ. get a twinge but nothing to worry about, and still have some numb areas.

Jay

Quote from: Jay on November 22, 2009, 07:34:51 AMMy recovery time was 1 week I could have got back to work fine.

Do you have a desk job? I would ideally like to take just a week off from work. When I'd return I'd abide by the healing suggestions, but being at a computer all day is easier on healing than someone who has to lift alot at work.

Radar, I was back at my desk for my "volunteer" work/job upon returning home from surgery. It was  about 6+ hours a day in front of a computer at that time, to make up for my time away for surgery. 
Myles/Andrew
Should add I was home a little over 7 days later (after surgery), was in SF for a little over a week for all the post op stuff.

Quote from: Radar on November 22, 2009, 04:04:35 PM
Do you have a desk job? I would ideally like to take just a week off from work. When I'd return I'd abide by the healing suggestions, but being at a computer all day is easier on healing than someone who has to lift alot at work.

Yes I do, however I still need to travel for an hour to get there. I was absolutely fine after one day I was good to go.. however I only had my drains in for about 24 hours and that was it. The only thing I couldn't do was reach and that only caused a slight pain. But still uncomfortable enough to not do it. My main pain was my nipples because of the stiches.

I can see how everyone is saying approx 3-4 weeks guess I was a special case then.

By the way I had DI with nipple grafts

Jay

Here's a (probably) stupid question:

Does anyone know if they have to make the scars symmetrical or if they might be able to make them asymmetrical (as in one side looks different from the other) if you requested it?  Do you think they'd have to do a different type of procedure on each side in order for the scars not to look like mirror images of each other?

Scars can be attractive in general, but I don't know about the symmetrical-looking ones that I happen to have seen on guys who have just had top surgery . . .

lol, I'd be thrilled if a surgeon made the scars look different...different enough I could mark them up to something else if questioned about it. Sadly the top surgery scars scream "boob removal" by their placement.

Quote from: Alexmakenoise on November 22, 2009, 08:52:31 PM
Here's a (probably) stupid question:

Does anyone know if they have to make the scars symmetrical or if they might be able to make them asymmetrical (as in one side looks different from the other) if you requested it?  Do you think they'd have to do a different type of procedure on each side in order for the scars not to look like mirror images of each other?

Scars can be attractive in general, but I don't know about the symmetrical-looking ones that I happen to have seen on guys who have just had top surgery . . .

can you elaborate? don't know quite what you mean. mine are symmetrical for the most part except that the right scar is larger and more noticeable. really don't know what caused this as my breasts were the same size.

Quote from: Nero on November 22, 2009, 10:23:39 PM
can you elaborate? don't know quite what you mean. mine are symmetrical for the most part except that the right scar is larger and more noticeable. really don't know what caused this as my breasts were the same size.

I mean that the ones I've seen look like mirror images of each other.

I like the idea of having scars on my chest, but I don't like the idea of them looking symmetrical (mirror images) like the ones I've seen. 

The ones in pics I've seen make it look kind of like the person put on a bra with branding irons for under-wires and then got their breasts removed.  At least that's the image that comes to mind for me.

It would be cool if a surgeon could make the incisions in a different place, or in a different shape, on each side so my scars wouldn't make me think of being branded or scarred by bra under-wires.

I think that scars, in general, are very attractive.  But they're more attractive if there's something somewhat haphazard-looking about them.  It seems like a surgeon COULD cut in a different place or shape on each side, but I wonder if any actually would (upon request).

I had lopsided deformities on my chest, so I'm not surprised that my scars aren't quite symmetrical. Frankly, I wish they were symmetrical. But that's just me.

I don't know whether you could convince a surgeon to make unsymmetrical incisions. I think most docs would have a problem with that.

i am actually 5 days post op...drains r still in...hopefully gettin out in the morning...i have been on couch at a buddies for a week...im just sore n very tender on the sides...i have to be sponge bathed...i hope to go back to work next week..it weird tho it hurts more on the sides than the front

Quote from: xACEx on November 23, 2009, 01:36:39 AM
i am actually 5 days post op...drains r still in...hopefully gettin out in the morning...i have been on couch at a buddies for a week...im just sore n very tender on the sides...i have to be sponge bathed...i hope to go back to work next week..it weird tho it hurts more on the sides than the front

Congrats on your surgery and I hope you feel better soon!

Yep what alex said.  heal up soon!
This is a great thread, it's good to know how much you can and can't do. Ty on You tube got a big haematoma from moving around too much, from what he said on his videos, and i want to be as well healed as possible. i got 18 days to go! 

Funny thing my surgery hurt alot more when the drains where in because my movement was restricted. But my drains where taken out after 24hours so maybe thats the reason why you guys hurt more??!?

Jay

Yeah, this thread is really informative.  Drains?  Hematomas from moving around too much?  I didn't know until now.

Agree with the drains thing, once mine were taken out (think I had them in for 5 or so days) I was much more mobile. Good part about them staying in longer is it gets as much of the fluid out as possible. Once they are out though you will feel so much better.
Cheers
Andrew

look like mirror images of each other

Is there a different definition of symmetrical?