Quote from: JenJen2011 on January 03, 2012, 04:39:10 PM
Thanks. Only 3 days now.

How's it going on day 5 post op? Has Dr. Z let you start re-taking your hormones yet? How bad are the massages really? Like 10 out of 10 painful?

Ok, I'm up right now because a sleeping wrong head ache and nothing more so don't let this scare you.

The massages AFTER the first two only hurt when I hit the drain tube in some way. The first two were 7 ish.  Now it is actually pleasant in a few places and 8 ish on the tube. Along my jaw where he did muscle work it is a very pleasing massage.

I'm off massages for a bit though because I just got my fat grafts. It was over very quickly so please don't panic, but the shots AFTER the numbing shots were at 8-10. It was clearly worse than when I had kidney stones. Now having said that part of it s my fault because I had a panic attack as it started because of the pain.  I was expecting the dull throbbing/tightness I had that rarely even reach 5. This was a shar piercing. But I don't feel it at all now. Just be aware that is is a different type of pain and you'll be fine.  If you get panicked tell him that Jeneva told him to tell you about me and I'd almost bet money you can stay calmer with your laughter. I was in Mage terms and my legs were spamming like crazy.

If possible get you grafts done while under. If not then just be aware it is a sharp piercing not a throbbing or tearing.

I did restart hrt yesterday and when not massaging the drain tube area or not getting grafts I felt awesome. It was great to have on street clothes and eat with everyone. The oatmeal and the peaches were both good so you may want one of you parents to get it for you.

Sorry I only have my iPad with me. Here is a picture on my FB timeline. Normally I'd crash the actual picture URL but on safari on an iPad I don't know how.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=204461152979948&l=33466b1a33


Feeling a lot better today. I just overdid it rushing through a shower and rushing off to breakfast.  I had to lye back down to recover some, but I'm up now.

It looks like you're healing quite nicely. I see the changes already.

Sorry for posting again but school was finally in session today.  The first part of the week we had enough snow in the Appalachians that Shannon was off work and we txted or FaceTimed a lot.  So today I'm bored.

Two massages down already today. Neither hurt terribly badly. The drain tube must have settled in since is is only a 5-6 now. The forehead is no pain. The neck is minimal. The jaws where he cut down a LOT of mass actually are in that weird hurts so good mode.  You know when trading back rubs with a partner and something mes them catch their breath, but then definitely don't want you to stop.  I actually am getting a touch of lymph or blood squirt into my mouth on the right side.

One of the girls on the floor below had returned my call, but was still waiting to hear back from Dr Z about her friend so when her cell rang she had to take it.  Hopefully her friend gets then results she wants.

Dr Z has promised to remove my drain tube tonight so I'm fairly excited since it is awkward and while not quite as painful anymore it does still hurt sometimes.

Just as a side note if you are doing FFS and going to do a BA. Do them together. For the most part I have had NO pain from the BA that wasn't overshadowed by the facial/neck pain. Of course I should qualify that with the fact Dr Z said my neck was extra tricky and took a lot of work.   The other perk to doing them at the same time is that even when my face is swollen I have a visible sign of being that much more myself.   It really helps you stay positive. I can say that except for a brief period yesterday morning because of a wrongly applied bandage after my fat grafts I have had ZERO depressive thoughts.  Even when I was upset it was because of the pain of hair under constant tension and Shannon talked me out of the hole.  I have to agree with the posters on another thread that with FFS/BA you get post op happiness not depression.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=204740039618726&l=06bd496719
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=204740382952025&l=db827635b5

I have my nose splint off.  And I'm EXCEPTIONALLY pleased. Personally I am glad I let him do my nose too. Not only can I breath so much better but I like it so far.

So Dr Z critics tell me what he did wrong? I'm not a nose expert so even though I like it it may not be 'technically' correct. Don't post just to be hateful, but if something is wrong please let me know

BTW when I get home and upload these to our personal farm website I will fix them to be inline but all I have here is my iPad.

ALSO please please please don't mock the hair growth. I actually begged him and said I'd be extra careful but he said no shaving yet. I've only had 5 laser sessions and still get some growth without daily shaving and this is a weeks worth.

Time to pack. I've been surfing because I wore myself out with a shower and rushing around. I also had about a two hour lag between painpills and needed to let this one kick in before the nose massage.  Probable few pictures taken today and I doubt anything makes it onto the site.

The big rush that keeps me going is knowing that I get to see Shannon and the kids tonight.

I'm headed over to Dr Z's office at 2 and heading to the airport from there at 4. He wanted to leave this drain in until the last minute because of the massive work he did to my big fat hog jowls.  It may still be big but at least it is more sow like now.

I was looking forward to putting a real person with your account JenJen but it looks like I'll be gone before you get here now. I haven't even met the other couple the floor below but I'm going to offer them all the rest of my food.  I'm a firm believer in pay it forward.

Apart for the guest losers last night and this morning this has been a dream trip. Everyone has been awesome with pronouns and you can tell they aren't just doing it for show.

Sometime late Sat or Sun I'll update our personal website and then link in more pictures here. Because I'm timing this account to that site I will likely start using my full name since it has always been reachable from the www link.

I can smell a very good result here. I had my FFS done by Dr. Z. He is a fantastic doctor

Hi Jeneva,

I just had my surgery with Dr Z too, left chicago on the 31st of dec so we probably just missed each other. 

The massages are hurting me even after 3+ weeks, although nowhere near as the first few days.  One thing I've found is that having facial hair growth makes my massages hurt more, so if you can shave then do it.  Shaving is still a bit difficult with the numbness in my chin area, and I think I've cut myself at least once so don't make that mistake!

Quote from: atheuona on January 07, 2012, 05:22:24 AM
Hi Jeneva,

I just had my surgery with Dr Z too, left chicago on the 31st of dec so we probably just missed each other. 

The massages are hurting me even after 3+ weeks, although nowhere near as the first few days.  One thing I've found is that having facial hair growth makes my massages hurt more, so if you can shave then do it.  Shaving is still a bit difficult with the numbness in my chin area, and I think I've cut myself at least once so don't make that mistake!

Were you part of the group from Australia?  Sorry the timings just didn't work out.

Quote from: Jeneva on January 07, 2012, 10:44:40 AM
Were you part of the group from Australia?  Sorry the timings just didn't work out.

Yeah I was part of that group, I thought about getting in contact with you but as you'd just come out of surgery that day I figured you'd be pretty out of it and sleep a lot (just like I was my first day or two I guess)

Sorry I did take more pictures today and I do finally have my narrative written, but the picture layout is going to take several hours more and I just don't have it in me tonight.  Sometime tomorrow I will update our website and then relink stuff here.

Ok, our website is updated.  The primary location for these pictures (first to get edits and updates) will be www.dragonflydreamsfarm.com

Specifically the "Family Happenings" link under that.

Any major family stuff will be posted there.  Obviously a transition related surgery is major stuff.  Other things you might see are prep for GCS, a potential half step with an orchidectomy or other major transition milestones like approval letters there.

On that page there is a link called 12/29/2011 Jeneva's Facial Feminization Surgery and Breast Augmentation (FFS/BA)

This page will periodically be updated with new pictures at an irregular schedule.  It shows little progress to show pictures on day 21 and day 22 for example.  We are thinking weekly for a while and then maybe biweekly or even monthly for a year and a half, so we can be sure all the swelling is down.

Attached are a few cherry picked pictures, but EVERYTHING is on the FFS Summary page.  Even including a page Shannon wrote on how things went here while I was gone.

Facial picture after first wrapping was off


And then picture after nose splint was off (shared above via FaceBook, but linked here for ease of viewing)



As we add new content to the page I will ttt this thread with a message about what we have added.

I know there was discussion on another thread about losing piercings.  I put back in all 4 lobes (2 each ear), both helixes and my industrial with very little problem after them being out since 12/28/2011.  I did need Shannon's help for the industrial since it is sometimes hard to line up just right by yourself.

He has ok'd putting back in my eyebrow, but I still have swelling there and don't want it in the way for the massages, if I lose it then I'll just re-pierce it.

He has not ok'd my 2 lip rings (snake bites) or my tongue barbell or my nose YET but said he will when let me know when I can.

He specially asked me to NEVER replace my tragus.  Because my tragus is so small he actually cut in FRONT of my ear for some of the incisions.  It is no great loss to me since the "starter" jewelry was too plain and when I found something I liked it was actually BIGGER than my tragus and looked a bit odd.  It was also rough on the back and had made numerous scratches which occasionally got infected.  The piercing itself was helped and no infection, but Dr Z said the area around it looked bad so he would prefer I let it fully heal.

Shannon asked me to not replace the snake bites because she felt it made kisses odd.  I figure that is fair enough.  I liked them, but I'm not sure they will fit my new look so they are out.  I did ask (with irony) if that since the effects of the snake bites on her meant she didn't want them, then did that mean that the effects that the tongue barbell had on her meant I should leave it out, but other than looking away and turning bright red she just muttered please keep it.

I think the nose is going to be even cuter so I will definitely be replacing it when it is all healed.

BTW I'm typing this while she is at work or she'd never let me, but this is a test of how quickly she notices and what my punishment will be 

Here is another tip for later FFS surgery recoverers.  Massage as ABSOLUTELY HARD as you can.  I had gotten used to a certain level of gliding in Chicago.  And it worked there, it was forcing the fluid up into the tube.

AND THEN I flew.  And swelled up like a balloon.  And that same strength massage didn't really work anymore.  It had gotten bad enough that I had sent pictures of this weird creasing I was getting.  On Dr. Z's 13 day phone followup he scolded me good about not massaging.  The thing is that I had actually done all 3 each day for at least 30 minutes.  I just had done them the way I did in Chicago before the flight messed up my swelling.  He suggested I get it professionally massaged, which was weirdly ironic because I'd already asked my therapist about someone that works upstairs from her in the same building and was going to ask him if it was OK to use a pro for a couple of massages as week and do the rest myself.

Anyway after he said make sure they use deep pressure I decided to try an experiment.  It was time for my second massage.  So instead of using the firm finger sliding he demos in the video.  I took an individual finger and pressed inward as hard as possible and walked it down my jaw line.  BINGO, fluid moved like crazy.  I'm still trying to get a professional appointment and may even see if she will do a couple a week for me until the end of next month, but at least I understand what went wrong now.

It was so odd.  Because I was doing the massages my forehead, brow, and nose and even most of my neck are all fine.  It was just my jawline that was the issue.

So if you are doing your massages and it just isn't working out then try the single finger press in with FULL STRENGTH and walk down technique. 

  Jeneva you look good already! Can't wait to see your results after a few months. Your nose looks really cute too, has it always been tiny like that?
  I'm having a hard time deciding who I should choose for my FFS surgery, I was thinking either Dr. Spiegel or Dr. Z but idk.

  Oh btw a friend of mine who actually recommended Dr. Z to me had FFS surgery with him a few days ago and is still recovering maybe you saw her there? Her name is Ryder, she's already so gorgeous I can't wait to see what she looks like now! 

Quote from: Danielle×o on January 11, 2012, 05:18:25 PM
  Jeneva you look good already! Can't wait to see your results after a few months. Your nose looks really cute too, has it always been tiny like that?
  I'm having a hard time deciding who I should choose for my FFS surgery, I was thinking either Dr. Spiegel or Dr. Z but idk.

  Oh btw a friend of mine who actually recommended Dr. Z to me had FFS surgery with him a few days ago and is still recovering maybe you saw her there? Her name is ryder monroe, she's already so gorgeous I can't wait to see what she looks like now!

Thanks for the compliment!

I haven't posted any pics lately because I'm really fighting jaw swelling right now.  Tomorrow is the 2 week mark so I will update our site and here even if I'm still swollen, but I'd rather have it be mostly normal.

He was really aggressive with my nose and neck/jaw (and I truly appreciate that).  You can sort of see the size diff in one of my consult pics I posted earlier in the thread.

Did your friend stay at the StayBridge.  I know there were 2 or 3 that were local or stayed somewhere else so I wouldn't have run into them.  I did meet a nice couple at the end of a wing on the second floor of the StayBridge, but drugged up that much I've already forgotten their names.  Did she have her partner and dog with her for support?

I know exactly what you are talking about Jeneva. Massages are CRUCIAL!!!

Quote from: Jeneva on January 11, 2012, 05:44:28 PM
Thanks for the compliment!

I haven't posted any pics lately because I'm really fighting jaw swelling right now.  Tomorrow is the 2 week mark so I will update our site and here even if I'm still swollen, but I'd rather have it be mostly normal.

He was really aggressive with my nose and neck/jaw (and I truly appreciate that).  You can sort of see the size diff in one of my consult pics I posted earlier in the thread.

Did your friend stay at the StayBridge.  I know there were 2 or 3 that were local or stayed somewhere else so I wouldn't have run into them.  I did meet a nice couple at the end of a wing on the second floor of the StayBridge, but drugged up that much I've already forgotten their names.  Did she have her partner and dog with her for support?

  Can't wait to see your updated pic's girl!

  Yeah i'm not sure but that was probably her and her bf noah and their black labrador retriever. 

Dr Z usually advocates fat transfer for the cheeks, and I have seen it done on a person and myself and I know they are not "overdone".  He is very easy to talk to, and if you do not want alot put in, he wont.  I do not know where you  are getting this "piggish look" for the nose, as it is just not the case.   Not many have the endoscopic experience of Dr Z even in the world, let alone the USA.  He is a very good surgeon with FFS and aggressive.  I have had him also do my BA and imo, he is the best at doing MTF BA in the US, because he takes into account the rib cage and frame of a MTF is different than in  a genetic females and most of the surgeon's in the USA do not know how to do them appropriately. which will make you end up with a huge gap between your breasts.  Dr Z was the only surgeon that got it right and with mine you can barely put one finger between them, even without a bra on..I went with the Mentor Brand medium profile smooth round 600cc  implants, but i am 5'6".. If you are taller and broader than that is perhaps the reason for larger ones, unless you are just wanting them larger.  Dr Toby Mayer did revision on my nose, as I initially had Dr. Ousterhaut in San Francisco do it and it was not what I wanted.  Dr. Toby Mayer of Beverly Hills, CA in my opinion is the very best at rhinoplasty and in doing anything with the eyes.  The very main thing to think about before doing anything is if your wife is really conducive to you doing this,  or is she just appeasing you, because she knows you want this.?  If she is doing it only because she loves you and wants you to be happy, please consider her.  I know you may think you are, but as all pre ops know..after you transition, there is no going back, and your wife's feelings for you may very well change, even if she says she is ok with it.  After, she might likely switch completely.  I am not saying you have not thought this out, but transition is a very selfish thing and many overlook the potential ramifications that could happen after.   Take heed in what I am saying, because unless your wife is bi, she will most likely not want intimacy later or even consider separation or divorce later after you have transitioned.  You have to ask yourself "Is this all worth it"??  Is the potential for loosing everything you had with her worth it?  I do not, nor would I ever judge anyone's relationship, as I do not know, but speaking from experience, even if your wife seems agreeable now, later she can and may very well change her feelings, especially if she is hetro.   Think about what you had as man and wife and about her true feelings inside and not just the me part..Other than that, Dr. Z is about the best FFS surgeon in the US.  The only other FFS surgeon is Dr. Di Maggio in Buenos Aries.  My face is a product mostly of Dr. Z and Dr Mayer for the rhinoplasty. If you would like to see profile and other pics of my face, just pm me. 

Quote from: Michelle Hayden on January 12, 2012, 10:14:50 AM
Dr Z usually advocates fat transfer for the cheeks, and I have seen it done on a person and myself and I know they are not "overdone".  He is very easy to talk to, and if you do not want alot put in, he wont.  I do not know where you  are getting this "piggish look" for the nose, as it is just not the case.

I did in fact let him add fat to my cheeks I just didn't want the plastic implants which I thought were over the top.  I do agree that as you said he doesn't keep pushing.  He asked twice about the cheek implants (on different calls and only after I'd changed my mind about the nose that I had originally refused (because of $) so it was just to be sure).  Once I said no to both, he didn't mention it again.
I did not originally say he had piggy noses, that came from a couple of posters earlier in the thread.  I actually very much like the work he did on my nose.  Earlier in this thread when I first posted a pic of my nose I asked those posters to tell me what was disproportionate.  Personally I suspect maybe a few were just bad cases for Dr. Z (it happens to everyone), but most of the "bad" noses were probably not massaged enough, but I wasn't there so I can't know.  All I know is that I'd gladly recommended his nose work to anyway.  He actually fixed a major breathing and smelling issue for me too.

Quote from: Michelle Hayden on January 12, 2012, 10:14:50 AM
he is the best at doing MTF BA in the US, because he takes into account the rib cage and frame of a MTF is different than in  a genetic females and most of the surgeon's in the USA do not know how to do them appropriately. which will make you end up with a huge gap between your breasts.  Dr Z was the only surgeon that got it right and with mine you can barely put one finger between them, even without a bra on..I went with the Mentor Brand medium profile smooth round 600cc  implants, but i am 5'6".. If you are taller and broader than that is perhaps the reason for larger ones, unless you are just wanting them larger. 

I am 5'11" and fairly big shouldered so he was suggesting a 700cc implant.  The final implants ended up being 715ml right and 760ml left.  They are not overly large compared to my frame as I was originally afraid.  I probably have a finger and a half, but they have yet to fully settle so I'm sure that will change.

Quote from: Michelle Hayden on January 12, 2012, 10:14:50 AM
The very main thing to think about before doing anything is if your wife is really conducive to you doing this,  or is she just appeasing you, because she knows you want this.?  If she is doing it only because she loves you and wants you to be happy, please consider her.  I know you may think you are, but as all pre ops know..after you transition, there is no going back, and your wife's feelings for you may very well change, even if she says she is ok with it.  After, she might likely switch completely.  I am not saying you have not thought this out, but transition is a very selfish thing and many overlook the potential ramifications that could happen after.   Take heed in what I am saying, because unless your wife is bi, she will most likely not want intimacy later or even consider separation or divorce later after you have transitioned.  You have to ask yourself "Is this all worth it"??  Is the potential for loosing everything you had with her worth it?  I do not, nor would I ever judge anyone's relationship, as I do not know, but speaking from experience, even if your wife seems agreeable now, later she can and may very well change her feelings, especially if she is hetro.   Think about what you had as man and wife and about her true feelings inside and not just the me part.

Actually my wife Shannon's username here is Dragonfly and you can see that she posted several times earlier in this thread.  When I came out to her around 3 and a half years ago I was fully prepared to lose everything.  It wasn't something I wanted to happen, but I had no ability to continue to deny.  After a few days we were able to talk about it and decided that we didn't want to walk away from each other.  We have taken it fairly slow in the beginning, but recently it is speeding up.  Mostly because I consider that my "real life test" started on Monday, September 5, 2011 when we posted the linked blog entry to the world and Shannon shared it on her Facebook profile.  I will not speak to her sexuality because I'm not focused that much on labels and especially not on someone applying them to someone else.  I will say that my therapist originally wanted to meet with her for several private sessions to make sure she understood the consequences, but surprisingly after their first meeting she said that she didn't need anymore and told us both we were lucky to have each other.  Since I've got to wrap this up soon since lunch almost over. I'll ask her to drop by the thread tonight.