since i've had kids, and because i never wear bras, these moobs look like eighty year old tits.  i'm wondering how much this'll affect the outcome of any future surgery.  has anyone here had stretch marks prior to chest surgery?  what were the results like?

I haven't had surgery yet, but I'd love to hear experiences with this. I'm also pretty stretch mark-y, though it's just from growth spurts. I assume with double-incision they'll just end up rather vertical, instead of radiating from a center point, since most of the skin from the bottom is removed.  That was a question I forgot to ask at my consultation.

One of my good friends had a lot of stretch marks on his body(his chest and stomach, and even some wrapping around to his back) prior to top surgery, and he still has them in some places, albeit faded. They were red and irritated looking when he first had the surgery done, but it's been a couple years and they're paler and not very noticeable unless you're outright looking for them. Some of the bigger ones look like dark scars from an accident or something, but again, they're pale and not immediately identifiable as stretch marks unless your goal is to label them as such.

I have a lot of stretch marks unfortunately.  When I was first researching top surgery years ago, I had no idea that the stretch marks would still be there because I never saw them in pictures.  Then I finally saw one and realized that mine would be the same way. 

I'm still very happy with my results (6 mo post-op), but I do have visible stretch marks around my surgery scars.  A few extended farther up as well.  There's really nothing I can do about it because they are white/faded and I don't know of any product that could help.  I'm just happy to have a flat chest. 

Also, due to having very sensitive skin, I probably won't go shirtless outside so having visible stretch marks isn't that big of a deal for me.  But if I did, people would likely be able to identity them as such.  This wouldn't bother me too much though because of my weight loss (used to be very overweight/obese) and the surgery/stretch marks "make sense"; they aren't immediately thought of as female puberty chest growth kind of thing.

Quote from: Adio on January 27, 2012, 01:36:32 PM
I have a lot of stretch marks unfortunately.  When I was first researching top surgery years ago, I had no idea that the stretch marks would still be there because I never saw them in pictures.  Then I finally saw one and realized that mine would be the same way. 

I'm still very happy with my results (6 mo post-op), but I do have visible stretch marks around my surgery scars.  A few extended farther up as well.  There's really nothing I can do about it because they are white/faded and I don't know of any product that could help.  I'm just happy to have a flat chest. 

Also, due to having very sensitive skin, I probably won't go shirtless outside so having visible stretch marks isn't that big of a deal for me.  But if I did, people would likely be able to identity them as such.  This wouldn't bother me too much though because of my weight loss (used to be very overweight/obese) and the surgery/stretch marks "make sense"; they aren't immediately thought of as female puberty chest growth kind of thing.

Have you tried Cocoa butter?

Quote from: Malachite on January 27, 2012, 01:53:40 PM
Have you tried Cocoa butter?

No because it's mostly used for prevention of stretch marks rather than reducing visibility after the fact.  Plus, there is little scientific evidence that it works at all.  I do use mederma on my top surgery scars, and although there is no real evidence for that either, I've noticed a huge difference in the softness of my scars.  Whether it is actually the mederma or simply massaging and keeping them moist, I can't really say.

Thanks for the suggestion though.  I wish there was a good solution, but there really isn't one that I've found

actually, for the visibility of current stretch marks and scars, i've had a lot of success with cocoa butter... i also have a lot of scars on my arms which it's helped massively with, as well as the stretch marks on my stomach.  i use palmers stretch marks massage lotion in the morning and evening (on the scars as well) and three times a day use palmers skin therapy oil.  they're inexpensive and worth at least a try.  to be fair, i don't really use it on my chest, since i hate fiddling around with these crappy flaps of skin that shouldn't be there....  i'll just have to hope the surgery cuts out most of the stretched skin and go crazy with the lotion...

In my experience the only thing that fades stretch marks is time. I've tried various products nothing seems to prevent or help them. Very little of what you apply makes it to where the stretch marks are formed. Many even say you have to use the product for X months for it to start work. I bet the only thing actually helping the appearance of your stretch marks is the elapsed time.

I think the only thing proven to help are lasers and derma rollers.

Try not to worry about them. Millions of people have them. And they are not just a women's thing, they are very common in men.

I had strech marks before surgery and I still got them after.