Wow, I'm starting to get really nervous!

I'm leaving this motel room in about ten minutes, then it's off to the hospital for a mid-day surgery. I'll be released tomorrow, then I'm going to stay with friends.

Just thought posting here might help settle my nerves a little bit. I'm going into this alone, so I kinda wanted to grab the support from here if there is any. :{P

I'll let you all know how it goes when I get out!

CONGRATULATIONS! EVERYTHING WILL GO FANTASTIC! You have ALL of our support! Just set your mind at ease! I hope it turns out to be everything you expected it to be!

*sends tons of support your way*

This is your day comrade!  I wish you a great luck and a speedy recovery mate. 

Wow Bane, congrats and hope it goes well.

You were having it done in Brissie if I remember right.... Who are you seeing?

Bane, you're my main dude!  Congrats, mate, and lots of love to you - hope everything goes well...you deserve it!

I hope everything goes well for you mate!!
You will be fine and be able to cope well on your own. I left the day after my surgery and was fine
You must be smiling from ear to ear!!

Thanks so much everyone!

I'm back in my room now, watching Man Vs Wild and playing computer games. I'm much better off than I was expecting, and getting back to all of these messages was really amazing; I haven't had any family here with me for this, but it really feels like I do now.

Yeah, I'm in Brisbane, seeing Dr Hugh Bartholomeusz. He and his staff have all been amazing, and always used the right pronouns when dealing with me. Even when the horrible happened and I had to pose for before shots, he said 'Good lad, hands on your hips', which while being a small gesture, made the experience so much more barable.

I can't see anything yet as I'm all bandaged up, and this is only stage one of my two part surgery (the second will be in six months), but I'm feeling pretty good, so hopefully the in-between state of my chest won't be too bad.

Once again, thanks so much everyone! <3

Congrats man!! hope it's all gone swell for you 

Congrats!

Dr. B looks pretty decent! though i can't seem to wrap my head around two surgeries O_o!

Glad to see you are in high spirits and recovering well!

Thanks guys!

Yeah, I wasn't too pleased with it having to be two surgeries either, but apparently Hassal would have told me I needed two as well, and it took me longer to get a consult with her than the entire time it took me to have a consult and surgery with Dr Bartholomeusz. I'm not really happy it's going to be another six months before my chest actually looks good, but it gives much better results in the long run, and at least until then I don't have to wear a binder anymore; something which was causing a lot of health problems for me.

Congrats mate!! I looked at going to him as well - without being too forward can you tell me did he do the vertical incisions and lipo etc?? I am a month post op further north and still settling but it's definitely 100% better than having my chesticles and having to bind!! I too will need two procedures but much happier staying here in God's country for the op haha

Hope you're feeling well mate!!

Good stuff! I'm curious, is it two surgeries regardless of who you see if you're larger in the chest? The 2 ops thing mentioned in reference to Dr Bart is what made me look to Dr Hassall, but if she would be doing 2 ops as well, I'd be better off staying local and seeing Dr Bartholomeuzs lol.

What was the damage to the wallet, if you don't mind me asking?

m3lty: Substantial. Very substantial. This surgery cost me $5900, plus the $1000 for the anaesthetist, $500 hospital excess and travel and accomodation. The second surgery will be cheaper, but not by much.

And yes, I was told by a guy that I know here that even if I were to start all over with Megan Hassal, she would do two surgeries for me as well because of the size of my chest.

That said, I've heard she doesn't charge much over the scheduled fee, so she would certainly be a lot cheaper, but going through her will take at least twice as long. It's been six months since I had my consult with Dr B, and originally my surgery was booked in for February. So all up, to have a consult and both surgeries with Dr B will take around 9-12 months, and it was a six month wait just for me to get in and see Hassal.

Aussie Jay: I've never even heard of a vertical incision? As far as I know what I've had done are two small horizontal incisions either side of each nipple. He takes out all of the upper tissue and resizes the areola in the first procedure, then takes out all of the bottom tissue and reshapes the nipples in the second procedure. This way with the six months inbetween things are more likely to settle into a natural looking shape, and there's a much better chance of retaining sensitivity and feeling in the nipples.

I'm feeling a lot worse now, and yesterday was horrible after going a whole day without painkillers. Sleeping sitting up is murder also, but I guess I'll get used to it. Thanks so much for the continued support guys.

Congrats on your top surgery!

Congrats on your surgery.  Sorry I am a bit late, I just don't drop in as much with my hectic schedule.   I am sure that even with 2 surgeries, you are feeling a ton better already.    Just take it easy and relax.  I have notices my scar on the right is wider in the area between the nipple and underarm.  I know I didn't do very much when I was recovering, but feel I must have strained it somehow to cause a wider scar tissue, so make sure that you make extra efforts to be aware of what you are doing.    That is my best advice.  I have been using scar tissue meds since my 6 weeks post op, and I don't really think any of them work since it has been so long, so that is why I say prevention is much better route.   I would love to find a product that actually works. (The scar tissue is not that bad really, but of course we all hope for the thinnest scaring possible)

Hey mate firstly - how are you feeling now?? Hope at the very least you're taking paracetamol dude - I did for at least the first couple of weeks even if I thought I didn't need them but I got rid of the stronger stuff soon as I could.. And I feel your pain - sleeping propped up in bed and ONLY on my back drove me completely nuts!! But just remember it's not forever..

Oh that's right Dr B does the incisions in line with the nipple etc, it's all coming back to me! It's Dr Doyle in Brissy who (at least) used to do the vertical incisions. Just FYI if you're interested it's about a 5cm vertical incision below the nipple and one around the nipple (obviously!). Nipples are left attached by the pedicle (stalk) but resized, along with the areolae. So no grafts in an effort to keep sensation etc. Small amount of tissue (like fat) is also left to ensure blood supply which in turn can be liposuctioned out after a few months of healing if required.

Do you mind and it's probably here somewhere but I've missed it - but what size were you previously? I was a C or D cup, I know I was a DD cup years ago at the biggest- but I haven't worn a "bra" for many years. I spoke to a guy who had C (ish) cups pre op with Dr Doyle and his results now are awesome - can barely see the little scar! I had my surgery with someone else up here in Tropical North QLD and he has used the vertical incisions on me as I described above that was the only reason I asked mate..

Anyways hope everything is going along nicely. Hope you haven't suffered the bad luck I did and ended up back in theatre - that sucked. I had a massive haematoma that had to be drained.. Speedy recovery mate - it gets better before you know it

Ahhh, don't tell me about scary things like that!

I was an E the last time I was fitted, but that was a few years ago now. Probably down to a DD or large D? I want it to be Wednesday so I can get this damn tape and drains off!!! I'm feeling really really sore today, despite taking panadol all day. Hopefully I'll wake up tomorrow feeling better.

My biggest issue at the moment seems to be the friends I'm staying with; it's 'she's all around unfortunately, and they're doing me such a big favour by letting me stay that I haven't got the heart to correct them. XZ I've had a talk to my friend's mother about it, but they have a five year old little girl who keeps loudly saying things like 'I'll go play with the girls!' that make me cringe so badly...T.T