Top Surgery Recovery Questions

[loren1]

Hey guys,

So I've been thinking a lot about top surgery more recently, and I had some questions that it's been difficult to find answers to, just because they are probably very weird specific questions. I imagine I'd be getting double incision so it would apply probably to just this surgery, since the recovery may be more involved.

One of the first things I was wondering is right after you get top surgery and you are waking up in a recovery room, how covered are you? I know I'll have had top surgery so there obviously won't be man boobs there anymore lol, but I'm very modest and I don't want just bare skin showing? I hate gowns and they make me extremely uncomfortable, but I know I'll have to wear one. But since my parents are insistent on being in the recovery room with me, I was just wondering if I'm completely covered (can't see my stomach, shoulders, etc.).

Also, once you leave the hospital, how independent are you? Are you able to get dressed by yourself? Like again, does anyone have to see you without a lot of clothes on? Can you shower and use the bathroom by yourself? I just want to be as independent as I can possibly be in terms of that.

Finally, for drains, who deals with those when you leave the hospital? Also, are you intubated during the actual procedure?

I know that's a lot of really random weird questions but I'd appreciate anything!

[Dena]

Once the surgery is complete, you will be covered up to your neck. Hospitals are cold places and your body will be chilled from surgery so everybody makes sure when you wake, you will be comfortable. After your awake, if you find the blankets excessive, you can remove what you want.

From what I have seen, you will need to keep your arms down and will not be able to reach anything. This means before surgery everything should be placed at a comfortable lower height. You should have enough food on hand, possibly frozen so you can warm it and eat it. Shirts should have buttons with nothing pulling over your head. For the first week or two, no showers and you will need to use wipes or a sponge bath to clean yourself. It would be handy to have somebody around for at least a few days after surgery but with proper planning you should be able to do much of the care yourself.

You will have to discuss the drains with your doctor. I have seen where the patient maintains them and returns to the doctor for removal. As for intubation, that is almost always done during surgery. The tube will be done after your asleep and removed before you wake. You might have a sore throat but it should clear up pretty quickly.

[loren1]

That really helped answer everything, thanks so much!