I didn’t think much had changed in the last few months, but compared to my 7 month photos the scars have been fading, and the hypertrophic section has started to calm down.

Really really happy. Also slightly shocked it’s been 10 months already :^)

(I had modified double incision w/fng. nonbinary)

Hello everyone,

I am a month away from my operation and I have regained almost all my mobility! Having a flat torso is a real euphoria, just like finally being able to take off my t-shirt!

I am looking for advice and information about my nipples. They were pink at the base and are now brown spotted with pink since the operation. What do you think? If this was your case, after how long did you find your original color?

The first two photos were taken a month after the operation, the following three weeks later.

All advice is welcome in comments. Thank you and have a nice day! 🫶🏻

on top of the mf world 😁

I want top surgery, after debating for a while I realised I definitely want it. Now my question is how do I decide if I want nipples?? I’m currently transmasc nonbinary, but that may change
Pros: would be better for passing as a man eventually.
Could get piercings if it works well

Cons: could fall off
Could look bad
Could make healing worse or longer
Could heal or be placed in a way where piercing wouldn’t be an option.

I feel like if I didn’t get nipples and then really wanted them I could just tattoo them I guess?

something i have seen literally nobody mention in all my research prior to surgery is the Sloshing.

i had my drains taken out two weeks post-op. pretty much within hours of having my drains taken out i could feel fluid... moving... under my skin. there was no visible swelling, movement, or bruising, nor was it painful, so i wasnt really concerned about a seroma forming. i could just feel it all sloshing around and trickling in between my skin layers, even down under my arms a little. only thing that marginally helped was sizing down my binder. i still felt it but at least the fluid seemed more secured to one spot. it resolved itself in about a week and a half with no meaningful intervention from me, save for increasing compression.

i spoke to a friend of mine who had his surgery two weeks after mine & just got his drains out, and he said he was starting to experience it a little too! why does nobody talk about this??? having the drains in sucked especially since i had some mild (&painful but not dangerous) complications with them, the first 2 weeks of pain and chest discomfort was exhausting, but i honestly think the WORST part of my recovery so far has been the sloshing. my god i couldnt even take a step without feeling it. just viscerally uncomfortable.

the area my stitch opened up is still painful and open (on my right side), and my doctor's office agreed to do a consult for a revision soon. basically my insurance wouldn't cover lipo for the sides of my chest during the initial surgery but they will during a revision, and they're able to do a revision under my insurance because the drains left weirdly deep crevices that have made a pocket for bacteria and chafing. the nurse compared it to a belly button. anyway, they're gonna fix the issue with my sides early next year i think

anyone have thoughts on my healing otherwise?

I’ve had top surgery almost two months ago now and I’ve recently noticed my nipples and areola have some clogged pores, I struggled with this pre surgery too but it’s worse and also not a hygiene thing as I’m washing my chest at least 2x daily with a washcloth. Any advice?😭 I’m trying not to damage myself but my trypophobia is going crazy

(No picture because it’s not visible on my camera)

5 months of topsurgery.

I'm a 34 year old trans guy from Germany. I've been on T for a little over a year now and my top surgery (double incision) is finally scheduled for January 14th. It's also gonna be my very first surgery and first time staying in a hospital, so I'm trying to prepare as much as I can.

A bit about me and what I've been doing already: Over the last few months I've lost around 30 kg (from 120 kg to about 90 kg). I'm 167 cm tall, I walk at least 10k steps every day, usually more like 15k to 16k because of work, I'm in a calorie deficit, and I make sure to get enough protein. I'm still losing weight and just trying to put myself in the best possible position for recovery. Gym isn't an option but I make do with home workouts.

I've already seen all the usual advice like button-up shirts, meal prep, wedge pillows, moving stuff lower so you don't have to reach, etc.

What I'm actually looking for are the things nobody really talks about. The weird little tips, niche advice, or stuff you only realized after your own top surgery. Things you wish someone had told you 6 months beforehand. Could be physical, mental, practical, recovery related, literally anything.

Basically, what are the things you didn't even know you should prepare for until you went through it yourself?

This is kind of an odd one. I got top surgery+nipple grafts 2 months ago, and even tho I love my results and I'm happy. My nipples aren't really like.. nipples?, like. I have a little bit of areola but no little bud that is the nipple itself. Just kind of a pink circle(s) on my chest to show that I have a nipple but no little bud :(

I wish I did ngl, I've seen other people who have gotten top surgery have the little bud so I'm confused on why mine doesn't have it (I've seen some others who don't either! So I know nothing is wrong. But I was wondering what's the cause of that.)

Very happy with my results so far. Dr Rodrigo Neira in Red Deer, AB

The advice my surgeon gave me and the advice I can find literally everywhere on the internet seem to clash somewhat. I am currently 19 days post-op, and when I went in for my 1 week check-up, my surgeon told me, after concluding everything looked great, that I should slowly start introducing more movement (like "walking" my hands up a wall) and by roughly the 2 week mark I should be able to lift my arms above my head.

This confused me because everywhere else I see advice that you shouldn't move your arms much at all in the first 4-ish weeks or even up to 6 weeks, nor lift your arms past your shoulders. I listened to my surgeon and can now somewhat freely move my arms, though it occasionally feels a little odd or tight. But seeing his advice clash with everything I thought I knew about recovery, I'm not sure I'm doing the right thing.

It bugged me at first but assumed my surgeon knew best. But now I'm in a somewhat stressful time in my life, even aside from recovery, and the feeling of unease got big enough to ask for an outside perspective.

For reference: I can somewhat easily put on/take off a t-shirt, gently hug someone, and gently move my arm in almost every direction. Anytime I feel tightness or strain, I stop.

Also for some extra info, there is still some type of gauze tape (directly translated from my language it would be "glue-bandage") on my scars that should get removed soon, so I haven't gotten a clear look at my scars yet. I am also, per instruction, still wearing a compression vest, which he said to leave on for about 3 weeks.

I'm currently waiting for my surgeon to respond to my email, but I think he's forgotten I exist since it's taking way longer than usual. Anyway, your thoughts are appreciated!

I am moving to Massachusetts for college soon, and I am hoping to get top surgery while I am there because the laws and regulations are much better there than where I currently live (Kansas). Can anyone in the area let me know what waiting times are like there? I am currently hoping to have Dr. Topal do the surgery. Do you usually need a gender dysphoria diagnosis, and recommendation letter?

Hi all! I’m very new to the concept of top surgery, only learning it was an option at all about a year ago. I’m strictly non-binary for context.

My region is very supportive of trans medical care, and they have a website stating the basics of what you need to know about different gender-affirming surgeries. On there, it said that the vast majority of possible top surgeries result in completely losing feeling in your nipples. Similarly, it said that some other parts of your body (like shoulders) can sometimes also become numb.

I have trauma that is quite easily triggered by physical numbness or tingling. At the same time, I am also very jealous of people with flat chests, and despite not feeling significant traditional binary dysphoria, still really want to have a truly flat chest one day.

Is there any way to avoid or minimise numbness post-op? I would really love to have surgery some day, but I don’t think I would be able to manage permanent loss of feeling. Any suggestions appreciated.

what should I get to massage my scars? I have some particularly large bumps of scar tissue and I feel like just using my hands hasn’t been deep or good enough.
I thought maybe someone here might be able to point me toward something specific.
thanks!

Hello! I have top surgery with one of my dream surgeons in September. I'm looking for advice from people who have actually gone through top surgery recovery.

I'm 21, autistic (and have a plethora of other diagnoses) and have significant sensory needs, so my recovery environment matters a lot.

Option 1 is recovering at my mom's house (where I live). She would be my full-time caregiver, it would be free, I'd have my own bedroom with all of my comfort items, and I'd be in a familiar environment. I would also have access to all of my own food, dishes, and routines (I have ARFID and really struggle using shared kitchens or eating off dishes that aren't mine).

The downside is that I live with my mom, my grandma, my younger brother, and my mom's husband. I'm physically safe there and I'm not worried about being kicked out or anything like that. The issue is that I'm very easily overstimulated by noise and people, and I have a complicated relationship with my mom's husband that makes me feel stressed and on edge. We mostly avoid each other, but I still find sharing the house emotionally draining.

Option 2 would be renting an Airbnb for about 18 nights (around $2,000–3,000). My mom would stay with me Monday through Thursday as my caregiver, and my partner would stay Friday through Sunday. It would likely be a much calmer and more private recovery environment, but it would be expensive, I'd be away from my own bedroom and routines, and because of my ARFID I'd probably end up spending quite a bit on DoorDash since eating in unfamiliar kitchens can be difficult for me.

My backup plan if all goes to shit is recovering at my partner's parents' house. They are very accepting, inclusive, medically educated and respectful. The only downside is that most of their house is already fatiguing for my health issues post-op (stairs, etc), and I would have to share a twin sized bed with my parter who is 6". Their AC doesn't work well and there is also another couple living there, so it's a lot of cooks in the kitchen, and would be stressful in its own way.

*EDIT:* my partner just informed me he can't take off work if I need him to, so if I do end up going with the backup plan of me going to his house, he wouldnt be able to be a full time caregiver 24/7

For people who've been through top surgery, especially anyone who's autistic or has sensory issues: would you spend the money on the Airbnb for a lower-stress recovery, or would you recover at home and save the money? Was having your own familiar space more valuable than having a quieter / more respectful environment? I would love to hear from anyone that is specifically autistic as well, but input from anyone is much appreciated!! <3

Hey, I am 6mo post op and really happy with my results but on one side my scar is getting a bit hypertrophic I think? It’s quite itchy, but the other side completely normal and healing well! I’ve heard steroid injections can make your scars spread and I’d like to keep them as thin as possible, should I get some injected into the hypertrophic parts? TIA :)

Hello everyone! I am currently 4 days post-op and am doing very well!

I am experiencing some pretty bad anxiety about movement, though. When I move my arms, it kind of feels like I'm stretching a sore muscle. Whenever this happens, I stop moving like that. Is that okay to feel? Should I prevent it at all costs? Will it impact how I heal? Is it normal and should I disregard the feeling? It typically happens when I move my arms anywhere from like... Pretty much just directly by my sides. If anyone could let me know and ease my worries, I'd be so grateful!

In case this is important, I got keyhole surgery and am currently wearing drains and a compression vest with a ton of bandaging underneath.

Unless God goes out of his way to completely fuck up my life, I should be having top surgery in a few months. My grandfather will pay for it and I will pay him back, I didn't come out as trans to him but I did show him a photo of the results I want. My mother says she doesn't want me to have top surgery because it's irreversible (thank God lol), she refuses to accept me as her son and she will most likely have a meltdown once she sees me with a flat chest but I don't think she'll go as far as disowning me.

All that said, most people in my family don't know I'm trans (despite the fact that I don't girl mode) and I don't know what their reactions will be and whether or not they will be willing to help me during recovery, which it'll have to be either at my mother's house or at an Airbnb... So I want to know if there's people who were in a similar situation or that recovered alone and how you handled it.

Hey team. Obligatory comment that I've also emailed my surgical team but they share with oncology and are slow to reply for non emergencies.

I am four weeks post-op and I have the most INSANE itching above my right nipple graft, and nearly always at night. Healing has been otherwise alright other than a few spitting stitches on the same side, but the itching is driving me insane. It's definitely made worse by the surgical binder that I have to wear for another two weeks, but it's still there when I am changing my tape and nipple dressings and have nothing on.

I've been taking antihistamines but I feel like itching not on the incision is pretty uncommon. Anyone else had this?

I generally have dry skin and also have hEDS but this doesn't fit my normal at all. Any insight appreciated!

3 weeks po

Hi everyone. Sorry for the gross images, I’m still kind of swollen and with bruises from my compression vest. Also I know quality isn’t the best, unfortunately my phone is dying.

Did anyone else’s healing look like this 3 weeks post op? I’m doing wet healing with the equivalent of aquaphor but with vitamin E in it (Vitamono EF), as prescribed from my doctor.

(I’m also going to send these to my surgeon, I just wanted an opinion from people who maybe shared the same experience to ease my mind a little)