Chest Surgery

I find chest surgery to be the first priority for most ftm's (sans hormone therapy). For me, I did it prior to starting the other parts of my transition because I could not take having breast (as a male OR female).

After searching the web for doctors who did top surgery, I came across Dr. Michael Brownstein in San Fransico, CA. From his website, he appeared to be "the man" for the job. However, I was concerned about scheduling with him because of the cost associated with travel etc.... So I decided to seek the advice of fellow ftm's on my yahoo support group ftmsurgerysupport.

I told them where I lived and what I was looking to have done, double incision with nipple grafts. I then received about 10 emails telling me about Dr. Perry Johnson in Omaha, NE. He came highly recommended, and the price was about right too, $5,000.00, free consultation, and free revisions.

After getting over my fear of calling him, I made the appointment for my consultation, then came the surgery. I have to say that I wasn't nervous about having the chest surgery. I just wanted those things off my chest, so I didn't really think about anything else.

I loved my experience with Dr. Johnson and his staff...they treated me as good as I have ever been treated and the results are wonderful! Below are the pictures of the progress that my chest is making.

6 days after surgery

2 years and 1 month after surgery

The lovely drains

The nipples took four more weeks before they were healed

12 days post-op

40 days post-op

Yes, those things are stapled to me--Day 4

They actually didn't hurt, except the ones on the stitch line

30 days post-op

Chest at 94 days.

4 months post-op

Pre and Post Surgery Experience:

I have always been a very athletic person, but in order to get ready for surgery, I began spending some serious time in the weight room so that my pecs would be built up and so after the surgery, I'd have a nice looking chest.

Along with the heavier lifting, I continued working cardio (running 4 to 6 miles, biking for 45 minutes, or the elliptical machine)--6 times a week.

I went into the surgery feeling healthy, and then left the same way.

Things I bought prior to surgery (for recovery):

The week of my surgery, I went out and bought a couple pairs of draw-string pajama bottoms, Mederma scar cream, Cocoa Butter with Vitamin E, Bendy straws and a lot of gatorade.

I wore a zip-up sweat shirt, pajama pants, and slippers to surgery (those are the easiest things to slip on after they are done.) I also left all of my jewlery at home, including my watch, rings, earrings, and necklace (they don't allow metal into the operating room).

Details about the surgery and recovery:

The surgery took about 2 hours, and it took a half an hour to forty-five minutes for me to wake up afterwards. I was then wheeled out to my car and my partner drove me home (you cannot drive yourself, or have a taxi take you somewhere after surgery). Some people get sick from the anesthesia, but I felt pretty comfortable on the way home (Lincoln is 45 minutes away from Omaha).

For recovery, I spent a week out on our reclining couch, sleeping, drinking a lot of fluids, and watching a lot of movies. I couldn't raise my arms, and for the first three days I battled waves of nausea from the anesthesia wearing off...I did not, however, throw up :)

I became pretty depressed by the third day because I felt lonely and really worthless. This feeling stuck with me up till the next week when I went back to work.

I began running 36 days after my surgery, and hope to begin lifting 45 to 50 days after the surgery. I began wearing t-shirts after three weeks, and quit wrapping myself with ace bandages after 35 days.

Now, I'm deep massaging my scars two times a day for 5 minutes each with Cocoa Butter with Vit. E. Things are healing, but I've noticed my scars have become more pink and raised from what they were after I first saw them.