Things to Know When Getting Top Surgery
- It’s not as scary as it seems. You’ll be awake one minute, preparing for top surgery and be awaking up after top surgery (wondering if it really happened) the next.
- Chamomile tea and Benadryl can both help with itchiness after top surgery.
- You should not take T for a week after top surgery.
- Do not use icepacks or hot packs after top surgery (as they can destroy the healing skin).
- Bendy straws are your friend.
- You will probably need someone to help you sit up and lay down.
- Rest the first two days after top surgery, even if you don’t feel like you need to, you will thank yourself later.
- You can ask as many questions as you want. Getting top surgery is going to effect the rest of your life so you should ask any and all questions you have. You can also request certain specifications done to your chest.
- Drains may seems scary but they prevent some of the swelling and they promote healing. After your drains are out a lot of your pain goes away but the drains are definitely worth it.
- Always have someone with you for 24 hours after your surgery.
- The ace bandages that you have to wear after top surgery will feel a bit tight but won’t hurt nearly as much as binding.
- It might be hard to get on and off of high beds and chairs so make sure you have a step stool handy.
- Use pillows to prop yourself up.
- You have to sleep on your back after top surgery and should do so for 3 months if you get nipple grafts (the recommended time for sleeping on your back varies depending on who you ask but I still recommend 3 months just to be careful).
- After top surgery you should not lift your elbow above your shoulder for a few weeks (usually 6) or until you are healed.
- After top surgery you can not lift any more then five pounds (for about six weeks).
- Buy some button up/zip up shirts that are a couple sizes too big for you. You’ll need these to go over your drains.
- Shave your armpits before top surgery. The hair will get in the way of your bandages and possibly the surgeon while preforming surgery if you don’t.
- Go around the place you will be staying after top surgery with “T-rex” arms to see what maybe a problem for you after surgery and find a solution to it before you get home. (Ex. if you have to reach far into your sink to wash your hands it may be best to get a washbasin).
- If your results aren’t perfect they can always be revised.
- If your nipples are smaller then you’d like them to be, or oval when you want them to be round then you can always get a tattoo artist to tattoo around the outside of them to fix those imperfections. You can also get your nipples tattooed on instead of the nipple grafts.
- The nipple grafts require three weeks of dressings after surgery while the rest of your chest does not need nearly as much work.
- Your chest won’t look great after top surgery but over time it will look a lot better. They recommend waiting at least 3 months to a year after your surgery to get revisions.
- You might be really nauseous after top surgery and you might not be able to eat normal foods right away. Get some sourdough bread and ginger ale the day before your top surgery and allow the ginger ale to flatten just in case you can’t eat normal food.
- Have someone to talk to about what you are going through really helps.
(These are just recommendations and are in no way strict guidelines for what you should do when getting top surgery. I am also not a medical professional, so if you plan on following the above advice please ask the opinion of your doctor or surgeon before hand.)
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