Many thanks to Dr Ntanos and the Manchester team, even more so in these difficult times. A BIG, BIG THANKS!!
Against all the odds.Definitely, It wasn't an easy road, and now, the pain and pain relievers, bandages and poor mobility (I'm a T-Rex) but I have never felt such freedom and happiness before, I find it hard to believe that it has already happened.
Still, I have two weeks left covered in bandages like a mummy until the "reveal" day, and poor mobility for a few more weeks but still, I can't wait to be fully recovered and uncovered.
Pic: Last Wednesday, 27th January. Finally, after 3 years on T.
Just wanted to pop on here to let everyone know that I had peri areola surgery with Ms Williams last week and I'm open to people asking any questions they have, will do my best to answer if I can!!
Thanks for sharing! Here’s the link to their tumblr - James
(Photo on the left is me in 2013 post original surgery, Photo on the right shows me on 10/06/19 after my revision)
Ok so! It’s done which is a huge relief and it means I can actually use this tumblr for its intended purpose, as a resource for others.
I’ll be putting up regular posts about recovery from my revision so others can inform themselves about the healing process and also about the Manchester team as I know there’s not loads of results from them online.
Post 1:
Account of Surgery:
Procedure: DI with Free Nipple grafts (revision of previous peri-areolar performed by Catherine Milroy in London)
Where: North Manchester General Hospital
Surgeon: Miss Williams (Originally scheduled with Miss Dabritz but she had an emergency)
Before Surgery:
I was due to have surgery on 04/06 so I arrived in Manchester the night before and checked into my hotel. However that evening my operation was cancelled due to an emergency in Miss Dabritz personal life. The next day it was scheduled in for the 10th so I decided to just stay in the North rather than go home and come back. I did a bit of tourist stuff in Manchester and visited family.
My hotel check out date was the 6th but luckily I went to stay with a friend near by for the remainder of the trip so didn’t have to extend the hotel.
On the day:
I was scheduled for an 11.30am arrival so I got up early, packed everything I would need and waiting for my Dad to pick me up.
We arrived at the hospital and waiting in a quiet waiting room in the day surgery unit. I saw a couple of people at intervals, first the admissions nurse, then the anaesthetist and finally I was called through to change, my Dad wasn’t allowed to come with me but that’s okay. I appreciated the quiet time.
My surgeon came to mark my chest up and then I was taken down to the theatres.
One of the Machines wasn’t working in the anaesthetic room so I was put under on the operating table. I didn’t mind because I’m not afraid of medical stuff and all the staff were very friendly. I was given a different anaesthetic to the one I have last time, this one made my head swim and it felt like actual passing out rather than falling asleep.
I woke up what felt like seconds later, very woozy but not in pain. I don’t remember much from the 2 hours I spent in recovery. My first clear memory is seeing my Dad as I was wheeled into my bay on the ward. He had brought me a kitkat to go with the Ensure I was sipping.
The ward was a male urology ward and is the usual ward that guys who have top surgery go to apparently (F3). All the nurses were really good and friendly and it was fairly quiet, though having the eye mask, neck pillow and ear plugs was 100% necessary!.
That night I felt fine, tender and carrying my drains around but no major pain. I could stand up and walk around, I even changed into my own clothes unassisted and went to the toilet. The next day I had more pain due to a small bleed from one of my drains that caused swelling. This delayed my discharge by a few hours because they had to make sure it wasn’t a hematoma. It wasn’t, and my buddy came to pick me up that afternoon.
Next time: Drain removal and the journey back to London
Just spoken to the secretary for Miss Dabritz at Manchester as I’m trying to make my referral decision and thought the current wait times might be of interest to others:
First appointment: 3 to 4 months
From referral to surgery: approximately 8 to 10 months
HOWEVER, one of the surgeons is going on mat leave really soon and they’re not sure what cover is going to be provided, so waiting times may increase in the near future. Also, for anyone curious like me (in part due to a lack of post op pics online), they estimate they do around 60 ops on guys a year.
I’ve just met with Miss Dabritz for top surgery who’s said that I’ll be getting drains, I thought this wasn’t common practice in the UK? I’ll have the drains in for 2 nights and then will have to go back and get them taken out, I dont mind cos I’m still getting the surgery, but still don’t know anyone else who’s had drains? P.s. my first appointment was the 19th and was told the surgery will be autumn time.
This is common practice for Ms Dabritz, and some other surgeons in the UK. Everyone, or at least almost everyone, who has had surgery with the Manchester team will have had drains.
I just want to say thank you to EVERYONE who has helped me to this point today. I honest to God wouldn’t have been able to get this far without every single one of you, kicking me up the arse, supporting me, making me laugh, holding me when I’ve cried, liked all of my arse selfies, the support I have received throughout my transition has been so overwhelming, I have realised that I really am so loved and it has been so very very overwhelming, I mean I had two cars of people drop me off to just get admitted last night, “two people per bed” and five of them all pour into my bed 💙 I cannot even find anywhere near enough words to even start to thank each and every one of you for everything you’ve done. YOU got me here, YOU kept me up, YOU held my hand, YOU pushed me, YOU made me laugh. Thank YOU
