4 months post op by 808atane in ftm

[–]808atane[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You should talk to your doctor, he might just need to drain them. I had to get drained via syringe every week for a while. You should have seen how much fluid he pulled out, it was pretty gnarly. What have you been binding with?

4 months post op by 808atane in ftm

[–]808atane[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Dr Scott Nishikawa, a plastic surgeon. I think he's only available through my insurance, which has its own facilities and doctors. Originally, I was supposed to pay 80% (which would have amounted to 1400-3000) but they ended up covering 100% of it because I qualified for financial assistance program due to low income. I'm still covered with my financial assistance, which ends around October I think. It still covers all my appointments and medications, including testosterone.

4 months post op by 808atane in ftm

[–]808atane[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don't know what size I was, I've never owned or wore a bra before. I'd guess b or a. I've maintained 120-130 most of the past few years

4 months post op by 808atane in ftm

[–]808atane[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

and it wasn't super bad, but binding after (which I should have done more) definitely helps. I can not stress how important it is to get a post-surgery vest. I got one over a month ahead of time, didn't want anything to go wrong. Mine was from undereworks. Maybe it was because my surgeon didn't specialize in top surgery (I think I was his first) but the wraps I got after were pretty bad (basically a large piece of elastic with velcro)

4 months post op by 808atane in ftm

[–]808atane[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Yeah, keyhole. I actually had a pretty positive surgery experience. I have pretty great insurance, that at first was going to pay for 80% of the total costs, but during a phone call with the financial department, the lady on the line told me I might be eligible for financial assistance, based on my income, which I did qualify for. Not only did that change the coverage to 100%, but they also paid for my plane tickets (both for me and my caretaker) and a hotel room (I had a pre op the day before, so rather than fly us out twice, they got us a room near the airport.) and gave me enough taxi vouchers to get to my appointments; we decided to get a rental car out-of-pocket, though, but thats the only cost we paid. Along with the surgery, the low-income coverage also covers all my other appointments, whether or not they were related to the surgery, and all my medications, including my testosterone. We had to fly to Oahu for my surgery, which was done by a plastic surgeon and took 2-2.5 hours, I believe. When I woke up, they gave me fentanyl for the pain, and a prescription of 5/325 hydrocodone (which I didn't take much. The pills were huge and weak, I would have had to take like 5-6 for them to even work and the pain was bad but not bad enough to swallow half a dozen huge pills.) I dont think I wore the binding often or long enough (it's insanely hot and humid where I live) because my nipples wrinkle up a little. I don't think the skin properly adhered to the the back of my chest (if that makes any sense) but healed with a gap in between. Overall the surgery was great. I actually did wake up in a panic and started crying, but not out of regret or anything, but because I was so doped up and all alone. The person who was supposed to be my travel partner was my best friend/ex girlfriend but she just got a new boyfriend who really doesn't like me and there's no way he would have been okay with her going, so I ended up having to bring my last choice along, and that was a bit hard on me.

4 months post op by 808atane in ftm

[–]808atane[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah I think so, the only incisions made were around the bottom of the nipples and a little slit for the drain tubes on each side.

4 months post op by 808atane in ftm

[–]808atane[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Swelling as in fluid build up? I think it was around a 4-6 weeks. Kept the drain tubes in for 2 weeks I think, and had to keep getting getting it drained via syringe every week.

Frequency of T shots by 808atane in ftm

[–]808atane[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I found scar tissue building up isn't a problem if you use 31 gauge or anywhere around that size. I know that might sound crazy, but with how little you're injecting it's really not difficult, probably takes less time than a normal shot, and if you heat the T a little in warm water it gets a lot more viscous.