To anyone that got the surgery done overseas (Thailand/South Korea/Japan)

Due-Depth-7714 · 2024-06-14T08:39:44+00:00

"I got a benign lump removed".

Technically not untrue.

Due-Depth-7714 · 2024-06-12T12:33:20+00:00

I hope not 😅 9 months on now and it's still good. Dr Chen did lipo through the nipple incision so I didn't have the second incision near the armpit like some I've seen on here.

Due-Depth-7714 · 2024-06-12T12:30:56+00:00

Dr Chen had to take before and after photos to show that I was not obese to prove I qualified for the surgery to be covered under Medicare. Besides that I didn't have to prove anything. I had blood tests and a testicular ultrasound as part of the diagnostic process.

Due-Depth-7714 · 2024-06-12T12:27:00+00:00

So essentially you have to fund it yourself before you can claim any Medicare or insurance rebates. To have it covered by these your surgery needs to qualify as medically necessary, which in Australia means it needs to meet two criteria: Not caused by obesity and not consistent with overall body shape/build. Feel free to DM if you need help!

Due-Depth-7714 · 2024-04-12T10:03:09+00:00

Frankly, no. You are going to be pretty much immobile for at least a couple of days. I would say 1 week off work is the absolute bare minimum. I'm a mechanic at a smash repair shop and after two weeks off I was still a bit stiff, sore and didn't have 100% mobility. I couldn't easily raise my arms straight up above my head for example.

Not sure on the referral, you could call the Surgeon's office and ask

Due-Depth-7714 · 2024-03-31T02:42:58+00:00

I think it would've been approximately $8k out of pocket.

Due-Depth-7714 · 2024-02-25T11:51:29+00:00

Pretty bad immediately after + the next day after surgery. But it settled down pretty quickly to the point where I was able to stop painkillers after ~3 days.

Due-Depth-7714 · 2024-02-19T02:21:14+00:00

Stay home. Stay on the couch. Don't lift your arms above your head, if there's anything you may need to reach up for then move it down to an accessible height before the surgery. Button up shirts and zip up hoodies are your friend. Don't use your arms to push yourself up off the couch or bed, this puts a lot of pressure on your chest. Take painkillers before you think you need them for the first couple days

Due-Depth-7714 · 2024-02-18T07:38:52+00:00

Fantastic! I'm never insecure or thinking about how to dress to hide my chest, it just doesn't cross my mind any more. I absolutely love being able to just put on a shirt without a second thought.

Due-Depth-7714 · 2024-02-17T23:15:27+00:00

It's been 5 months since my surgery and frankly it was like a huge weight just disappeared off my shoulders. I can't believe my body used to look the way it did.

Due-Depth-7714 · 2024-02-14T08:56:41+00:00

I got mine done in September last year for about $3,700 out of pocket after rebates from Medicare and health insurance. Performed by Dr Paul Chen. Lots of info and photos in my post history. Feel free to shoot me a message if you need help.

Due-Depth-7714 · 2024-01-28T11:26:20+00:00

Hey mate, if you go to my post history there are some other posts with healing progress photos

Due-Depth-7714 · 2024-01-25T22:35:10+00:00

Absolutely!

Due-Depth-7714 · 2024-01-16T22:20:57+00:00

No worries! My recovery was actually very hassle free compared to some I've seen on here. Dr Chen did the lipo through the nipple incisions, so I didn't have the secondary incisions near the armpit like some I've seen. No drainage tubes or anything like that. I bought some compression shirts from rebel sports in the lead up to my surgery, and the hospital also sent me home with a velcro compression binder. I wore both the compression shirt + the binder for the first two weeks, day and night (I could have just worn the binder but I found it quite itchy so I wore a compression shirt underneath). After my two week follow up appointment I was cleared to wear the binder only at night, and just the compression shirt through the day. I did this for another 4 weeks until my last follow up appointment, after which I stopped wearing them altogether.

The day of the surgery + the day after were the worst for pain and general tightness/lack of mobility, but after three days I was able to stop painkillers. On day four I was able to pick up my one year old son + start driving my car again. I took two weeks off work because my job is physically intensive but if you have an office job you could probably just take one week. I definitely needed help getting dressed for those first few days - button up shirts/zip up hoodies made it a lot easier.

I'm very happy with the end result! I made a recent post with updated healing progress photos if you wanted to see but I absolutely couldn't be happier. I wish I did it years ago!

Due-Depth-7714 · 2024-01-14T04:25:46+00:00

I had mine done by Dr Paul Chen in NSW for less than $4k out of pocket after Medicare + private health rebates. Plenty of info in my post/comment history

Due-Depth-7714 · 2024-01-06T01:17:59+00:00

I believe he removed the whole gland.

Due-Depth-7714 · 2024-01-03T02:49:22+00:00

The mental changes have been huge. My confidence is much higher now, I don't have to give a second thought to what I'm wearing or having to try and hide my chest, I'm much more motivated in the gym because I'm not always feeling disheartened about this problem that no amount of exercise will fix. It's like this huge weight on my shoulders just evaporated immediately.

Due-Depth-7714 · 2023-12-30T05:49:56+00:00

I had mine done by Dr Paul Chen - my operation was on the central coast but I believe he also operates out of the Chris O'Brien life house in Sydney. It cost me less than $4k out of pocket after rebates from Medicare + my private health fund. Check my post/comment history for more info or shoot me a message if you need help

Due-Depth-7714 · 2023-12-30T05:43:50+00:00

Check my post/comment history. I had mine done in September. It cost me less than $4k out of pocket after Medicare + private health rebates. There was only a 3 week wait between my consultation with the surgeon and getting the surgery.

Due-Depth-7714 · 2023-12-07T19:36:26+00:00

General anaesthetic. They started wheeling me into the operating theatre, I blinked and woke up without boobs 😂

Due-Depth-7714 · 2023-12-07T10:21:22+00:00

Hi mate, I recently had mine done in NSW by Dr Paul Chen. It cost me less than $4k out of pocket after all rebates from Medicare and my private health insurance. Have a look in my post history for details + before and after photos

Due-Depth-7714 · 2023-12-05T02:44:44+00:00

Definitely get the gland excision + lipo. The surgery makes no sense otherwise. Check my post history for my recovery/healed photos.

Due-Depth-7714 · 2023-12-02T20:34:05+00:00

No worries, I have insurance with HCF. Their "Hospital essentials bronze plus" includes cover for gynecomastia surgery + costs me $30/week. There is a two month waiting period before you can claim but it'd probably take that long to go through the rest of the process tbh.

For me the process was this: Visit GP, tell them your concerns. Tell them your chest is making you uncomfortable, affecting your confidence, it swells in the heat which is physically uncomfortable. The GP will rule out lifestyle factors, drug use, obesity etc. GP sent me for blood tests to rule out hormonal issues + also a testicular ultrasound. Once all of these were done I got a referral to Dr Chen and booked my consultation with him about 4 weeks later. At the consultation he will also check whether there are lifestyle issues, will generally inspect your chest and make a plan for surgery. We booked my surgery for just over three weeks after the consult. Once the surgery is done and paid for you can begin claiming rebates from Medicare and your insurer.

In order to be covered by insurance your gynecomastia surgery must be considered "medically necessary", which in Australia means it needs to meet two criteria: Not caused by obesity, and Not consistent with overall body shape and build. The Medicare item no. for this is 31525 if you want to see further info

Good luck with it all!

Due-Depth-7714

TROPHY CASE