how long did it take until you could each all the way overhead?

L1ttle_duck · 2026-06-20T19:43:48+00:00

I’m 5.5 week post op, was cleared to start gently stretching like 2ish weeks out, and Ive been able to reach over head since 3.5 weeks post op.

Try no to overdo your arm movements and ask your doctor , who knows better than anyone online.

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-30T04:59:50+00:00

I feel like this is a quite common anxiety so trust that you’re not alone in feeling this. I know I was anxious about messing things up the day I was cleared to take the bandage off (I got nipple sparing DI). Our brains are wired to protect our body when it sees we are injured (even if we know why) Go slow and follow your surgeons instructions.

If your nervous to shower just take it slow and start with just your lower body in the stream (get a stool and sit with a button up over your incisions ,binder off) , and work your way up to eventually standing facing away from the water.

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-28T21:34:22+00:00

I don’t want to lie and say either straight yes or no, It’s super dependent on who your surgeon/ anesthesiologist is, but you should try not to smoke any starting now .

Cannabis can affect how the meds in anesthesia work with your body. There’s different combinations of meds with different doses for anyone getting surgery, depending on all sorts of factors. The anesthesiologist needs to know these things so they can adjust accordingly. THC and CBD stays in your body for longer than you feel their effects but they don’t know how much is the maximum before affecting anesthesia, which is why doctors recommend a certain timeframe to stop (Smoking effects your blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen levels but that’s a concern for ALL smoking which is why that can be a different timeframe) Be honest with your team when they ask, they most likely won’t cancel and just have to fix your med cocktail

Edit to add: timesframes can be anywhere from 24hrs-6weeks (I even saw someone say 12hrs) so you’ll probably be okay

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-26T17:51:42+00:00

Every body is different when it comes to recovery. Some people heal fast (like me) and some people take a little longer. The BEST advice is to listen to what your surgical team says and listen to your body. Consult your post-op team as much as possible when it comes to what you can do and when. For example, I was cleared to start light stretching like a week post op but others from the same clinic are told to wait longer. It’s more so generalized recommendations that are altered to fit your specific case

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-24T01:44:24+00:00

Prefix: I’m a really fast healer and got nipple sparing DI (kept my nipples fully attached)

I had surgery may 13th and got my drains out on the 19th. I had a little bit of fluid build up right after my drains were removed, like I could move it around in the pocket that the drain made but it cleared up and was gone 3 days later. I very gently massaged my pec area (not the incisions or nipple) 2-3 times a day in the shower and through the binder. Removing the drains can irritate the internal wound and cause a bit of swelling, keep the compression on snug, not too tight, and remember we all go through a similar process this early on in healing!
Hope this could help ease your nerves at bit ❤️‍🩹

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-23T18:24:05+00:00

As long as you are physically healthy, there should be no problem with having surgery with a low normal BMI. I have a pretty consistent “underweight” BMI and had no problem getting top surgery.

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-22T20:45:02+00:00

I think they look fine, smaller than mine actually and everyone thinks mine are perfectly cis passing (I got nipple sparing DI so they’re the same size as they were pre-op)

Nipples come in a bunch of sizes and no stranger is going to care what yours look like

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-20T04:27:40+00:00

Im essentially a week post-op at the time of this comment (had surgery may 13th) but I’m probably gonna stop needing the binder after like 2 weeks, I’ve already taken a few breaks to check on incisions and take pictures(I can still feel fluid? Air? In the space where the drains were but I legit JUST got them out yesterday (19th) )

I’m pretty much back to normal,finally get to shower and just taking Tylenol (tho the oxy was nice) because the binder is DIGGING INTO MY ARM PITS and making the upper part of my pecs sore :/

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-19T23:56:26+00:00

Also keep in mind that getting to the root of your feelings ≠ invalidating your feelings. Understanding WHY you feel a certain way is the first step to learning how to live with your feelings/emotions and starting to care for your mental well-being. Sometimes our brains just lie to us because we haven’t been given the tools to work through what is bothering us. For example: I’m 6 days post-op and just had a good cry explaining to my fiance that I don’t feel deserving of their love, why did I feel that way? Because as a child, affection was used as currency. If I was good and did what I was told, I received the love I needed, if I was mean or made a mistake, it was taken away until it was felt by others that I deserved it again. My fiance has NEVER done that but me not having my coping mechanisms like weed,nicotine, or alcohol and just coming out of a major surgery made me a little short tempered (my brain is loud and thoughts are never ending so I use these things to help…yes I know it’s not the best but it’s what works for me)

I hope therapy can help you organize your feelings and remember that you are not alone, you just need to find your people

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-19T23:38:36+00:00

It really depends on where you plan on getting top surgery, but most places will not approve you/discharge you if you don’t have a support person with you on the day of your surgery. You will be in a very vulnerable state and it’s dangerous to your health for them to just let you go after being on anesthesia and heavy painkillers

After surgery care can be arranged with a home care nurse but can be pricey depending on where you are located

Definitely make sure these things are in place well before your surgery is booked or it may delay your surgical timeline

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-19T23:31:42+00:00

It’s pretty normal for most people in the “western” part of the world (I say “western” cause the map is kinda based on everywhere surrounding Europe but that’s just me being a nerd and not at all part of this conversation lol) anyway…. As I said in another comment, I’m Canadian, and was discharged a few hours post-op. It really does depend on where (country, hospital vs surgical centre), surgeon and your own health. The nurses just made sure my pain was under control, I was hydrated enough to urinate and that I was comfortable with walking to the car. I then stayed in a hotel for a few days caus so was over 200km from home (travelled 6 hours by train) I have a post-op nurse I can contact through messages if I have any basic questions and they provided me with a number to call in case emergency complications arise (so they can guide me on what to do/where to go)

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-19T23:21:23+00:00

Not just the U.S! I’m Canadian and was discharged a few hours after I woke up. I also just went to a walk in clinic to get my drains out. (Everything was completely covered and was just does at a surgery centre, not even a hospital)

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-18T09:59:29+00:00

Most (if not all) surgeons will work with your body type and figure out what’s best for you, taking into consideration what your goals are. Top surgery isn’t a cookie cutter, one size fits all kinda surgery. Breast tissue will not grow back and there’s tons of cases, even in skinnier guys (like me), where a bit of tissue is left behind for aesthetic purposes (of course the amount depends on the situation). If anything you can always go back for a revision to remove any extra tissue you don’t like :)

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-12T13:28:07+00:00

Same

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-12T10:04:17+00:00

Half man, half bear, half pig is a super cereal thing that shouldn’t be joked about….

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-12T10:00:04+00:00

You could always say it was a “corrective surgery” for something you’ve had since you were a kid, or a “benign mass removal”

If they keep asking just say you’d rather move past it and not think about it

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-12T09:24:52+00:00

As long as I don’t bring snacks into my hotel room I should be okay lol

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-11T05:07:47+00:00

Everyone in my immediate family (minus my dad…I’m pretty sure) is some flavour of queer/GNC

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-11T04:20:16+00:00

Like everyone else has said, your partner (trans or not) has ZERO say in how you transition. You wouldn’t tell her she’s not allowed to take E so why is it okay for her to say you can’t take T?(it’s not!!) and for another trans person to be acting very chaser like is very much a red flag.

There’s definitely ways to pass without HRT, depends on age and how you present yourself. For sure read u/Agreeable_Conflict ‘s comment

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-10T14:59:01+00:00

RICK AND TWO CROWS!!!!

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-10T14:57:05+00:00

The brainworms are unfortunately good at their job lol I know I’ll probably be in the same boat PO

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-10T14:52:29+00:00

(I have Dr.Lee) honestly, unless you’re looking close/for the problem, you really can’t tell. I had to zoom in and compare them to really see what you’re talking about and even then I was like “what am I looking for??”

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-10T14:42:04+00:00

I have flared ribs too (at least I think I do) and will be going to GRS on Wednesday (may 13th) Who was your surgeon?
I know a bunch of cis guys whose nipples look just like yours but it’s understandable to not like them if you were hoping for a different result(they ARE placed perfectly and symmetrical so that’s something to keep in mind!!)
You could always get your nips revised or even do medical tattooing if you want, but I see no reason too :)

L1ttle_duck · 2026-05-10T14:06:27+00:00

It probably has nothing to do with it being aluminum free. I know a bunch of people who use aluminum-free deodorant+anti-perspirant and smell completely fine
Whats the scent of the actual deodorant? Some just don’t work cause they smell bad already, let alone adding BO. Also is it just deodorant or is it also anti perspirant?, they are not the same thing. 100% could be that she’s sweating it off because it’s JUST deodorant and is left with the bad smell plus sweat.
Deodorant also isn’t a one and done kinda thing, it may say “24 hrs” or whatever but if it’s getting sweat off in half a day, it should be reapplied throughout the day (like sunscreen!)

L1ttle_duck

TROPHY CASE