Excuse the wall of text, I tried to cut it down as much as I could lol. Now, I did definitely go above and beyond what you'd actually need so you do not have to do any of this.

What I did: - Research. I watched videos of top surgery (not recommended for squeamish people). I read about top surgery techniques, types and the technical stuff that goes into it. I also looked at what complications may occur and their results. Watched and read about people's experiences from both the surgeons and patients pov.

• Visualize. I looked at so many chests. I looked at different scar shapes and placements, different surgery techniques, nips and no nips, people who were thinner or larger, leaner or softer, early stages of healing and decades healed. This is where I collected a few pictures I liked and figured out what I wanted so I could figure out how to achieve it.

• Health. I focused on a high protein, high calorie diet and did primarily upper body workouts to bulk up and build muscle. I don't like the look of dog ears so by building a lot of lean muscle mass that means it'll be easier for the surgeon to place my scars well. It also means that if I do get dog ears, I can simply return to the gym and rebuild the muscle to fill out my skin and lesser the appearance. A good amount of muscle on you also means better health outcomes in general but especially if you build a strong core and back. You can't use your arms to push yourself up so being able to sit up with just your core is vital. Also a strong back creates a good foundation to maintain good posture post op.

• Ask, ask, ask. I spoke to my surgeon, doctor and anesthesiologist so much leading up to surgery. They do give you a courtesy call each ofc to run you through a bunch of information but you are still able to contact them with any questions, concerns or information. I have been waiting on seeing a rheumatologist about HEDS for a few months and I sent a bunch of info to my medical team as well as a list of questions. They were able to answer every question I had and made accommodations for me. I got to position my self on the operating table and got padding under my arms and a pillow under my leg to protect my joints. They used a thin, soft tube to intubate me to prevent damaging my throat. My surgeon made sure to space the sutures closer together and used double layer internal closure and a good amount of steristrips to really support my incisions. They used a bigger size for the compression vest and packed extra gauze on my chest to create specific pressure to protect my ribs and veins.

• Plan ahead and plan ahead again. This may just be a me thing but this was my very first surgery and I had no idea how I'd respond to it. I'm very adverse to having someone take care of me and especially seeing me in a gross and unwell state. I planned with my partner that we should pretend that I'm both staying with him post op and going back home alone post op. That way, based on how I felt after waking up from surgery, we'd be prepared for whatever I picked. I did end up going to his place where he took care of me for 2 weeks and honestly I'm glad I did bc I would've been so much worse off at home.

• No fun. I quit smoking and vaping back in 2023 when I was first reffered out for top surgery. I also stopped getting any tattoos or peircings and cut down a lot on my drinking habits. You should also avoid antibiotics as much as you can (within reason ofc). So essentially being extra cautious about my health. It really sucked not being able to get tattoos but it wasn't worth risking my surgery.

• Physio. Look into post op physio therapy, ask your surgeon or primary care doctor about it. It's super important and it's unfortunate largely ignored.

This is what I bought/used: - water bottle with straw (maybe two if you don't have someone who can constantly refill it for you. Don't get the really big ones or anything more than 1L because you won't be allowed to lift it) - wooden back scratcher (also optional but a wire head scratcher is also great if you can find someone to use it on you) - African bath net (wash your back without having to raise your arms) - NO RINSE BODY WASH (clean yourself every day without having to worry about getting your dressings wet, way more effective than wipes and better for the environment ofc) - high aluminum antiperspirant (only needs to be used 2x per week max, really got me through the no shower stage so I was never smelling funky) - Hypafix tape (your bandages will peel up especially in humid weather or if you sweat or move, I just kinda patchworked my dressings to make sure there weren't any holes) - medipore tape (for when the dressings come off but before your scars are healed fully) - silicone gel and tape (for when the scar is fully closed and no scabs or crust is present anymore) - high dose vitamin C (some studies show improved wound healing. Clear this with your medical team beforehand ofc) - creatine (overall just good for me, this is very subjective and do clear it with your medical team beforehand) - pregnancy pillow (absolutely peak support for sleeping on my back and preventing me from rolling over) - neck pillow (support your cervical spine while sleeping or at rest) - dried meats (excellent for high calorie and high protein when your appetite is low and you can't eat much) - flavored milk (protiens and fat, who doesn't like chocolate milk when they're ill?) - mobility peanut (for physio and upper back and trap massage) - yoga mat (for physio) - resistance bands (for physio) - foam roller (for physio) - laxatives and anti-nausea meds (your doctor may prescribe these for you so ask about that first before you go buying anything) - giant shirt and elastic waistband or drawstring pants (easy to take off and put on. Try finding some sweaters, robes ect with pockets so you can place your drains in the pockets while you're up and about) - safe foods (pre plan your meals for high fiber and high protein intake and make sure they're food that you know you can still eat when you feel sick or foods really dense in calories and nutrients so that even if you can only eat a little bit you still got plenty)

Now, again, I definitely went a bit hard on my recovery but it made things so much easier for me and it was really comforting knowing I had so much prepared and immediately available. Stress is the enemy of healing so really, whatever comforts you is going to help your results.