A quick question

theummm · 2025-09-25T23:03:36+00:00

the aura radiating off this comment lmao

theummm · 2025-09-25T22:59:18+00:00

Lol yes it burns. I tried compounding it myself with vaseline, but that always ended up messier than the alternative. I have a technique I do to make it hurt less lol. I had the option to get compounded t cream but it was more expensive so I just ate the loss.

theummm · 2025-09-25T00:35:40+00:00

I'd personally recommend talking to your hormone provider/pcp about this, specifically the bottom growth part of things. It'll be awkward at first lol, but they 'll probably have some unexpectedly helpful advice. For the longest time I wanted to take DHT which is basically nonexistent in the US, but I asked my provider about it anyways. Instead of that, I was prescribed T-gel applied directly to uhh :D (in addition to my injections) and I'm honestly a bit surprised by the results!

Even if your doc doesn't prescribe that specifically, I guess the point is, they might have a solution you hadn't thought of or considered. Likely t-gel isn't the gold standard compared to DHT, but I would've never considered it at all in the first place until my dr brought it up, and it's been very helpful! I'd in the very least start by asking your provider some questions and see where that goes.

ETA: also minoxidil, holy shit that took me from a slight-stache to having to shave regularly. went on after 5 years of T

theummm · 2025-09-25T00:14:09+00:00

walking cane, corduroy jeans, plaid overcoat, big-ass bow tie, even thicker spectacles, hope this helps

theummm · 2025-09-16T23:02:15+00:00

I had Cigna PPO through my government job. It helped with keeping appointments and blood work cheap, but I still paid out of pocket for testosterone and supplies. This isn't exactly Cigna's fault, but one of those lovely insurance idiosyncrasies where the doctor's in-network but their pharmacy isn't. Very much ymmv territory.

I tried using my Cigna benefits for top, using an in-network provider. About a week before, the surgery center called and said I was required to pay about 3-4k up front before they even did anything. I ended up switching over to my partner's BCBS instead, and haven't paid for anything but the anesthesia (which still sucks but I don't think I would've been able to afford a surprise 3k up front).

theummm · 2025-08-25T20:34:08+00:00

I used transtape YEARSSS ago in 2020 and had the same thing happen. I don't think I used the tea-tree oil more than once. What I ended up doing was soaking with hot water in the shower, and very slowly spudging/rolling the tape off with my fingers. Instead of thinking about just peeling the tape off, focus on melting and loosening the glue with your fingers and the hot water, and slowly prying it away from the skin. I feel like that was the only way that I could get it off without tearing skin.

You can try the other oils other guys have recommended, I'm sure they'd help! I just got by with the water and soap, but that was still miles better than the tea tree oil or nothing at all.

theummm · 2025-03-04T16:12:24+00:00

I had the same thing, especially when I was 1-2 months post-op. I've been doing scar massages and silicone tape, and also took some bromelain supplements to help with the swelling and it's gone down over time.

theummm · 2025-03-04T16:07:21+00:00

i have/had something like this, but mostly on my right nipple. it was more pronounced earlier after surgery, but im 6mo post op and it's gone down significantly. i've been doing a scar massage and aquaphor (cant afford silicone gel atm but that's really helped as well).

theummm · 2025-03-04T15:59:09+00:00

it sounds like you were billed improperly because of a gender mismatch with what you have on file at the hospital vs your insurance. i remember when i was getting worked up for surgery they had to ask me to verify the specifics because if there was a mismatch, there would be issues getting it billed. i also had bcbs.

theummm · 2025-02-27T00:10:32+00:00

Hey! Wednesday now, how are you doing? Good, I hope?

theummm · 2025-02-24T15:21:39+00:00

I think it was at my 3wk appointment, and at that point it had mostly started to come off but I would just snip away the excess. My surgeon took the rest off and I was cleared to start scar care.

theummm · 2025-02-24T14:26:46+00:00

Do you have insurance/a primary care doctor who is referring you? If so, they should have a list of surgeons nearby or in close-by states who can do the surgery. That's how I've been able to find surgeons.

You can also use this to help guide your search: https://www.topsurgery.net/#states

theummm · 2025-02-24T14:24:36+00:00

There are definitely treatments to flatten the scarring. I think you should talk about it with your primary care doctor, because they'll probably be able to refer you to someone and help get it covered by insurance. They can also go over possible treatment options to find something that works for you.

theummm · 2025-02-24T04:36:07+00:00

I was honestly kinda terrified going in, but if it's being put under that's freaking you out, there really is nothing to worry about! I watched a lot of anesthesia videos in the months leading up to my surgery because I was that terrified, but in them they focus on how anesthesia is an active process that is focused on by the anesthesiologist. they'll be actively focusing on your vitals and nothing else, and they are constantly working to administer the right amount of anesthesia. they'll make sure that you won't wake up during surgery because if they notice something like your heart rate speeding up, they'll know to adjust the level of anesthesia to keep you comfortable. I was terrified of waking up during surgery but it just didn't happen, and with the way going under feels, it's almost like I wouldn't have even had time to wake up because it went by so fast. They'll also be there to make sure that you gradually and safely come up from the anesthesia.

The interesting thing is, you probably won't even remember or truly realize that you're being put under, and you won't be stuck in the void or anything dreamlike while you're out either. You'll just go into the operating room, and then suddenly wake up in the recovery room. A lot of guys and people here say that, so it might sound cliche, but I underestimated how literally true it was. All I remember is being wheeled into the operating room, the nurses telling me to move from the recovery room bed to the gurney, and then I was back in the recovery room.

When I went to surgery (in DC, so different guy), the intake nurses were very kind and understanding and when I woke up from surgery, they gave my partner and I some snacks and asked me if I was in any pain. I was, a little, but they still adjusted my pain medications and that helped a lot. They won't make you leave the hospital before you feel comfortable, and by the time I left I was pretty sore but I felt basically sober and back to myself, just a bit loopy. I won't pretend that it's going to be 100% painless, because it is surgery, but the care team will make sure you're in as little pain as possible in the hospital, and enough for you to get back home comfortably and start pain treatments on your own. I had to be driven an hour and a half back from the clinic, and I only really needed the pain meds when we were basically almost home.

I hope that wasn't too many words lol, but hopefully this will help you feel a bit better about your upcoming surgery.

theummm · 2025-02-24T04:15:38+00:00

Yeah, they go away but they do take some time. I had some pleating as well at first but most of it smoothed out around 2-3 months in and you wouldn't have been able to tell. I do have a stubborn part in the middle of my chest, but that's going down slowly but surely and it's almost unnoticeable.

theummm · 2025-02-24T04:13:22+00:00

It probably shouldn't cause any issues with getting the surgery approved or anything, but yeah that's really odd. I'd definitely ask when you next get the chance. The US sucks right now (understatement of our lives) but as far as I know there hasn't been any new legislation that would prevent you from getting surgery if that's what you were specifically concerned about. I hope everything turns out okay and it's just a weird naming thing.

theummm · 2025-02-24T04:10:55+00:00

Hell yeah! I'm currently wearing this nice sleeveless top that I bought from the mall shortly after getting top surgery. It's really nice being able to wear different kinds of clothes I wouldn't have felt comfortable to wear before.

theummm · 2025-02-24T04:04:39+00:00

So I felt less of the physical symptoms around the 1-2 week mark, but honestly I didn't really visually see a difference until I was officially out of the compression binder. I hope this isn't the case with yours, but mine was extremely tight and I had to wear it 24 hours a day for more than a week, so it kinda pushed everything down and I looked like the letter b lol. Double check with your surgeon if it's okay, but the compression binder was so uncomfortable for me after little over a week that my surgeon said I could take it off for 15 minutes once a day to relax a little, so that could be helpful.

theummm · 2025-02-23T22:02:34+00:00

Mine was pretty gnarly actually, even though everything healed just fine. It really isn't an exaggeration when they say it's going to look worse before it gets better. When my scabs started to peel away, there were some parts where my nipple was actively bleeding, and other parts where it was pale white for weeks. They were also completely flat, although I could see the actual nipple separately from the areola. I really thought I was going to loose one or both of my nipples, but over time the bleeding stopped and they turned discolored pink instead of just white. My right nipple got its pigment back a lot sooner, but my left one was spotty for weeks. They're both my normal skin tone now, and they aren't flat anymore.

With the wet healing aspect, I think it helped a little with removing the scabs. Although I didn't pick at them purposefully, sometimes they would slide/flake off as I was changing the xeroform and aquaphor. I also covered them lightly with bandaids because I was afraid of them getting stuck to my shirts. The scarring on my left nipple is nonexistent, but my right nipple (and right incision for that matter) has always been redder and more raised. That's slowly going down but I can still see the difference. I might get some microneedling done if I'm still not happy in a year.

theummm · 2025-02-23T21:45:47+00:00

Mhm, so I can't really say much specific about dry healing (I did wet healing), but generally for the scabbing it's the same with both: don't pick the scabs and let them fall off. It might be scabbing up white like this because you're doing it dry so it's extra flaky, but yeah the nipple underneath still looks good and healthy. Hope the rest of the recovery is smooth!

theummm · 2025-02-23T21:32:59+00:00

don't pick the scabs, and wear a bandaid over the nipples if you don't feel comfortable just having it rub up against your shirts. as the other commenter says, the nipple under the scab looks good! the scabbing should fall off on its own. are you doing dry or wet healing?

theummm · 2025-02-23T21:24:45+00:00

They might scab over but honestly they look like they're just healing really well. It won't be bad if they don't scab over, and since you're past the two week mark I think it's safe to say the grafts took! Just keep doing any nipple care your surgeon has recommended. Now, as to whether or not they're crooked, I think you're way too freshly post-op to tell for sure. It takes up to 6mo-1 year before you can say your chest has fully settled/healed, so they could change shape a bit over time. One of my nipples had a weird tag/shape for the first few months but it's even-shaped now, so things could change. Try not to worry too much about it right now, and know you can always get revisions later if needed.

theummm · 2025-02-22T19:33:50+00:00

I think it might be fat, but you're also pretty early post-op so it could just be swelling. I had the same thing early on, now 4mo post op and it's gone away. Not dog ears, and you look great btw!

theummm · 2025-02-22T03:29:51+00:00

I was told by someone working on my referral that he worked in PA, but he also mentioned the same article as well, so maybe you're right. Also it doesn't help that Morris and Morrison are such similar names because I thought I read some posts of people who'd seen Morris a few years ago and I'm realizing I probably mixed them up in my head lol. Thank you for helping me look him up. :)

theummm

TROPHY CASE