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Hey guys. I have my chest surgery scheduled for early December once school is out for the semester. There is a plastic surgeon in town who has done a couple of them. He's fairly new but is also knowledgeable and is extremely transfriendly. The thing is I'm curious about recovery. I wanted to put some questions out there to see what some of you post-op guys have been told by docs who have done more of these surgeries. I'd also like to hear some of your personal oppinions. So if you wouldn't mind answering that would be cool.
How long did you have to wear a binder afterwards?
How long before the tape was removed from the nipples?
When were you able to do normal activities on your own?
How much weight were you allowed to lift after 2wks, 4wks, 6wks?
What is the general time period for full recovery?
What kinds of scar creams etc. did you use on your scars and how soon after surgery did you use them?
These are workout related questions:
How long before you were able to do cardio excersizes?
Pushups? Situps?
How long before you were able to resume normal weight lifting? Any suggestions about what to do in the meantime?
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer these questions. It's really helpful.
Joe
2005-10-14 09:53 am UTC
Best wishes
Thanks for asking all the questions I need answered too- I'm due to have chest surgery (large double-incision) on 28 November, so I will be watching for the answers to what you get here. Did you cross-post, or is this the only place you've asked? Perhaps we can share answers?Simon
2005-10-15 01:35 am UTC
Re: Best wishes
simon feel free to crosspost this if you want. Then share the answers. I didn't post it anywhere else.2005-10-14 11:47 am UTC
How long did you have to wear a binder afterwards?
i was *supposed* to wear my binder every day and night for two weeks after my surgery. however, i only wore it on and off (always at night, but not as much as i should have during the day), for about a week and a half. part of the reason i didn't really follow this rule is because my previous binding had bruised my ribs, and i just couldn't take it anymore. i recommend following the directions though - the days i did wear it like i should have i felt better and the swelling went down faster.
How long before the tape was removed from the nipples?
actually, i had tape on my *incisions* and sterile gause-like pads on my nipples. the tape stayed on my incisions for two weeks (or, you leave it on until it starts coming off on its own, which often happens before two weeks). nipple pads had to be changed every day, and each time i had to put some sort of cream on my nipples that the doc gave me.
When were you able to do normal activities on your own?
it depends on what you consider "normal activities." simple things like feeding myself, wiping my own bum, and the like were no problem right from the start. getting out of bed was a bit of an issue, because i couldn't really put a lot of pressure on my shoulders/arms to get up, so i kinda had to do a quick sit-up deal. i was able to put a shirt on over my head without help by the end of the first week (i recommend having lots of button-up shirts around). i did my surgery during spring break, and i was back to school, carrying a (pretty light) backpack around by the 10th day after my surgery. all of this was only mildly uncomfortable, but not outright painful.
i had a physically demanding job (lots of lifting, etc.) at home depot at the time, and i wasn't able to go back until june, and then some days it *really* hurt. i had no choice to go back to this job, and although it doesn't bother me in the least, my scars really paid for it (i say this because i does bother some guys when their scars stretch out, so i wanted to let you know). it took until about mid to end of july for me to have an entirely pain-free day at work.
also, i was back in the gym and even swimming by mid april. also painful at times, but i never pushed it.
How much weight were you allowed to lift after 2wks, 4wks, 6wks?
i believe i was on a thirty pound limit for the first 4-6 weeks. after that, it was up to my disgression. i was lifting on average over ten thousand total pounds a day at work, which is why i definitely didn't go back until june.
What is the general time period for full recovery?
well, i guess i could consider myself pretty much fully recovered at this point. i still have a bit of pain here and there, but only once every few weeks, and only after i've been working out every day or something like that. it's been 7 months now.
What kinds of scar creams etc. did you use on your scars and how soon after surgery did you use them?
i used the *walgreens* version of mederma in the morning and cocoa butter in the evening. if you're hard-up for money, i'd probably recommend just the cocoa butter. i can't tell you if it really makes a difference, because it's not like i put it on one side and not the other, plus, i wasn't very consistent with it. i was good about it for about four weeks, and only very sporatically with it after that. my scars are looking great, though, despite how much i've beat the crap out of them. ;)
good luck man! let me know if you have any other questions!
Deleted comment
2005-10-15 03:15 am UTC
2005-10-15 03:34 am UTC
after my surgery, i didn't poop for five days. FIVE DAYS! fortunately, it didn't bother me/my body at all - i just didn't go, no big thing. ;)
Deleted comment
2005-10-14 01:53 pm UTC
except for being able to go outside in direct sunlight with your shirt off. you have to wait 6 months to a year for that part.
Oh, how sad! I was really lookin' forward to that... I guess I can wait 'til next year...
And BTW, I have to breathe-- like, a lot and very deeply all the time. I play french horn. Did anyone notice how long it took before they could take really profound breaths without any pain?
2005-10-14 02:08 pm UTC
to be honest, the last thing in the world i was interested in doing was waiting a whole year to go to the beach with my shirt off, so i just didn't. i was out in the sun with my shirt of by june, which was only 3 months post-op. geez...i'm a terrible role model, but whatever. i had a glorious summer because of it - just be extra liberal with the sunscreen on scars and nips. ;)
2005-10-14 03:02 pm UTC
2005-10-14 04:05 pm UTC
2005-10-14 04:37 pm UTC
1. I wore a binder (more like one of those abdominal rib belt thingies) for about two weeks. I had no problem with it at all, except when it was really hot. I found that, in fact, it was more comfortable to have the binder on and taking care of the swelling.
2. Like the other two respondents, I didn't have tape on my nipples, just gauze pads. I was instructed to change them once daily, right after my shower. You're usually given polysporin ointment to put on your nipples when you change the dressings.
3. "Normal activities..." I was okay feeding myself, etc. from the beginning, although I was rather sore the first couple of days. It was about 7 days, I think, before I could really bend over (essential for doing things like tying shoes--get some sandals or other shoes that don't need to be tied), and slightly longer before I could lift my arms above my head without feeling like I was hurting something. Remember that you won't be able to shower (sponge bath only!) until the sutures are removed, and even then you have to shower facing away from the stream. I, too, recommend the button-down shirt. When in doubt, take it as easy as you can.
4. As far as weight lifting is concerned, I was instructed to wait at least 4 weeks before doing any weight training. People who start sooner than that tend to have larger scars. In my case, I couldn't imagine doing a workout at two weeks because although I could live my life, I was pretty sore most of the time. I resumed a reduced workout at 6 weeks, and by 8 I could do pretty much whatever.
5. Recovery time varies with each person, of course, but I was doing everyday activities excluding any lifting over 20 pounds pain-free by 2 weeks. I was able to do everything excluding exercise regimens pain-free by 4 weeks. I went to the gym without a care in the world at 8 weeks. I could have sped up my recovery time, I suppose, but I gave myself the largest possible margin because I'm not the most in tune with my body and I wanted it to have all the time it needed to recover. I would say that I was fully and completely recovered (no pain, no pulling, no problems, no thoughts) at 3 months. I did go outside without a shirt on at 3 months, but I was careful with the sunscreen. 3 months is also generally the time at which you can go swimming/hot tubbing without worries. Full scar recovery takes 6 months to a year.
6. I used the drugstore brand of Mederma as soon as I was allowed to (after the tape on the incisions came off at about 10 days). I used it twice a day for a month, and I still use it sometimes when I remember to. I think it did help to soften my scars, espeically near my armpits where there was more scar tissue. My scars are fading nicely, although I don't know if that's because of scar cream or genetics. I, too, am thinking about getting some silicone sheeting. Expensive, but might be worth it.
Cardio workouts will be fine once you can remove the binder. Just make sure to choose activities that don't involve a great deal of stretching and movement above the waist.
Push-ups and sit-ups will not be happening for a while (like at least a month). I suppose I could have done them if I were somehow forced to, but it would have hurt quite a bit.
Listen to your body. This is one time when pain should be considered a signal to stop, not something to push through. You may decide (as I did) to leave the gym behind for a few weeks. I didn't gain weight, really, and although my workout suffered, it didn't take too long to get back to where I was (admittedly, not that much).
2005-10-14 04:39 pm UTC
www.brownsteinmd.com
2005-10-15 01:05 am UTC
2005-10-15 01:37 am UTC
2005-10-15 02:18 am UTC
2005-10-15 05:30 am UTC
the price
not to be nosey, but how do you guys afford the surgery? i really really need it to be able to pass. i'm a D. and its noticeable. before those grew i could kind pass. anyway i have a part time job and stuff, but its not gonna make me make 8000 bucks anytime soon. think 7 dollars an hour, part time...2005-10-15 05:39 am UTC
Re: the price
I think that's why i'm going to a nearby surgeon. He's not nearly as experienced as some of the other docs. But he's charging $5000, he is right down the street and my friends and family are all here. So, it's cheaper for me eventhough the results may or may not be as good my mentality is that anything is better than a DD chest. I am using student loans to pay for it.2005-10-15 02:40 pm UTC
Re: the price
The surgeon got my insurance to cover it. I paid something like 1100 out of pocket.2005-10-16 07:23 am UTC
Re: the price
You can get peri done by Dr. Sukit in Thailand for US$1,800 including a 3-night stay in the hospital. The flight should cost around US$1,200.In Canada, Dr. DuPere does peri and double-incision for US$5,000.