#doing some pre/post op planning cause I'm now a few weeks from it. my medical trauma is revving a bit so I'm trying to get sillyyy

[fruitwoodmac]

which blorbo has a hysterectomy 🎤

[autism-freaks]

I got my top surgery over 2.5.yrs ago and I wanted to share some tips for pre- and post-op care! I got a double mastectomy with free nipple grafts and I'm loving my results.

Pre-Op:

-If you smoke or vape, try to quit for as long as possible before your surgery date, ideally at least a couple months. Don't use nicotine while healing either. Nicotine constricts your blood vessels and this can impede healing. If you're getting nipple grafts like me, it can be the difference between the grafts healing successfully or falling off.

-for the love of all that is holy, FOLLOW YOUR SURGEONS EATING RESRTICTIONS BEFORE SURGERY. Anesthesia can cause you to regurgitate and aspirate, which can lead to pneumonia and be deadly. This is MUCH more likely if you eat food too soon before going under. If you get bad stomach issues like reflux, ask for anti-nausea meds to be given IV before you wake up. I almost aspirated right as I woke up even though I didn't eat beforehand bc of my acid reflux.

-You may want to make a lot of things more easily accessible to prepare for recovery. You'll want to be able to reach things like cups, bowls, silverware, medications, toiletries, clothing, etc easy to reach without having to reach above your shoulders.

-if you can, prep some comfort meals that are easy to reheat in the microwave or oven. This is especially helpful if you plan on being mostly self-sufficient during recovery.

-get plenty of loose-fitting button up shirts. They are by far the easiest thing to put on after top surgery.

Post-Op:

-if you want less visible scars, I HIGHLY recommend using silicone scar tape or silicone scar gel once your surgeon says it's ok. The tape is generally cheaper, reusable and washable by hand with soap and warm water. Two rolls lasted me my whole recovery and my scars are now barely visible. The gel is easier to apply and more sensory friendly, but more expensive. You can get both online.

-your chest will be swollen for up to a few weeks after surgery. This swelling may be assymetrical at first (mine was). Try to be patient and not pass any judgements on the quality of your results during this time. You can always get a revision after 6 months if you're still not happy with it, but don't freak out right away as things will take time to settle.

-your brain is adjusting to a major, sudden change to your body. It's okay if you feel some mixed emotions while you process this. Try to journal or talk about it with someone you trust. I know my brain does not cope well with change and while I never once regretted my surgery, it took a little bit of time to get used to my body looking different even if it's the way I wanted to look.

-make sure you empty your drains on time if you have them and keep your compression vest on. This will help you heal as best you can and reduce swelling.

-don't use heat or ice! Ice will restrict blood flow to areas that need blood flow to heal and heat can amplify swelling and inflammation.

-touch your chest along the length of your scars as much as you tolerably can. You will most likely have nerve damage from surgery and touching/massaging gently will help your nerves know how to re-grow and process sensation properly. I have pretty much full sensation in the center of my chest where I touch very often while the ends of my scars under my armpits (where I don't touch often) still have reduced sensation.

- Gently massaging your scars with two fingers once the scabs are healed can also help prevent knots and bumps in the scar tissue. Don't cause yourself pain, only do it if it's tolerable.

-FOLLOW ALL YOUR SURGEONS INSTRUCTIONS!! If they tell you to do something or not do other things, there is a good reason.

I'm also happy to answer asks and messages about my experience with getting top surgery! Take your time in deciding if this is right for you and know I love you all either way <3