Patients often look forward to their top surgery results, but sometimes they’re nervous, too. When multiple complications can arise after plastic surgery, it’s understandable to wonder if you’ll be happy with how you look.
Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to speed up your healing process and reduce the risk of bad top surgery results. We’ll explore different top surgery procedures, warning signs to watch out for, and your role in the post surgery recovery process.
Chest Masculinization Top Surgery Results: What Most Patients Will See
Top surgery results for your gender identity can be striking and subtle, depending on the kind of surgical procedure you choose. Whether you’re aiming for a more masculine chest contour or a generally flatter chest, keep a close eye out for these positive healing signs.
Healthy Swelling and Bruising
Your skin needs to heal from the incisions made during the surgical procedure, so swelling, bruise spots, and mild drainage are perfectly normal. Plastic top surgery surgeons will give patients a compression garment to wear for the first three or four weeks to minimize discomfort and encourage a healthier, more natural final result.
Swollen skin and bruises subside after six to eight weeks. It’s natural for patients to also experience a burning sensation in the nipple area for the first few weeks.
A Gradual Scarring Process
Top surgery scars are standard, whether they’re from the small incisions of a keyhole top surgery to a more noticeable double incision surgery. The majority of patients will notice swelling, tenderness, and gradual scarring for the first several days after being discharged.
These scars gradually become pink and firm after five to six weeks. While tiny scars may disappear completely after six or seven months, larger scars won’t completely fade. There are multiple treatments that can reduce scars’ bumpy or knotted appearance, such as microneedling or microchanneling.
Patients can encourage minimal scarring by closely following their post recovery regimen, avoiding sun exposure, and reducing or eliminating smoking.
More Defined Pectoral Muscles and Reduced Excess Skin
Last, but certainly not least, the end result of top surgery is a smooth, even, and firm chest. Thanks to cutting-edge medical technology and skilled plastic surgeons, many patients are completely satisfied with how they look and find the scarring and post surgery recovery period to be minor obstacles.
Chest Feminization Top Surgery Results: What Most Patients Will See
There are a few unique details for breast augmentation and breast reduction, particularly since larger breasts can obscure scarring or distend the skin in a different way. You may also experience similar symptoms to people who need breast cancer surgery, such as fluid accumulation.
As a result, some male to female top surgery results and non-binary femme top surgery results will be similar to the previous section, while other results will be completely different.
Swelling and Bruising
The incisions for removing breast tissue or providing breast implants are generally smaller than other forms of top surgery. However, they still cause significant swelling and bruises as you recover.
Most people require at least a few weeks to recover fully, reporting soreness, tenderness, and fatigue. It’s also common to experience reduced nipple sensations and a pulling, stretching sensation throughout the breasts.
Altered Skin Elasticity
If you seek breast reduction surgery, you may notice mild skin sagging as your body adjusts to the reduced tissue and fat. Certain procedures are less likely to alter skin elasticity, such as an anchor incision that simultaneously removes breast tissue, fat, and skin.
Consistently following a post recovery regimen and wearing a surgical bra can help tighten up the skin by supporting the surrounding tissue. People seeking gender-affirming breast reduction surgery may also seek out additional treatments if they want firmer skin, such as a breast lift.
Natural and Even Breasts
Whether you’re reducing your cup size or enhancing it, the end result should have even skin and symmetrical nipples. The majority of patients are satisfied with a more feminine appearance and rarely report issues with the exception of medical complications, such as infection or scarring forming around breast implants.
Warning Signs to Report to Your Plastic Surgeon
The above sections focused on the ideal results, but there is always a risk of complications as you recover. No matter which kind of top surgery you’re seeking out, report these issues to your surgeon as soon as possible:
- Difficulty breathing
- Yellow, white, or green drainage
- A growing fever
- Calf or leg pain that won’t go away
- Excessive bleeding
- Stiff hands, feet, and ankles (fluid accumulation)
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you looking forward to FtM top surgery results or a possible breast augmentation? Let’s learn a little more about common questions people have before they decide on a procedure.
What Does it Look Right After Top Surgery?
Your skin will appear bumpy, bruised, and swollen for the first several days after top surgery. It will take several weeks for the skin to gradually become smooth and even, but the results are more than worth it.
How Painful is Top Surgery Recovery?
Many patients report some pain for the first few weeks after top surgery, usually swelling and tenderness around the injection site. The amount of pain also depends on the type of top surgery (such as minimal incisions for a keyhole surgery or longer incisions for a double incision surgery).
You can reduce this pain with over-the-counter medication, compression garments, and taking a few weeks to rest.
Can Nipples Fall Off After Top Surgery?
The vast majority of patients have most or some of their nipple sensation return after top surgery, though the occasional patient may experience decreased nipple or areola size. A plastic surgeon can provide additional care to correct this, such as a nipple graft.
How long is the recovery from Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS)?
Full recovery from FFS takes approximately one year, which is when the final, refined results become apparent. However, a significant amount of healing occurs within the first two to six weeks. Swelling and bruising are most prominent in the first week and gradually subside over the following weeks. About 50% of swelling is gone by two weeks, with most of it resolved after six weeks.
How old do you have to be for top surgery?
You usually must be at least 18 years old to get top surgery without anyone else’s approval. Some places allow it for 16- or 17-year-olds if they have parental consent and meet medical guidelines. Requirements can differ depending on the clinic and location.
Schedule a Consultation for Gender Affirming Care at Aesthera Plastic Surgery
We know how exciting and nerve-wracking top surgery results can be. At Aesthera Plastic Surgery, your well-being is of the utmost importance to us. We work closely with our patients every step of the way so they can fully enjoy the results of their gender-affirming surgery.
Dr. CV Chegireddy is a board-certified plastic surgeon who provides gender-affirming care to transgender and non-binary patients. Our patient, helpful staff members are ready to help you learn how to get the best top surgery results, so we’ll answer all the questions or concerns you have so you can feel 100% confident in your journey.
Reach out to our office for a consultation today to learn about the best surgical procedures for your body type and personal goals.
References:
- https://www.genderconfirmation.com/top-surgery-scars/
- https://www.plasticsurgery.org/reconstructive-procedures/transfeminine-top-surgery
- https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/health-encyclopedia/he.breast-augmentation-for-gender-affirmation-what-to-expect-at-home.acp2174
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/breast-reduction-surgery/multimedia/breast-reduction-surgery/img-20006644
