#how to care for your grafting sites post op

[answersfromzestual]

Graft Site Care for Forearm Free Flap Phalloplasty

Taking care of your grafting sites like your forearm, upper thigh (or other locations, surgeries vary) is a lot. Especially when you are in pain and feel just yucky.

I did not have a choice of where to take the graft to cover my arm's exposed tissue. My thigh was used over my lower back because of visibility.

The thigh was the easier part to take care of. All I had to do was put a thin layer of polysporine on it and wrap it up. It wasn't bad pain wise. It stung and ached at first, but the stinging and aching dissipates quickly as you heal. They only take a few layers of skin from your leg (or other graft site location), usually no fatty tissue or blood vessels, just skin. So that it will grow back and potentially not be any 'indentations' making it stand out against the rest of the thigh skin. Your first shower, it may be painful. I won't lie. it's something I wish that I was prepared for, honestly. I yelped (I have a very high pain tolerance) and swore like a sailor. I did this at the hospital, and a nurse was right outside the shower there to assist me. It was really kind of awkward, but at this point, my phallis was basically out all the time and was seen by every nurse in the building.

When it came to washing my arm, which I thought would be the painful bit of my shower, it never hurt. Personally, I have no sensation on my forearm graft site.

Just be prepared also because for example I do, however, suffer from something called "phantom itching," which means that even though I can not feel any sensation on my skin, I get itchy, and scratching doesn't help because there are no nerves. It happens to me maybe once a week, but it the itch only lasts a minute or two. This happens in about 60% of people who lose a limb or any body part with nerves. I found to combat phantom pains, a study was done for limb pain for people who had amputations. The study was about showing the subject themselves in a mirror and seeing the limb is gone. In many cases this actually worked on subjects and they could reduce or even stop their pain. We are talking about people in severe pain where they no longer have the body part causing the pain. I did try this on myself and I told myself there is no way you can feel itchy in front of a mirror. It actually made the itch instantly go away a few times after I practiced.

My arm was in a cast when I woke up from the procedure and for two or three days afterward. It was to protect the arm and keep the new skin tight against the body.

When they remove the cast, it can look a little gnarly (these may be similar to the more unpleasant looking pictures before they heal). No worries, though. It will be all good. They wrapped my arm in a tensor wrap over my gauze bandaged arm. I had to always be covered and protect my forearm.

When I got home I was instructed to have compression sleeves already, I did (this is important). I made sure to buy two at once so I could rotate. They tend to get stretched out I feel like in the wash especially, so having multiple is always a good idea. It will help them last longer.

Caring for your arm can be a little intimidating at first. To keep the skin flat for the first week (healing times may vary on person to person), I had to once a day poke small boil like spots on my arm with a small, sterile needle (I could not feel this what so ever). Then would clean the area and bandage it as I was instructed. I had to use special wrap that keeps the gauze from sticking to the wound. I would put some polysporin on each wound, cut out a piece of the lubricated bandage to prevent the skin from sticking to the gauze bandage, gauze bandage my entire forearm, then I would have to wrap my arm up my arm in a tensor bandage. They should teach you how to do this before you leave the clinic. Their instructions should be followed even if they differ from mine. Surgerons know best.

I had to use tensor bandages at first to wrap my forearm because of the wounds and amount of bandages, but within two weeks of being home, I was already healed enough and wearing my compression sleeve. You can usually start wearing this once you have no more open wounds. Please follow your doctor's instructions, even if they do differ from mine.

Compression sleeves are worn 24/7. You only take them off to shower. You should always wear your compression sleeve for the best results. Keeping the skin taught (tight and close to your arm) is important to get that nice flat surface. The compression sleeves are actually not uncomfortable personally, the only parts of the sleeve I bought in particular (it went from my uppser bicep to my wrist, be sure to measure yourself to find the proper size for you). The very top of the sleeve was "sticky" and is to keep it from sliding down. When I was at work and would sweat the sticky band around my bicep, would slide and loosen (the sleeve itself was not really affected as long as it was still tight around my forearm. Before your surgery its a good idea to ask what they recommend you to get for a compression sleeve and how to measure yourself for one. I did not like how mine only went to my wrist. If it is possible for you to get one that maybe goes from bicep, past your wirst and around your thumb (for example) to keep it over your wrist. Around my wrist is a little wrinkly, I feel it was because of the band around my wrist would slide up once and a while and leave about 1/3 of an inch of a gap between the sleeve and my hand (basically where my wrist bends). The sleeve really flattened the indent between my fatty part of my forearm and the graft. I get compliments on how flat and nice my forearm skin laid. I had to wear the sleeve 24/7 (aside from showers and the drying time) for an entire year to the day, the clinic should tell you how long they want you to wear a sleeve, if not be sure to ask.

Compression sleeves are very important for keeping your arm skin flat and tight to your arm. Having multiple is a good idea. Being able to rotate is important. It helps keep longevity of the sleeves. It helps allow you to wash one and have one to wear as it washes and dries. They are usually recommended to be hand washed and air dried. Washing them in the washing machine can stretch and wear them out faster. Most compression wear is not suitable for the dryer.

And that is how to take care of your grafting sites according to my experience and the website from GRS Montréal.

If you ever feel like anything is wrong, you don't feel well, anything feels unusual to you, you are in an abnormal amount of pain, or maybe you do not perhaps remember all the exact after care instructions. Please contact your clinic ASAP. They most likely have nursing staff that answer phones and emails 24 hours a day to help you, especially if your surgeon/clinic isn't close by or easily accessible to you. It's better to email them and have nothing be abnormal rather than not mention anything and hurt yourself or harm your healing.

Source 1 - healing information (GRS Montréal)

Source 2 - case study on neuropathy

Source 3 - Myself, recipient of the procedure in 2014.

[rejoicehairpatch]

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Direct-FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction)

Follicular Unit Extraction is a new technique in hair transplant world. We use a refined method of FUE at Rejoice™ called Direct-FUE. In this technique we pick and transplant individual follicular units, one-by-one. There’s no time gap between the extraction and transplant. So we get an amazing 20–25% increase in growth rate.

Direct-FUE leaves no scars post-op. And there’s minimal discomfort in the process. Anyone who can have Bio-FUT, is also eligible to have Direct-FUE.

You like short hair? Or do more physical work? Go for Direct-FUE.

Direct-FUE process

We make a small incision around a follicular unit using specialized medical equipment. After separating it from tissue, we pick it up and place on the recipient site. This is the basic difference between Bio-FUT and Direct – FUE. In Bio-FUT we take a strip and then cut it into follicular units. Here we are picking up individual follicular units straight from hair tissues. And this is what extraction means here.

As you can imagine, picking several thousand grafts one-by-one can take 3–4 hours. So this technique requires more time than Bio-FUT.

Extracting follicular units from the donor area leaves tiny wounds behind. These tiny wounds sized about 1 mm heal within 8–10 days. These scars are so tiny that they are almost undetectable.

Words of caution: Never have Direct-FUE performed by an inexperienced surgeon. You may get your precious hair follicles damaged. If you have decided to go Direct-FUE way, choose an experienced team. At Rejoice™, our experienced surgeons perform Direct-FUE with intensive care.

Pros and cons If you don’t like taking whole strip from the donor area, you can have Direct-FUE. Though keep in mind, Direct – FUE requires more donor area than Bio-FUT.

There are many advantages of Direct-FUE. First, there are no scars, and no medical stitching. Athletes and people who do more physical work can resume their work after 1 week. Also, there’s minimal discomfort in the donor area post-op.

Though you should know something about Direct-FUE:

It requires more time than Bio-FUT.

It is more expensive than Bio-FUT.

You already know the reason for both. Our surgeons extract and transplant every single hair follicle one-byone. So it requires more time, discipline, patience, and extra care. But when you consider its advantages, it’s worth every single rupee you pay

[amiskinandhairclinic1]

From Baldness to Beautiful Hair: How to Choose the Best Hair Transplant Surgeon

Confidence can take a serious hit when you lose your hair. Many people go through the process of experiencing progressively thinner crowns and receding hairlines. However, medical progress has made hair transplant surgeries possible, giving people a chance to restore their full heads of hair and confidence. However, a successful makeover depends on picking the correct hair transplant specialist. Let's go over the basics to help you identify the best hair transplant surgeon in Mumbai, especially in the Kandivali neighborhood.

How to Identify Hair Loss and What to Do About It

Before seeking hair transplant specialists, learning about hair loss and potential treatments is important. Causes of hair thinning or loss range from heredity to hormonal shifts to emotional or physical trauma. If you want to know what's causing your hair loss, you should see a dermatologist,or preferably at a facility of Hair loss treatments in Kandivali. 

Finding the Best hair transplant surgeon in Mumbai 

Respect for Credentials

A hair transplant is a major procedure, so working with a skilled doctor who knows what they're doing is important. Find a surgeon who has completed further training in hair restoration and is board certified.

The Value of Experience

Knowledge is gained through practise. Find a doctor with a long history of success with hair transplant procedures. Results are more likely to be effective and natural-looking when the surgeon has experience.

Reviews from Actual Patients: 

Reading about other patients' or readers' experiences can provide a helpful perspective. To determine how satisfied previous patients were with the surgeon, look at their website or online review sites.

Kandivali– a strategically important location for “Skin clinic near me in Kandivali.”

Kandivali, a thriving Mumbai neighbourhood, has emerged as a hub for various medical services, including hair loss treatment. The accessibility and simplicity of a hair transplant surgeon in Kandivali is a major plus. Kandivali's abundance of skin clinics means less time spent traveling and more time recovering.

Consultation and Analyzing Each Individual

A professional hair transplant surgeon will carefully evaluate your hair loss issue. They will listen to your concerns, examine your scalp and hair, and make treatment recommendations, including if a transplant is viable.

Transparency

During the consultation, a trustworthy surgeon will be forthright about the procedure's benefits, risks, and restrictions. They won't make any grand claims of success.

Personalised Strategy: 

The top hair transplant surgeons adapt their procedures to the specific requirements of each individual patient. They will explain the process, how many grafts will be needed, and how long it will take for you to heal.

“Best hair transplant surgeon in Mumbai” – Methods and Modern Devices

Surgery Methods

Two primary procedures, known as Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), are used in hair transplant surgery. A qualified surgeon will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each procedure with you.

High-Tech Devices

 Technology advancements have the potential to improve surgical outcomes greatly. Find out what the surgeon uses to cut accurately and leave minimum scarring behind.

“Hair loss treatments in Kandivali” – After-Operative Treatment and Monitoring

Guidelines for Recuperation

Reliable surgeons will provide you with comprehensive post-op instructions. Instructions on how to care for your newly transplanted hair, including what to do and not do, are provided.

Visits to Check In

The surgeon can check your progress and address any worries that may emerge with regular follow-up visits.

Cost Considerations

Although price should not be the only factor, discussing it throughout the consultation is important. The greatest hair transplant surgeon will provide an itemised bill that includes everything from the operation to your aftercare and any possible future appointments.

Conclusion

Getting hair restored by the best hair transplant surgeon in Mumbai, and more specifically Kandivali, can change your life. The correct surgeon can restore your hair, confidence, and quality of life after years of suffering from baldness. You can start the process of restoring your luscious locks with confidence if you pay attention to credentials, expertise, patient testimonies, and individualised consultations. Keep in mind that finding the correct surgeon at the outset of your hair change journey is crucial.

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[transgenderteensurvivalguide]

[Image description: A nurse brings a large blue plastic bag of various supplies to my hospital bed. Her face has been censored out by a large circle. /End ID]

Lee says:

This is going to be another entry in my series of post-phallo supplies posts, but tonight I’m breaking the usual format of writing about a specific individual item. Instead, I'll just list all the key wound care-related supplies I was provided with (or told to buy) as one big group!

Sometimes the hospital will provide supplies like they did for me, and sometimes you have to buy supplies yourself. On occasion, the surgeon will order supplies for you using a company like Edgepark or Byram, and they'll bill your insurance and mail the items to your home.

Unlike most of the items in my post phallo supplies reviews which you can (and probably should) buy while you're still pre-op to prepare for your surgery date, I wouldn't reccomend buying wound care related supplies before surgery without discussing it with your surgeon first.

Different surgeons have different supplies that they reccomend, and what you need and how many of of each item you need depends on what you've had done in that particular stage.

So while I am not necessarily reccommending that you buy these particular items right now without checking with your surgeon, I did include links to the items that I was given by the hospital so you can click and see a visual of what type of item I'm talking about if it sounds unfamiliar.

Supplies:

Antibacterial Soap [This is just soap because I should wash my hands before and after I touch my penis.]

Aquacel Ag Advantage [This one is made with real silver so it can run on the expensive side. I place it over the open tip of my penis while it heals]

Aquaphor Healing Ointment (14 oz jar) [A thick layer of Aquaphor is used to cover my split thickness graft site and applied twice daily]

Aquaphor Ointment Body Spray (3.7 oz can) [The Aquaphor spray is great for adding a little moisturization touch up during the day]

Bandage Roll Gauze (6-Ply 4-½” x 4-⅛yd sterile) [The Kerlix bandage rolls are used to prop up my penis too, and I go though a lot of these]

Disposable gloves [I use gloves when I touch any open wounds]

Disposable mesh underwear [I cut a hole in the mesh to stick my penis though to help prop it up]

Disposable underpads [The Chux pads go on my bed to catch any blood]

Flushable wipes [I still have a Lot of painful swelling in my original anatomy so isn't comfortable to wipe with toilet paper yet]

Gauze sponges (4x8" 12-ply sterile) [I use gauze squares to help prop up my penis]

Gentle Foaming Cleanser [This can be used to clean my thigh in my daily shower]

Medical tape [This helps secure the Adaptic and Aquacel]

Non-adhering Dressing (5x9") [The Adaptic goes over my donor site which has been covered by a split thickness skin graft]

Non-Adherent Dressing (8x3”) [I use Tefla to cover my leg when I need to put pants on to travel to my post-op apointments]

Petrolatum Dressing [Xeroform can be used like Adaptic or placed under the glans ridge, but I didn't have glansplasty in this stage]

Other reviews:

Reacher/grabber

Lap desk

Resistance bands

[gendzl]

Hey buncha questions :D how long is the recovery time for this generally? and you mentioned drains, how long do those stay in? what does post op care look like?

Recovery time varies, especially depending on if someone's job is physical vs. at a desk. But typically you have a very intense 48 hours of napping afterwards, then 1-2 weeks of more rest, sleep, pain management, and avoiding lifting your arms above your head before you can resume something like your usual schedule. It's 3 weeks before you can soak your incisions i.e. take a bath, and 6ish weeks before your muscles start to think about forgiving you.

Drains stay in 1-2 weeks. I have to keep track of how much I empty out of the bulbs, because they don't want to take them out until I'm at or below 30mL of output per day. I have to "strip" the drain tubes, which is as weird as it sounds and involves a lot of gross squishy liquid noises.

Post-op care is pretty easy, actually. I take Tylenol every 4 hours and Oxycodone as needed (I'm tapering off that now already). Because I don't have nipple grafts, I could shower starting 48 hours after surgery — no longer than 10 minutes, and only in lukewarm water. I sort of...indirectly wash my incisions? I can get them wet, which is good, but scrubbing at them is a no-no, so I put soap above the incisions and let it rinse off down & over them.

I change my dressings once daily after the 48 hour mark, and apply vaseline to the incisions when I do. If I don't shower every day, I must at least wash my drain sites.

It's really just a lot of sleeping and doing math to make sure I don't take too much Tylenol in one 24-hour period.

[itsjasperblue]

Tips from my Top Surgery Recovery

I am almost 3 weeks post op double incision with Dr. Mangubat in Seattle now and here are some things I learned that weren’t necessarily on other lists I read on the internet prior to my surgery.

- Be vocal about how you’re feeling. Tell the nurse, your caretaker, your surgeon, etc., how you’re feeling if only for peace of mind. I was EXTREMELY shaking coming out of the anesthesia and felt really nauseous. I made sure they knew, and I was taken care of. As someone who has a hard time advocating for themselves, this was important. 

- For the love of all things good REST. Even if you think you are feeling better take an extra nap. Surgery is HUGE and your body needs to focus on recovering. I did not do this and it definitely delayed my recovery. 

- Be on top of it with the pain meds, but also be mindful of how you feel. The drains were the worst part and like 90% of the pain for me. Once I got them out I was able to stop using the opioid pain meds and just use good old ibuprofen. The Percocet made me super nauseous and sleepy so I was glad to get off them. 

- Benadryl will help with itching because those incision sites are gonna itch like a new tattoo. No one told me this, I wasn’t prepared. BUT Benadryl will also knock you out. You need the sleep but just make sure you’re not taking it and going to work (if you work a desk job) cause you will be sleepy. 

- Eat a bunch of pineapple prior to and after the surgery to help prevent bruising. I was very on top of this and ended up with extremely little bruising. Also just eat a balanced diet in general, but ESPECIALLY around the surgery. ALSO Hydration!! With straws! I had a reusable $3 cold cup from Starbucks that I used that worked well. The straw is just straight but it doesn’t spill so I didn’t mind not having a bendy straw. 

- You have to stop drinking and smoking about a month prior to surgery. Please do this. It’ll help your body heal better and give the nipple grafts a better chance at taking. 

- Post op depression is REAL. I cried so much in the first week after my surgery just from being overwhelmed. I wrote myself a letter prior to surgery to read when I got down, I had a support system of friends and my therapist, and I watched a BUNCH of TV and played lots of video games. Most importantly though was I tried to just let myself feel what I was feeling. Holding it in isn’t going to make you feel better, especially when you’re already feeling pretty down. Know that you’re gonna heal, you’re gonna get through it, and you did not make a mistake. 

- SO. MANY. PILLOWS. You have to sleep propped up and on your back for what seems like forever, especially if you’re not a back sleeper, so just use like all the pillows in your place and go buy some more. Make a pillow nest. Sink into it. Get comfy. 

- You’re not gonna sleep through the night for the first night or two. It’s ok. It took me two days to be able to sleep for a good 6-7 hour stretch. At first I could only sleep in 15 minute increments. Your body will adjust back to normal. Just try to relax and sleep as often as you can. When you can’t watch some Netflix. 

- A lot of tips will tell you you may be constipated after surgery. I wasn’t but definitely be prepared for that. However, I did have a slightly hard time peeing after the anesthesia, which I was informed is normal. It was like I had to extra focus on relaxing the muscles down there. This also went away as the anesthesia made its way out of my system. 

- Even though you want this, when you get to see your new chest regularly it’s gonna take some mental processing. At first I cried from happiness, but then it started looking alien to me. Part of that is because it’s gonna be bruised and bloody and scabby for a long time, but also because I was so used to seeing something else and just like that my chest is flat now and it took some time for my brain to catch up. Be gentle with yourself and give yourself the time to process it. It’s good, it’s weird, and it’s ok. 

Overall, just relax and let your body focus on healing. Ask for help. Take extra naps. Eat good food. Rest. I initially took 2 weeks off of work but asked my boss for a third and I am so glad I did. 

[scatteredcloud]

Top Surgery: What Really Happens pt3 -Recovery

I’m on day 4 of recovery, and it’s been a lot of trial and error as to what works and what doesn’t. Like I said in part 1 and part 2, there’s no one solution, so try to anticipate what works for you but be ready to adapt if it doesn’t. I was pleasantly surprised to have over prepared because my pain level is quite low, but that seems to be the exception not the rule. A lot of the supplies mentioned here overlaps with what I said in part 1, this guide is about logistics.

Getting Ready - Day Of - Drains

-Plan to be sleeping, a lot. I get pretty down on myself when I sleep in, because it makes me feel like I’m not being productive, but what’s productive in the days after surgery is taking care of yourself.

Don’t expect to be back to normal within a few days. The way my surgeon broke it down was this:

1 week post op you’re back to 50%

2 weeks post op, you’re back to 80%

4 weeks post op, you’re back to full capacity.

This is a generalization of course, but recovery starts slowing down after week 2, which is why it’s so important to rest up during the first few weeks (especially because that’s when you take time off) You also have to get used to sleeping on your back, which I don’t think anyone actually does naturally. Weighted blankets are super nice for this if you have one, since it keeps you from tossing and turning. I have to take sleep meds anyways, but the pain killers they give you also knock you out.

-Speaking of meds... This was probably what I was the least informed on going into surgery.

This is my full list of medications and side effects that I’ve experienced. Asterisks next to what I was prescribed, I’ve linked to the drugs.com site for more information side effects and general info.

*Oxycodone- 5mg: as needed, every 6 hrs (painkiller)

Reminder that these are opiates, and appropriate caution should be taken. These made me particularly sleepy, and constipated. They also mess with your eyes, I have 20/20 vision but for the first time in my life I understood what it was like to be far-sighted.

*Cefadroxil- 500mg: every 12 hrs (antibiotic)

Obviously it’s important to eat in general while recovering, but also, antibiotics are the only mandatory medication and trying to take them on an empty stomach makes you super nauseous.

*Ondansetron- 4 mg: as needed , every 8 hrs (anti-nausea)

This was substituted for Zofran, not entirely sure why but I think it was something about interactions with other drugs.

Generic acetaminophen- 500mg, as needed every 6 hrs (tylenol)

You cannot have Aspirin, or any over the counter NSAID. They thin the blood and promote excessive bleeding. Aspirin, Motrin, Aleve, Ibuprofen, Excedrin, and Advil are all off limits.

Sennosides- 15mg- as needed (laxatives)

In addition to constipation from other side effects, it’s also just harder in general to get it out because of how sore your muscles will be. There’s no shame in it, it happens to the best of us.

Diphenhydramine- 50mg- 1 a day (sleep aid) 

-Altered mobility, what’s up with that? There are going to have to be some life style changes you make to enable getting around your space.

This is my set up:

Laptop, water, trash can, meds and extra supplies all within reach

Extra pillows to support my back

Lamp with a on/off button extension cord. I think it was originally for christmas trees but it’s nice to not have to reach up and turn the knob

Power strip with chargers

I’m sleeping on the couch because it’s 1. Closer to the bathroom and 2. My actual bed is a loft which isn’t exactly surgery friendly.

I covered the couch cushion in an extra sheet to make it less scratchy and in case of any leakage (There hasn’t been any though)

The name of the game is accessibility. I’ve been lucky to be able to move around and be up and about, but it’s still better to have everything within arms reach. The only issue I’ve run into with my set up is that sitting up is pretty difficult. Particularly with how wide this couch is, it’s hard to maneuver myself up and out

Also, get used to squatting down to pick things up, instead of leaning over. When you squat, you aren’t engaging your torso at all to reach something, which is ideal here.

Try and stick to chairs that have some sort of back support. I’m used to sitting on stools in my work area and that’s just not sustainable after surgery.

-Hygeine Full stop, you’re going to have to be gross for awhile. This (I suspect) is also why they ask you to go off hormones for awhile before surgery, because I’m definitely a lot less sweaty and gross than I would be otherwise.

You can’t shower until you get your drains out, and the ok from your doctor. This is to reduce the risk of infection and to keep soap out of your sutures. Shower gel is pretty much a no until everything is healed, unless it’s like ultra-sensitive, and unscented.(Double check with your doctor though) My boyfriend came over two days ago to sponge me down and wash my hair. Bar soap works well, because it’s easier to control where the soap goes, and it’s more sustainable. 

Do not try and bathe alone. Period. It’s not worth the trouble or pain, and you run the risk of getting things in your sutures

Washing your hair is going to be a bit of a debacle. If you have longer hair, brushing it regularly will help distribute the natural oils and help prevent them from building up. I personally don’t like dry shampoo, but others swear by it, so worth a shot. I’ve also talked to people who treated themselves to a salon visit, to get their hair professionally washed which also sounds lovely. My boyfriend and I managed with me leaning over the edge of the tub and him pouring water over my head. The important thing is to keep soap from running down to your chest.

For me, washing my face is really important to feeling clean. My skin is naturally oily, and I had to adapt my routine a bit, because my normal method is splashing a lot of water on my face. I’ve been learning to take the more civilized route and using a damp cloth to wash off the cleanser, like probably everyone else was already doing :P

I’ve seen a lot of people recommending wet wipes, to at least pull some of the gross off, and if that works for you go for it. I’ve only used them when I take off my compression vest to get some of the oil off of my chest gently.

-Your new chest Other surgeons wrap their patients up differently, but the only rule for me was not to wash the area, and that I had to have the vest on while I slept. Fingers crossed tumblr doesn’t nerf this one but this is what my situation looks like.

(CW: Stitches If you’re sqeamish, you might want to skip this, I certainly would)

The yellow sponge things are sewn on top of my nipple grafts to keep them in place, and then there are strips of medical tape holding the sutures together. Because they’re sewn to my body, I don’t have to worry about them shifting around, but nudging them even a little bit really hurts. The area on my chest went from super sensitive, to itchy and tender, to itchy and numb, to numb and tender. All of your nerves are either completely fried or severed, so even the most delicate sensations can feel really uncomfortable. My chest wasn’t ever particularly sensitive before surgery, so it’s weird being sensitive (but also not?) now.

When the compression vest is closed, I just have a couple layers of gauze pads on top of the stitches to keep them protected. I don’t really have any bandages, although I’m pretty sure that’s not the standard. The compression helps everything fuse back together correctly and squeezes out the fluids into the drains. (I’m making a post on that soon, I’m waiting to get my drains out first.)

I’ve left my vest unbuckled the past couple days to get some room to breathe, but I kept it closed the first 3 days and that seems to really help with minimizing the drainage. (The less drainage the better)

EDIT: I took my first shower in a week here’s my advice for that

Showers- As relieving as it is, you do still need to take some precautions. My shower is a stall with a fixed shower head, if you have a removable one then you’re in good shape- just get someone to get it down for you first. (No reaching over your head!)

- If your nipple grafts are still healing (which they probably will be if you got them), I highly recommend “transparent dressing covers”. Mine came in the box of extra gauze I got from CVS, but an overlarge water proof bandaid will probably do as well. They’re essentially just cling wrap (saran wrap w/e) for injuries. Theoretically you couple put them over the whole cuts? Imo that’s more trouble than it’s worth, you really can’t feel anything- but do what makes you comfortable.

-As always, different instructions for different procedures etc etc- the goal is to keep soap away from the incisions. Water is ok, but I was trying to avoid that as much as I could too. The good news is that all of the nerves are severed, so the discomfort isn’t as bad as getting a normal cut wet in the shower

- This took some experimenting, but the optimal position for me was back to the wall the dials are on. That way you can lean over (from the waist not the chest!) to get your hair in the water, without risking it dripping onto you. That being said, I have pretty thick, med length hair, so adjust as needed.

- I’ve been trying to switch to bar soap anyways, because it’s more sustainable, but personally it worked well for me. (Definitely make sure you can get a good grip on it though, pain killers can make you clumsy and it’s a bitch to crouch down to get it if it drops) My instructions were specifically to keep shower gel away from the incisions, so I just used bar soap.

- I didn’t do this, but retrospectively, keeping a clean sponge or a wet cloth on hand to get your arm pits would be pretty choice. Since you can’t lift your arms and in trying to keep soap away from your chest, it’s hard to get your under arms damp enough to get soap on, and then harder to rinse out.

- Getting out of the shower, make sure you have towels in easy reach. I’m pretty vigorous trying to dry off, because I hate the feeling of being wet, so I had to consciously slow myself down. Drying your hair goes more or less the same way as washing it, bending from the waist. There’s probably another method (getting someone else to help you ideally lmao) but because your can only really move your fore arms, this is the only thing I’ve been able to find that brings everything within reach.

- If you have a hair dryer, it works wonders for drying off hard-to-reach places. I was having a hard time getting my back fully dry, but pop that baby on and your warm and dry in seconds. 

Please let me know if you have any specific questions, my dms/ask box are always open, and I’m sure I’ve forgotten things.

[tiniest-hedgehog]

Friendly reminder that I have a GoFundMe running around the web trying really hard to help me raise money for top surgery. I’ve added more details in the space below if you’d like it, otherwise, click here to find my page.

What is "Top Surgery"?

Top surgery is a blanket term for the procedure that is performed on transgender individuals in order for their chest area to be more aligned with or resemble that of their gender, rather than their sex. For me, top surgery takes form in what is called a double incision mastectomy with free nipple graft. I'll get into exactly what those words mean down below, but in summary, this procedure will remove the breast tissue, mammary glands, and residual fat on the sides of my chest with the goal of creating a more masculine appearance. Why is Top Surgery necessary? As I am only one person, I can't speak for any other transgender person but myself nor do I want to. So, for me this procedure is necessary in order to alleviate what is known as gender dysphoria. This is a state of severe depression and anxiety surrounding the way my body looks in comparison to other, cis-gender men's (men whose sex is male) bodies. I cannot stress enough that gender dysphoria is not the same as "regular body image problems", as it is not only much more psychologically powerful than other struggles with body image, but there is an added component that makes it seem as though my body is not my own. Dysphoria is something that has caused me to cancel plans with loved ones and with friends on several occasions, has made it a daily fight to leave my house, and has often led to extreme depressive episodes, anxiety attacks, and paranoia.

Gender Dysphoria is very hard to explain to those who do not experience it themselves, but I would be happy to talk with you about it in private if you are struggling with the concept. Having this procedure will also offset the cost of garments that I purchase in order to currently alleviate dysphoria, as well as prevent the possibility of medical problems in the future due to wearing said garments. On a daily basis, I wear what is called a chest binder. This is a garment that is often made of spandex with a panel made of hardened cotton and polyester that works to compress the breast tissue and make the chest appear flatter. Since I have a larger amount of breast tissue, my binder isn't able to completely "masculinize" my chest and there is often still a bump as if I have smaller breasts and am simply wearing a sport's bra. Not only does this not completely alleviate the more severe symptoms of dysphoria I have, but binders are extremely expensive long-term. One chest binder, on average, costs $35 to $40. However, due to the amount of use they go through and how large my chest is, binders are only truly effective for two to four months before the spandex stretches out and they become glorified sport's bras. That means that I'm purchasing, on average, three binders a year. Multiply that by 60 more years and I'll be spending an average of $7,200 on binders alone. Chest binders also come with an increased risk of lung and back problems and struggles with muscle growth in the chest and upper back over the long term due to the way they are designed.

To summarize, Top Surgery for me is a necessary procedure because it will alleviate the more severe symptoms of gender dysphoria that have caused insurmountable damage to the way I interact with other people, as well as offset the long-term cost and effects of chest binding by completely eradicating my need for chest binders after this procedure. Who is My Surgeon and What Will She Be Doing? I have chosen Dr. Sidhbh (Pronounced "Sih-ve") Gallagher as the surgeon running this procedure. She graduated in the top 3% of her class at University of Dublin's medical school and became a board certified general surgeon in 2015. She completed her plastic surgery fellowship at IU Medical School and became board certified as a plastic surgeon. She focuses on gender-affirmation surgeries such as the procedure I'm looking to undergo, and has performed countless gender-affirmation surgeries. The procedure that I will be undergoing is called a Double Incision Mastectomy with Free Nipple Graft. You can find more information about this specific procedure here. The reason I chose Dr. Gallagher as my surgeon is because she is not only located close to my family - having her practice based in Indiana - but she also performs a unique version of this procedure where the use of drainage tubes is rendered completely useless. As anyone who has had this surgery knows, drainage tubes can often be an uncomfortable (and smelly) part of the post-op care for this procedure. Not only would there be tubes in my chest and the appropriate drainage containers taped to my sides while my chest heals, but the inclusion of the tubes raises the risk of infection. With the drainless version of this procedure, the skin has a better chance of growing more naturally with my chest muscle should I decide to build it, the risk of infection is much lower since the incision sites will be fully closed, and the level of discomfort I will feel post-op will be much lower. Where Will Your Money Be Going? Currently, the United States medical system still views transgender healthcare as being cosmetic, meaning that most insurance companies deem procedures related to transgender healthcare to be unnecessary and will not cover them. Unfortunately for me, my insurance company is one of many that shares this view of transgender healthcare and will neither cover any aspect of the procedure nor my time with Dr. Gallagher pre or post-op. This means that I will be paying for this procedure entirely out of pocket - a huge expense for anyone. The current maximum cost of the procedure + expenses is $10,000. Expenses include:

I've set my goal at $1,000 for the moment so that I am more likely to reach it. If I do not reach this goal, your money will be refunded and I will start from the beginning once again. The fees I have listed above are only their current numbers, and if I wait too long those prices will go up. It is extremely important that I reach my goal in order to afford this surgery, as it would be completely life changing and would have a tremendously positive impact on my life and the way I interact with those around me. Thank you so much for your consideration in donating. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me on Facebook or through this page. All the love, -Jordan

[transfixingcharly]

July - post-op update

I had my chest surgery on July 18th, under the very capable care of Mr Fenton at the Spire hospital at Methley Park.

Even though I wasn’t a private (and paying) patient, the service and aftercare was outstanding.

On the morning of the 18th I arrived at the hospital at 7:30. I hadn’t really been nervous the night before, but anxiety had kicked in fully by the time I was taken down for my surgery at 9:45.

Amy and my Mum were both with me until that point, offering support and reminding me that I couldn’t eat the “emergency Snickers” contraband chocolate bar that I’d smuggled into my overnight bag, in spite of my best efforts to have a pre-op snack...

The surgical staff had all been to my room to introduce themselves before I was taken down for surgery, and they were wonderful.

By the time I got down to the anaesthetic room, I knew everyone by name and I understood how the operation - a double mastectomy with free-form nipple grafts - would go. A student nurse named Gemma had asked to watch my operation, and she was particularly wonderful to Amy and Mum while I was under.

The last thing I remember was my anaesthetist putting a cannula into the back of my hand - followed by two injections - and telling me to count down from ten.

I woke up back on the ward, around two thirty.

Amy told me they’d kept me in recovery for longer than usual as they’d had issues “controlling my pain”, which explained why I woke up panicking, my chest tight and aching fiercely. I had never known an ache like it, but it was fleeting as a nurse brought me some pain relief which made everything feel better. (I found out later that I’d been given Oxycodone, which was pretty great.)

I cried plenty for the first half hour of consciousness, overwhelmed by relief of the surgery’s success and shocked by the initial pain.

I was given compression bandages - more about these later - and the tightness of these surprised me too. I felt like I couldn’t breathe properly, which made me panic that I’d pass out.

It was a weird period of time.

The surgeon came to see me later that day to ensure I was feeling okay, and he loosened the bandages a little. He seemed happy with the surgery, a nurse later told me that during the operation he’d completed the sutures, but then announced that he felt he could do better, so he removed them all and started again. I couldn’t figure out if this was reassuring or not.

A few friends came to visit late afternoon: Paris, James, Sophie and Fran.

Paris ridiculed my uselessness in a very affectionate way, while James made cool pop culture references that I was only just compos mentis enough to understand. (James also provided the “thanks for the mammaries” line which I used on instagram.)

Sophie brought books and compassion, and gave my head a gentle hug in lieu of an actual bodily cuddle.

Fran arrived last, just in time to see me vomit up everything I’d eaten. The nurses reassured me that this was just the anaesthetic, and that I’d feel better soon.

It happened to be my Mum’s birthday on the day of my surgery, so Fran and Amy took her out for dinner around 8pm while I attempted to sleep again. A lovely matron was in and out of the room at this time, and she was fantastically supportive to everyone who came to see me.

I got a few hours of sleep, and managed to stomach some breakfast many hours later while I binged Great British Bake Off on Netflix. (I have my internet friend Lou to thank for my rekindled love for this show.)

Gemma - the student nurse from the day before - came to keep me company for an hour or so before she went home, and she was able to tell me all about the surgery now that I was in a fit state to understand it all.

Amy and Sophie reappeared around 10am, just in time to hear a nurse tell me that I was now allowed to go to the toilet unattended.

It turns out having chest surgery impedes your ability to move around quite considerably, so this was great news. I think everyone felt relieved, no pun intended.

I was discharged just after lunch, and Sophie and I shared an emotional moment as she watched me see my newly flat chest for the first time, out of the hospital gown and in my own clothes. I’m not even slightly ashamed to admit that I cried.

I left hospital with my drains still in - gross plastic tubes coming out of my surgical sites used to remove excess fluid - and was told that I needed to come back on the 20th to have them taken out, as long as I hadn’t bled into them too much.

Lucy and Amy were both immeasurably helpful in the hours following my journey home, and I can’t thank them - or many others - enough. (Although I’m going to try to in my next blog post…)

I spent the next few days in periods of restlessness brought on by a cocktail of codeine and exhaustion, but was conscious enough to have the drains removed on Friday.

This was an unpleasant experience, but the nurse at Methley Park who completed the procedure and redressed my surgical sites was wonderful.

Paris picked me up on Saturday afternoon and we spent a handful of careful hours meandering around Wakefield city centre. I was exhausted by the time we got home, and I slept fitfully again on the sofa as I had done during most daylight hours since my surgery. I was finally nailing the art of napping, although this probably would’ve served me better during my early years than as a 27 year old. Never too late to learn a new skill though, I guess.

On Saturday evening my parents arrived in anticipation of our trip down to London the following morning.

We weren’t sure if I’d be going until Sunday morning itself, as while my pain and physical ability had both improved, I was still constantly tired.

We made it through the trip unscathed, making sure to rest whenever I needed it, and fitting in more mid-afternoon naps around our crowded schedule.

The compression bandages proved to be the hardest part of the recovery, as while I understood the necessity of them, they pressed directly upon my bruised chest and made me horrendously warm. I knew that I needed them to reduce the swelling, but that didn’t make me like them anymore than I had to.

On Friday afternoon Amy and I trekked back from London to Methley Park, and the staples which had been securing my nipple grafts were removed.

I was given fresh dressings again and another appointment to see Mr Fenton, who would determine if I needed any further aftercare. I’m going back again next Monday to hopefully see my nipples for the first time.

I seem to be healing pretty well, and I’m able to be more active than I’d expected while still sticking within the guidelines given. No gym for a few weeks yet, but I should be able to go running soon.

There’s another post coming shortly after this evening one just to hand out some thanks, as I’ve been overwhelmed with gratitude at some points in the past few weeks.

You’re awesome, and I’m lucky to have you all.

[novipedia]

How To Sit After Bbl HD Wallpapers

Some doctors may instruct their patients to sit within a minimum period of 2 weeks. Be strategic about your bathroom use.

BBL Pillow on Twitter "Looking for the BEST Butt Pillow

Applying direct pressure on the target location in this critical healing period can destroy or shift the transplanted fat.

How to sit after bbl. Some others postulate rest for at least 8 weeks. Try to avoid sitting down on the toilet whenever possible. While some have recommended 6 weeks.

If you need to sit down, you should always ensure you use a bbl pillow for at least two weeks after you go for the brazilian butt lift. 👩 today, our #massagetherapist is going to teach you how to sit after having #bbl surgery! Ask your cosmetic surgeon about how to sit after bbl, what to eat after bbl, driving after bbl, and other bbl post op care instructions.

Your lower thighs should be sitting on your bbl pillow, and your booty should be slightly raised to avoid excess pressure and weight on the area. Some have advised the patients to sit normally after 2 weeks. For that reason, when we’re discussing sleeping after bbl it’s also useful to say a thing or two about sitting.

The recovery process is equally important as the surgeon’s expertise for desired results. Many specialists recommend varying recovery periods. Lying and putting pressure on the buttocks is also forbidden after bbl as well as sitting.

The injected fat is stuck in a matrix of other soft tissues and is largely stuck wherever the surgeon put it. Once this blood supply is established, it is safe to sit without the bbl cushion. While using the toilet is unavoidable, try to limit the amount of time you spend sitting on it.

Here are our bbl recovery tips to help your recovery go smoothly: Sleeping positions after tummy tuck and bbl. That way when you sit, you’re placing pressure on the thighs, not the buttocks.

Only sit as needed, and, if so, for short periods of time. You’ll be advised to sleep on your front and avoid sitting for at least one month. You probably can’t stand at work all day.

Wear a backpack with a tennis ball in it while sleeping. After that time, you can begin sitting for short periods, preferably with a donut pillow or boppy pillow to offload pressure from the bottom to the thighs. It is also advised that you rest on your stomach or sides rather than on your back to avoid accidentally placing pressure on the tender, healing tissues.

You are not allowed to sleep on your back for six weeks after the procedure. Note that this is important even if you are sitting on a chair that has its own padding. While you may return to work from the second week, you should avoid performing strenuous.

You will also need a special bbl pillow for sitting in the early phase of your bbl recovery. Generally, the recovery time stipulated for bbl patients can range from 2 to 8 weeks. If you do choose to drive at least two weeks after your bbl, avoid driving during rush hour or over long.

As seen in the video, you can place a narrow or round pillow under your thighs. First, a common sitting after bbl myth is that you should avoid sitting at all for quite some time. How long before i can sit after the bbl procedure?

Try to completely avoid sitting or laying on the fat graft site for the first three weeks after the surgery, and only when necessary through the fourth week. In this process, it is aimed to keep the area alive by providing blood flow to the fats. Place the pillow on the seat where you will sit down.

Some doctors recommend avoiding sitting at all during the first 2 weeks after surgery. When you have to sit, use a boppy pillow to. How to sit after tummy tuck and bbl.

Sitting after bbl during the recovery period, we typically ask the patient to take a minimum of one week off, but if possible, two weeks would be better. Others recommend sitting only using a bbl cushion during the first 6 weeks of the recovery. When can i sit after bbl?

When sitting becomes necessary and is cleared by dr. It is important to make frequent stops and walk around. The reason for that is because we prefer the patient to not sit directly on the buttocks for the first two weeks.

Your lower thighs should be sitting on your bbl pillow, and your booty should be slightly raised to avoid excess pressure and weight on the area. When can i lay on my back after a bbl? Some people believe that if you sit on your buttock that the fat is going to migrate and you will lose shape.

Thus, the treated area is also fixed. If you do choose to drive at least two weeks after your bbl, avoid driving during rush hour or over long distances to minimize the amount of time you are sitting. May seem awkward at first but it also has the benefit of encouraging good posture.

Your surgeon is the only one who is qualified enough to give you the exact required recovery time for your case. During the first 6 weeks of the bbl recovery time, the body will generate a blood supply around the new fat cells. Travel after a tummy tuck and bbl.

For best results, you should try to avoid sitting for about two to three weeks after the procedure. Also, there is a variety of post bbl surgery support cushions available on the market. Whether you choose to only a bbl or a combination of a bbl + breast augmentation or bbl + tummy tuck, getting in.

Doctors use different techniques to perform bbl surgery and therefore the different recommendations about sitting after a bbl. How long before i can sit after the bbl procedure? If necessary, make a stop every thirty minutes or so to stretch your legs, drink.

It will be difficult, but patients must avoid applying pressure or sitting directly on their buttocks for at least three weeks after bbl surgery. When and how to sit after a bbl? Some patients can sit down after only two weeks, while others are advised to wait for six weeks to sit down again after bbl.

About press copyright contact us creators advertise developers terms privacy policy & safety how youtube works test new features press copyright contact us creators. This helps the patient’s body recuperate and adjust to the changes introduced by the surgery. Our research shows that 6 weeks can be considered a safe period of.

The bbl pillow is put under your thighs so that your butt will remain elevated from the surface of your seat and keep the pressure off of the newly grafted fat. When and how to sit after the bbl surgery? To help with your recovery process, a compression garment is highly recommended because it reduces the swelling experienced by the tissues.

To check pricing on a bbl from a doctor near you, click here. There is no universally accepted protocol for sitting or not sitting after a bbl.

[rejoicehairpatch]

Hair Transplant in Pimple Saudagar

Hair transplant is very simple procedure with greater higher success rates and quicker recovery. At Rejoice Hair transplant which is located in the heart of Best Hair Transplant in Pune. If you want to experience a head full of hair right after the treatment, you are likely in the dark. So, instead of falling down the wormhole of false expectations, it is better that you understand the whole procedure and how it done.

For a healthy good recovery and healthy re growth of your transplanted hair, it is necessary that you follow all the post-operative instructions. If you are not completely aware of the hair transplant recovery time and aftercare instructions, we would appreciate if you take time and read the complete article we made just for you.

 Hair Transplant in Pune – we constantly endeavour to bring the latest hair transplant techniques and technologies,

What is Bio-FUT ?

Bio – Follicular Unit Transplantation (Bio-FUT) is an enhanced version of generic FUT at Rejoice™. Both of these techniques utilize transplant of follicular units. These units are naturally occurring groups of 1–4 hair. An experienced surgeon can transplant thousands of grafts in a single session. Bio-FUT hair grows and looks like natural hair.

Bio-FUT process?

The Bio-FUT process starts with applying anesthesia using Rejoice™ Near Zero Pain. This makes the procedure almost painless. We then extract a strip from the donor area (side and back of your head). We can determine the appropriate length and width of donor strip using trichoscan. This strip contains the roots of hair that are permanent and never fall out.

After extracting we cover up the area with surgical stitching. We use the most advanced trichophytic closure techniques to reduce the linear scar.

After that, we cut the strip into grafts of follicular units using microscopic dissection. A special care goes into isolating units from donor strip. Because the growth is greatest when we keep the units intact. Intact units also give you a more natural group of 1–4 hair. Till the transplant, we keep the grafts in [BCEB™ Fluid].

At the same time, other members of team Rejoice™ prepare the recipient sites. Recipient sites are tiny microscopic holes in the scalp. We make those tiny holes with the help of cutting-edge medical equipment. At last, we place the grafts on recipient sites.

An expert surgeon handles the procedure with accurate positioning of grafts at proper angles. So the transplanted hair look natural. The fine-tuning that goes into the process is mind-boggling. So Dr. Sawant is personally involved in every stage of treatment.

Pros and cons

Bio-FUT is an advanced hair transplant technique. We can harvest and transplant more grafts per session than any other technique. We don’t need to trim the hair like we have to in Direct-FUE technique. But there are two downsides to this technique:

Donor area can take 10–15 days to heal.

It leaves a permanent scar on the donor area. This scar is only visible when you have a shaved head. Post-op care After the treatment, we hand you an instruction manual. In that we have described everything about how to take care of yourself post-op. You can have your medical stitches removed two weeks after the treatment. In case of outstation people, we use dissolvable stitches. These stitches dissolve within 2 weeks.

View More.. Hair Transplant in Pimple Saudagar

[transgenderteensurvivalguide]

Lee says:

I’m 5 days post-op so I’m starting my post-phallo supplies posts! I’ll write about which items I bought, which ones I used, and which ones I found helpful.

This lap desk is one of the best purchases I’ve made for my ALT phalloplasty recovery!

(For those who don’t know what ALT phalloplasty is, see this post!)

I’m supposed to either stand or lie on my back. So I’m not supposed to sit at all, ever.

At best, I can get tilted at a 20 degree angle while I’m laying down.

Being on your back makes it hard to see your screen which is where the lap desk comes in. It has the option to tilt up at an angle so you can see your computer screen while you’re lying down.

[ID: Stock photo of lap desk tilted up at an angle with a computer on it. Part of the desk remains flat and has a cup holder.]

The other cool option is just keeping the desk flat. This doesn’t sound very useful, but it actually is! That’s because the desk has legs and can essentially act as a bridge.

[ID: Stock photo of lap desk sitting flat with a computer on it.]

If you have had ALT phalloplasty, your legs have been though A Lot™.

If you want to see what I mean, look at my 4 days and 5 days post-op pictures posted on @datgenderqueerboi. [TW: those images show my leg post-phallo which is essentially an open wound. If you’re squeamish, don’t click!]

Often, people are told to leave their split thickness graft site open to air to heal. So there’s no bandage on it, and uhhh you might be able to guess that it isn’t comfortable for you (or conducive to healing) to have your leg rub against the blankets.

So you can put the lap desk over the area of your leg where the donor site and split thickness graft is, and then put your blankets on top of the desk so you’re fully covered in blankets and the heat is kept in but the blankets aren’t directly on your leg.

Pros:

A good height to clear my leg; not so low that my leg bumps into the top. (This might be different for you depending on how big you are and how big your penis is— if you have a long penis, it may hit the top of the desk when it’s propped at a 45 degree angle. Or if you’re a larger person than me, your thighs may be thicker and you might be too close to the top.)

Can be used to hold laptop, small items, keep track of sippy cup (more on that item in an upcoming post)

Can be used to make a tent so blankets don’t go directly on your leg and you can stay warm and covered by blankets

Putting a blanket over hides your penis from view if your penis still has to be propped up and you have guests and don’t want the telltale budge visible in blankets

It cost $24 which is reasonably priced

Cons:

A little unstable with the laptop on it when it’s on a soft surface like a bed; you need to put a heavy item like a rock or can of soup in the cup holder to counterbalance the lap desk so it doesn’t tip over on you if you’re trying to tilt your computer upwards.

The instability isn’t an issue when it’s flat, but it limits the tilt you’re able to achieve with your laptop.

With this model, if you have a larger laptop then it might not fit in the ledge that tilts. But my laptop is 13” and fits well.

It’s helpful when you’re out of the hospital, but may or may not fit in your hospital bed and they may be doing something else with a Bair Hugger (an inflatable hot air blanket thing) that will make it hard for you to put any blankets over an item or for you to put the desk on top of the hugger.

You may need help placing it over your leg when you get into bed and lifting it up over you to put on the floor when you want to get out of bed, and that means you can’t independently get in and out of bed.

If you have enough room in bed you can place it next to you instead of on the floor which is easy, but if your partner sleeps in bed with you or you have a twin bed then you may need help to set it down on the ground because there won’t be enough room to place it in arms reach level on the bed.

Here are pictures of me using the lap desk to explain what I mean:

(TW: you can see my thigh which is still healing from surgery)

[ID in ALT text]

Other reviews:

Grabber/reacher device

Wound care supplies

Resistance bands

(To be continued!)

Where I bought it:

[bulmd]

Hair Transplant Post-OP Aftercare and Instructions

Hair Transplantation has become the primary treatment option for various hair loss problems in men and women; ranging from hormonal factors, genetic causes or stress. One of the most popular and mainstream methods of hair transplant surgery is the FUE micrografting method, for being less invasive than FUT type methods and the overall efficiency in its hair recovery results; with the added advantage of a quick post-op recovery time.

We will try to highlight the post-op precautions which would help patients better understand this crucial stage of recovery after a hair transplant surgery. Generally, any hair transplant procedure entails hair follicles extracted from a donor site and implanted into the recipient balding or bald area. Usually in a single session, up to 5000 follicular grafts can be implanted, with each graft contain 1 to 4 hair.

What are short term precautions after the hair transplant surgery?

After the surgery, in the following few hours to the end of the week, patients need to notice and care for the newly grafted hair follicles. They must care and look for the following:

Immediate Care

Right after the patient is discharged after the surgery, they should, generally go home and rest with minimum post-surgery activity as possible; until the following morning.

To help the swelling decrease, it is recommended to keep your head elevated at a 45-degree angle for at least the first three days after the surgery.

Alcohol or Aspirin, and containing products are restricted for 3 to 5 days after the surgery.

What to do for:

Bleeding - can happen, the very night of the surgery; up to a few days after. It is advised that it can be stopped if you gently apply pressure over the area for 15 min; without lifting the gauze. You must press gently but firmly; not to dislodge the newly transplanted hair grafts. In case the bleeding does not stop, with rest and pressure then, it is advised to consult your transplant surgeon or hair clinic. Furthermore, it must be kept in mind that in the first few days a graft may get dislodged, it is advised not to panic; as although it is uncommon but it can happen but you will not lose that a few hair follicles at max.

Pain Control – Pain killer medications are prescribed for the first 1 to 5 days following the surgery and they alleviate any pain due to the surgery and give comfort to the patient.

Wound Care - Generally, you will be provided a medical kit, which will include a solution which the patients must use daily for the next 3 days with the help of sterile gauze; to keep the wounds from drying out. Furthermore, patients will be given an ointment to help heal the wounds quicker and reduce any swelling.

Irritation and Itching - If there is itching at the donor or transplant sites, it is recommended to use the spray solution provided in the medical kits, for relief and to avoid any touching of the surgical areas. Additionally, to the ointment, you can apply pure aloe vera gel for instant relief for irritation or itching.

Swelling – may occur, usually on the donor site or the patient's forehead, around day 2 to 4 of the surgery. This is temporary and will subside in a few days with the help of anti-inflammatory medication, which is prescribed to the patients. However, to reduce the swelling, the patients can keep their head elevated at a 45-degree angle for the first 3-5 days, using pillows.

Infections – Although rare, but it can happen if there is exposure to dirt for 2 weeks following the surgery. It is advisable no to touch the donor or transplanted areas, except only with clean hands or gauze, to reduce the chances of an infection. If there is any tenderness or redness or swelling around the surgical site; it is advisable to report them to your transplant surgeon, immediately.

What are the long term precautions after having an FUE transplant?

Generally, after an FUE Hair transplant, hospitalization is not needed, as latest innovations and techniques are moving towards a less invasive and faster recovery treatment for hair loss; most hair transplants are carried out on an out-patient basis. Mostly, the post-operative care, entails some precautionary measure and general recommendation which the patients are instructed to follow at the comfort of their home. The factors of care may include the following:

Work - Generally, patients can return to work the very next day; however, it depends on the patient's work type situation. For example, if the patient’s workplace requires them to wear a helmet or some headgear then, it might be advisable to wait for 2 to 4 weeks before resuming work, according to the patient’s situation. Nonetheless, it is advisable to refrain from heavy work for 1 week or any heavy lifting at work.

Sports and Exercise – It is recommended to avoid any heavy exercise or sports for 2 weeks after the surgery; activities which make the patient perspire and sweat must be avoided for the first week. The patient must avoid any weight lifting, swimming for at least 3 - 4 weeks, and in case of any contact sport, such as martial arts or boxing, the rest period can be around 8 – 12 weeks.

Hats and Caps – For the first 3 days, after the surgery, the head must remain uncovered, and only lose hats can be worn, which exert very little pressure, during the first week. Helmets can only be worn after 4 to 6 weeks after the surgery.

Haircut – Only after the third month of the surgery, you can get the transplanted hair cur with a pair of scissors.

How to wash hair after a transplant – On the fourth day of the surgery, it is recommended to wash the head with Luke warm water, with the special care shampoos provided within the post-care medical kits. The best way to wash the transplanted areas is with a gentle touch, without any force to avoid any scarping and after gentle drying with paper towels. Only after the first month, are patients able to use dry towels, or bathe in a pool or seawater.

Hair transplant Post – OP graft lifecycle and recovery

First 2 Weeks – The most careful and necessary post-op period for any hair transplant surgery is the first 2 weeks, when the surgical sites have redness, with bouts of itching and inflammation.  This time requires the most care and attention of the patients to avoid any contact with the sites and maintaining a gentle cleaning routine for the newly grafted hair grafts.

3rd to 8th Week – At this stage, the transplanted hair follicles may become detached from the hair and the patients may notice hair fall; you must not panic as this is normal, as the transplanted hair is going to fall and the give way to new hair growth in the hair follicles which are grafted at the donor site.

12th Week – New hair starts to grow in the transplanted follicles.

The 24th Week – Hair regrowth happens with lengthier and tougher hair growth.

One Year – By this time, the difference between the natural and transplanted hair is indistinguishable and the patients can enjoy their hair revival with a natural hairline and overall aesthetic; having no distinction between their natural hair and the transplanted hair follicles.

Web site:  https://bulmd.com/

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WhatsApp: +90 531 988 3090 

[shanekelly1]

Hair Transplant Recovery Timeline

Choosing surgical intervention to address your hair loss can put a lot of questions in your mind. In this article we will address a lot of the questions one may have, following on from a surgical hair transplant procedure – We have broken down the recovery timeline for you according to milestones that you can expect in a span of one year. Here’s what your hair transplant recovery timeline should look like.

Week 1

Day 1

What you can expect:

For those who had an FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) procedure, expect the overall recipient site to appear slightly bruised, while the donor area is closed with fine sutures. This will be covered by a dressing. Depending on the doctor’s orders, the dressing may be removed the next day during a follow-up review. The donor and recipient site may be a bit sore and feel slightly tight due to swelling and suturing.

If you underwent an FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) procedure, most likely the back and sides of your head would have been shaved. The tiny incisions in the donor area will heal remarkably fast within 24-48 hours. This means that recovery is much faster than a FUT procedure.

What you must do:

During the immediate post-operative phase, all you need to do is rest. You can take the prescribed pain medications to relieve the pain. It is not advised to touch or wash the donor and recipient areas during the first night as this can be very sensitive. Sleep on your side with your head elevated on 2-3 pillows to help minimise swelling.  As you move forward with the healing process, always remember to follow your doctor’s post-operative care instructions to the letter.

Day 2-4

What you can expect:

You will have tiny little crusts in the recipient area, but around day four this would soon be pinkish discolorations. The pain would have lessened by this time. However, any swelling on the forehead or around the eyes would have started to show around day 2-3 and would have peaked at day 4. There are ways to minimise swelling by using a hot and cold compress on the forehead.

What you must do:

Be mindful of the pain and swelling. Immediately report to your doctor if pain intensity increases, when swelling has worsened, or if you notice any discharges in any of the operated areas. Avoid touching, scratching or rubbing the transplanted areas as the grafts are still on their way of becoming stronger in their new home. Continue to prop your head on pillows to prevent too much swelling as this could also slow down healing. Steroid medications can also help decrease swelling, and you should take these according to your surgeon’s instructions. You may or may not be able to hide it depending on the amount of pre-existent hair that you can style over them. You may require to take a few days off work. If your work involves face to face meetings or strenuous work, a medical certificate can be supplied from our surgeon.

Day 5-7

What to expect:

By this time, the grafts are now adapted in the transplanted area that they can no longer be dislodged. Over at the donor site, the sutures (for FUT) are still in place. Scalp tightness should have gone at this point; however, scabs may still be present. You may also notice mild itching, but this is normally a sign of healing.

The donor areas in an FUE procedure would have been typically well-healed at this point. It will no longer appear like distinct harvested areas.  Some patients return to work after the first week. It is also safe to resume physical activities at this point.

What you must do:

You can already go back to your normal hair washing routine on the fifth day after surgery. To soften the scabs, you can leave your shampoo on a bit longer. This will make it easier to wash off any scabbing or flaking. Never be tempted to scratch so as not to dislodge the grafts.

While it is already safe to resume physical activities, it is best to be safe by avoiding activities that put a great deal of tension on the donor areas. Avoid bending or heavy lifting for at least 4 weeks. While some doctors allow their patients to wear loose-fitting hats around day 3, you need to clarify with our surgeon, when you are advised you can do so. This will help you feel comfortable in public, especially now that you can engage in more activities.

Weeks 2-4

Day 10

What to expect:

Any crusting or scabbing would have been gone and transplanted hair would have grown to appear like a “crew-cut” haircut. Post-FUT patients can expect the sutures to be removed at this point. Now that the wound has closed, removing the stiches that held the skin together will make it heal better. This appointment will also serve as another follow-up so the doctor can assess how your healing is coming along.

What you must do:

If there are still some scabs that remain. Don’t forcibly try to remove them. Continue with your usual hair care routine and the little scabs will come away on their own, without you applying undue pressure. Even if you are not a Post-FUT patient, you are still required to come back for a follow-up review to make sure all is on track with your healing.

Day 11 – Week 4

What you can expect:

The hair follicles will go into a resting phase. This means that the shafts of your hair grafts will start to fall off. You will notice that most will be gone by the end of the 3rdand 4thweek. This should be no cause for worry because this is a normal phenomenon called shock loss. Rest assured it’s not the actual little hairs that you see that are the important part of the process, it’s the actual root of the follicle that is imbedded under the skin, that will regrow a new hair from 3months post-op.

Some may also notice pimple-like arears on either the transplanted or donor area. They will look like regular pimples, but this is due to folliculitis. It is a common skin condition where the hair follicles become inflamed. If you notice this please contact the clinic or surgeon for them to review.

What you must do:

Don’t panic when hair starts to shed. Simply continue with your usual hair care; eventually new hair will grow. As for any pimples caused by folliculitis that you may notice, it is best that you avoid touching them. If you find more than 2 pimples that have become more painful or inflamed and if it is recurring, report this to our clinic immediately. The pimples generally clear up quickly with the use of a cortisone ointment and/or short course of antibiotics.

Months 2-3

What you can expect:

There will be a considerable amount of hair that will start showing signs of growth around this time, although it may come in a bit earlier for some patients. This will have a fine texture at first and will eventually grow longer and thicker. Meanwhile, the donor scar in an FUT would have matured and shrunk to its final size and shape. It’s an exciting time, as you visually can see the first signs of the new growth from the transplanted hairs.

What you must do:

Even though the hairs are not in its usual thickness yet, you can already groom your hair at this point.

Months 4-6

What you can expect:

You can expect the hair to grow thicker and longer and will have some textural changes towards the end of this period. You will have more options on styling your hair at this point. The donor area would have completely healed as well.

What you must do:

Granted that your recovery goes expected to plan, you can already style, or even colour, your hair at this point. We would like to see you at this stage to check on your satisfaction and progress and an appointment will be made at the 6-month mark. Be sure that you go back for proper assessment and for photos to be taken. However, please bear in mind only about 50-60% of hairs will be through and growing at this stage, basically the half way mark. Wearing a cap when going outdoors is advisable to protect your scalp from sunburn.

Month 7 – 1 Year

What you can expect:

The patient would have grown 80-90% of the transplanted hair. Things are looking up at this point, in terms of hair growth. You will also notice remarkable textural changes where your hairs will finally look more fuller and healthier.

What you must do:

There will be another hair consultation review at this point. The doctor will take photos at different angles to document the progress. All you really have to do now is to enjoy your new look.

The full effect of your hair transplant surgery, whether if it is an FUT or FUE procedure, will be most noticeable within 12-18 months. Also understand that each client heals differently. Your journey may be slightly different from the next patient. This is why we emphasize the importance of return check-ups because this allows us to monitor your healing process, and also for you to understand the changes.

If you have more questions and clarifications, book your consultation at the Medihair Clinic today.

Please call 1300 355 325 to book your FREE consultation today!

[transastronautistic]

Hey! I see you've recently scheduled top surgery with Dr. Hope Sherie in North Carolina? I was wondering if you could tell me a bit about your experience so far, like as in customer service and responsiveness, informed consent and of course cost and insurance. I'm trying to talk to other people rather than just relying on websites. Hope to hear from you soon :)

Hi, so sorry I didn’t see this earlier! I hope this helps, and feel free to ask more questions because trans and nonbinary folks have to help each other out :)

And if anyone has already had surgery with Dr. Hope Sherie and wants to share some of their results I know I would love to hear that.

Informed Consent

I only looked at top surgeons who accept informed consent, since I don’t have much hope that I’d be able to get a letter from a psychologist tbh. After researching like ten surgeons, I narrowed things down to Dr. Sherie and one other doctor (Paul Steinwald) as the best options for me based on their locations and others’ reviews of them. After phone consultations with both doctors, Dr. Sherie was by far the best option.

For one thing, she did not pester me about why I want the surgery, how long I’ve wanted it, and so on. The other top surgeon did – I assume to make sure I was ~really trans~ or something, since he also goes by informed consent. Which I get, and I don’t blame him for doing it, but I appreciated that Dr. Sherie took me at my word, you know? All I told her is that I’d been hoping for this surgery for a long time and she accepted that without insisting I “prove” it.

And yeah, all she really needs is your medical history to make sure the surgery will be safe for you. I had heart surgery when I was four, so she had me visit my cardiologist to make sure I wouldn’t have complications from that; and then all I had to do is send her a letter from my cardiologist and there were no other obstacles to the surgery! (I also have diagnosed depression and anxiety but she did not mention them as being a problem so that was good)

Responsiveness and Customer Service

During my phone consultation with Dr. Sherie (which was back in April I think), I talked first with her patient care coordinator, Kevin, and then with her. Both of them are seriously a delight to talk to – very warm and friendly, super knowledgeable but with a sense of humor that put me at ease.

I get the feeling that Dr. Sherie genuinely cares about her trans / nonbinary clients, because of the language she and her staff use. For instance, they always use my chosen name when talking to me viaphone and email.(The other consultation place, as a comparison, addressed me by my legal name in a follow-up email, so it is special that Dr. Sherie and her staff don’t do that.)I’m trying to remember if they asked my pronouns...I think Kevin did but I might be wrong. Either way, they haven’t called me “she” or “miss” or “m’am” or anything so that’s good.

Plus, she also gives great discounts to many of us for various things. Veterans, for instance, get a big discount, and if you pay all your fee upfront rather than with loans, you get another big discount.

Both Dr. Sherie and Kevin told me to email or call as often as I want with questions leading up to the surgery, and I have taken them up on that haha. I prefer email to phone calls, and whenever I email Kevin he replies pretty promptly and with plenty of detail. I never feel like I’m “bothering” either of them.

After the phone consultation, they also emailed me a super detailed PDF with information on pricing, pre-op and post-op care, hotels I can stay in, and more. It was way more detailed than anything the other top surgeon sent me. I don’t want to give the PDF to you myself just in case they don’t want it to be available to non-clients, but I bet if you called them and asked for it, they’d send it to you!

Finally, they were great about finding a date for the surgery that works for me (as a student, it’s hard to find a good time).

Pricing

Their prices are much better than at the other place I looked into. I got a big shock when the other place told me the total cost would be around $10,200!! I hadn’t realized there would be “hidden fees.” Dr. Sherie has no hidden fees, so the cost is like $6000-8000 (depending on procedure).

I mentioned the available discounts earlier. Another good thing is that you can reschedule or cancel your surgery up to 15 days before it happens and get your $1000 deposit reimbursed completely!

They have a gift basket with stuff to help you through the post-op experience that you can buy for an extra $100 which I’m thinking of doing. And if you’ll be going to the surgery and going through post-op alone, you can hire a caregiver to watch over you that first night after the surgery.

I’ll include some screenshots of pricing stuff from the PDF under the readmore.

The Surgery

I’m getting my surgery August 8 so obviously I don’t know how it will turn out, but based on other people’s experience plus what she told me about it and what her PDF of info says, I’m excited.

When I asked Dr. Sherie and Kevin various questions about the surgery, I got the feeling that they were being more honest with me than the other top surgeon I had a consultation with – not that he wasn’t honest exactly, but Dr. Sherie and Kevin were more open, giving me more info than I thought to ask for. (Example: the other top surgeon was like “yeah there won’t really be pain just discomfort” which based on stuff I’ve heard from folks who’ve gotten top surgery is not true. Kevin was like “oh yeah you’ll feel like you got hit by a truck but we’ll make sure you have the pain meds to help you for that first week.”)

For good results: Dr. Sherie suggested that I look around for photos of other peoples’ top surgery results online (places like transbucket) and send her the ones I want my chest to look like. Since things like where the nipple is placed (if at all – she has done several chests with no nipple graft which is what I want), the angle of the scars, and so on can vary, it’s really reassuring to me to know that she’ll have photos printed and hung up in the operating room so she can model my chest after them.

Also, note that they want you to stay in the area for the first week following surgery, with a follow-up appointment at the end of that week. And one week prior to surgery, you do another consultation -- either in person or over the phone -- to prepare for the surgery.

Okay, that’s all I can think of! I’ll put some screenshots of their informational PDF under the readmore, sorry I don’t have the time to type them out so they’re more accessible but hopefully you can read them.

Here’s the pricing stuff. The price in the left column of prices is if you need to use loans or whatnot; the right column’s price is if you pay it all up front. I believe Dr. Sherie sometimes has extra discounts during some months so keep an eye out for that on her site, I suppose.

This package is available so that they’ll get all this stuff for you instead of you having to go buy it all yourself: 

You probably can find this info on other websites, but here is what Dr. Sherie’s PDF says about post-op stuff:

[ishitapbanerjee]

Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction ... Dr.Shailendra Patil Mulund,Thane,Vashi,Navi Mumbai

What is ACL? The Anterior Cruciate Ligament is the ligament that keeps the knee stable. ACL is one of the four main ligaments in the knee that connects the femur to the tibia. The knee is normally a hinged joint that is held together by the medial collateral (MCL), lateral collateral (LCL), anterior cruciate (ACL) and posterior cruciate (PCL) ligaments. How ACL gets injured? ACL injury is generally caused during the sports are when a person is hit to another person or a strong object on the knee. The injury can occur when the foot is firmly planted on the ground and a sudden force hits your knee while your leg is straight or slightly bent. Anterior Cruciate Ligament damage is a very common injury, especially among athletes. ACL injuries can be categorized into groups- contact and non-contact based on the nature of the injury Contact injuries occur when a person or object come into contact with the knee causing the ligament to tear. However, non-contact tears typically occur during the following movements: decelerating, cutting, or landing from a jump. ACL injury is 4-6 times higher in females than in males. Why is ACL surgery necessary? ACL tears are not generally repaired and sewed back together, because repaired ACLs have generally been shown to fail over time. Therefore, the torn ACL is generally replaced by a substitute graft made of tendon. • Patellar tendon autograft • Hamstring tendon autograft • Quadriceps tendon autograft • Allograft patellar tendon, Achilles tendon, semitendinosus, gracilis, or posterior tibialis tendon What problems you may face if your ACL gets torn? The patient suffering from ACL injury often have difficulty in walking. It can also cause loud poping sound of knees as the ligaments tear,including knee swelling and pain. How ACL Surgery is done? Arthroscopic ACL Reconstruction is done via key-hole surgery, wherein the torn ACL is reconstructed using a graft. This graft is extracted from your own body. Hamstring Tendon graft is the most common graft used. These tendons are dispensable and cause no long term side effects. Small tunnels are drilled in bone to place the graft in the anatomical site of ACL. How is post-op recovery after ACL surgery? Some physical therapy under the guidance of physiotherapist guidance will help to regain the flexibility of the ligament, it will prevent the breaking of the tissue and will help in strengthening the muscle tone. Dr.Shailendra Patil Thane Approximately 4-6 weeks is required for the bone to attach to the graft. However, patient can start their normal activities like walking on their own and do some exercises under proper observation and care. Famous Sportsman who have underwent ACL Surgery? 1. Cheteshwar Pujara (Indian cricketer and was a part of Kolkata Night Riders in 2009) 2. Luis Suarez (Liverpool Football Player) 3. Tom Brady (five-time Super Bowl champion) 4. Kieron Pollard (Cricketer from the West Indies and IPL player for Mumbai Indians) 5. Tiger Woods (World-famous pro-golfer ) 6. Kurt Zouma (Football star player for Chelsea) 7. Mary Pierce (Tennis Champion) 8. Derrick Rose (Former NBA player) 9. Usman Khawaja (Australian batsman) 10. Xavier Hernandez (famous Spanish footballer who holds Barcelona’s record) Location : Bone and Joint Care Centre Human Touch Clinic, 2nd Floor, Above Manoranjan Shop Paanch Rasta, Mulund (West), Mumbai. THANE – Currae Specialty Hospital THANE (West) – Doctors Planet NAVI MUMBAI – Sterling Wockhardt Hospital VIKROLI & BHANDUP : Ruby Hospital