5 days post-op periareolar top surgery with Dr. Bluebond-Langner at NYU

I’ll probably make a video when I get my drains out, but I wanted to share a picture with y’all in the meanwhile.

Here’s what my chest looks like right now, 5 days post-op:

I’m feeling pretty good! The drains should be coming out on Tuesday, and a lot of the swelling and fluid retention all over my body has gone down. My face was pretty puffy for the first few days after surgery, and my mom noticed enough to say something to me today about it. It could also have been the fact that I usually look a little puffy a day or two before I do my shot. I’ve still been taking extra-strength tylenol once or twice a day, but otherwise I never took any of the narcotics that were prescribed.

Yesterday I had my first post-op appointment with the nurse practioner that works with my surgeon. She said my chest was looking really good. I was allowed to take out all the foam padding underneath the binder and just wear the binder. She also taped some gauze beneath where the drains come out to make them feel a little better. The drain on my left side really doesn’t bother me at all, but the drain on my right side hurts if I move a certain way. Also the feeling of the drains inside my chest is pretty weird. This morning I stretched my chest without thinking about it, and felt the drains start to move a litlte, and it felt…not good. But no damage done.

I was also told I could start to massage my chest with an unscented lotion, and to put ointment on my nipples. I think it’s Bactrim ointment? I don’t have any sensation in my nipples or in my chest – it all feels pretty numb, unless I press on the drains (don’t do that). The NP said I may start to feel some sensation coming back in my chest over the next few weeks, and it could feel like static or little electric shocks, and not to worry, that it’s normal.

The most annoying thing about the drains are that they’re long and hard to hide. I haven’t wanted to go outside much because of them, but also because I can’t shower yet. It’s the middle of summer, and I don’t want to get all sweaty under the binder. I also get tired pretty easily, and I tend to push myself harder than I should, so the heat and drains keeping me inside and mostly on the couch or puttering around my house is probably a good thing.

I’ve also been having a lot of trouble sleeping. I have to sleep on my back, when I much prefer to sleep on my side. I might try some melatonin or CBD oil tonight to help.

I’m really, really happy with how my chest looks, and I know that when everything settles and I can go back to the gym and start working out again, it’ll look even better.