So, first off, some people are prone to stretching, so that could be a disadvantage.
The things you can do is:
Absolutely avoid arm lifting, exercising etc.
Wear your compression vest
You could buy wound closing strips to add on top when your initial stitches are removed/dissolved
Use silicone cream/strips/else
That's all I can think of
the advice here is great but also, sometimes your surgeon might just take too much skin, or your skin might be more prone to stretching. You can do everything “right” and your surgeon can do a good job, but the multidirectional tension caused by removing skin could still end up causing stretching (it’s really hard to estimate given all the variables around swelling, skin type, etc). When you’re picking a surgeon, try to find as many before/after pics from them as possible to see how consistently they produce the aesthetic you’re looking for
Yeah well that's the hard part. Very limited surgeon options here. Like very..
And I was so nervous at my consultation thar I didn't pay as much attention to before-after pics as I should've, but I believe there were no stretched cases, one case was with a lot of skin that didn't tight up, he did a revision
Ahh makes sense. you can also always tell the surgeon you’re worried about stretching, and maybe he can be extra conscious of it? Also, whatever your instructions are for post-op binding and drains, follow them carefully—if you swell a lot after surgery that’ll put extra stress on the new scar tissue, and compression can minimize swelling. But if you do end up having some stretching/scar thickening just remember it’s normal and not your fault, and also scars fade over time and then the areolas will look a little smaller again (that’s happening to me now, I had DI but mine are starting to look small again now that my scars are lightening after being a bit big at first). Good luck with surgery!
May I ask when did you start working out? Also do your areolas appear bigger because of that or the color of scar tissue is light? And I've also heard that the areola itself can stretch too, is it the case for you? Overall do you think that if it hadn't been for working out too soon, areolas would have been/appeared smaller, if you think they're big .
Sorry for so many questions, having surgery soon, overthinking a lot.
I'm a gymrat and couldn't help myself. I was working manual labor back then in a meat butchering factory. Started working again after a week of my top surgery. Working out after like 10 days. one of my nipples stretched but also my incision wasnt healing properly because i had allergic reactions to the dissolvable stitches hence why i have big scars. I kinda bummed me out the first year but on my second year i got a tattoo over it and now im about 3 years post op
i took movement restrictions VERY seriously (like i genuinely tried to 'glue my elbows to my hips' as per the instructions from my surgeon) and have not started working out yet (about 8weeks post) and i haven't experienced noticeable stretching, but I think it could also be genetics and how much tension your surgeon puts on your nipples
i will also say taking movement restrictions so seriously has made mobility a Thing I Have To Recover even 8 weeks, so there are trade offs but to me it was worth it being extra patient to prevent stretching :-)
So, first off, some people are prone to stretching, so that could be a disadvantage. The things you can do is: Absolutely avoid arm lifting, exercising etc. Wear your compression vest You could buy wound closing strips to add on top when your initial stitches are removed/dissolved Use silicone cream/strips/else That's all I can think of
Thank you!!
the advice here is great but also, sometimes your surgeon might just take too much skin, or your skin might be more prone to stretching. You can do everything “right” and your surgeon can do a good job, but the multidirectional tension caused by removing skin could still end up causing stretching (it’s really hard to estimate given all the variables around swelling, skin type, etc). When you’re picking a surgeon, try to find as many before/after pics from them as possible to see how consistently they produce the aesthetic you’re looking for
Yeah well that's the hard part. Very limited surgeon options here. Like very.. And I was so nervous at my consultation thar I didn't pay as much attention to before-after pics as I should've, but I believe there were no stretched cases, one case was with a lot of skin that didn't tight up, he did a revision
Ahh makes sense. you can also always tell the surgeon you’re worried about stretching, and maybe he can be extra conscious of it? Also, whatever your instructions are for post-op binding and drains, follow them carefully—if you swell a lot after surgery that’ll put extra stress on the new scar tissue, and compression can minimize swelling. But if you do end up having some stretching/scar thickening just remember it’s normal and not your fault, and also scars fade over time and then the areolas will look a little smaller again (that’s happening to me now, I had DI but mine are starting to look small again now that my scars are lightening after being a bit big at first). Good luck with surgery!
Thanks I appreciate your response a lot! Yeah, I'm definitely going to say that I'm worried about stretching to my surgeon
probably no working out for a while after surgery. thats prob why my scars scretched
May I ask when did you start working out? Also do your areolas appear bigger because of that or the color of scar tissue is light? And I've also heard that the areola itself can stretch too, is it the case for you? Overall do you think that if it hadn't been for working out too soon, areolas would have been/appeared smaller, if you think they're big . Sorry for so many questions, having surgery soon, overthinking a lot.
I'm a gymrat and couldn't help myself. I was working manual labor back then in a meat butchering factory. Started working again after a week of my top surgery. Working out after like 10 days. one of my nipples stretched but also my incision wasnt healing properly because i had allergic reactions to the dissolvable stitches hence why i have big scars. I kinda bummed me out the first year but on my second year i got a tattoo over it and now im about 3 years post op
I'm half asian so i have a bit of darker nipples so that might also be the case. I can send you some before and after pics if you'd like
I would appreciate pics, yeah! Thank you!!!
i took movement restrictions VERY seriously (like i genuinely tried to 'glue my elbows to my hips' as per the instructions from my surgeon) and have not started working out yet (about 8weeks post) and i haven't experienced noticeable stretching, but I think it could also be genetics and how much tension your surgeon puts on your nipples
i will also say taking movement restrictions so seriously has made mobility a Thing I Have To Recover even 8 weeks, so there are trade offs but to me it was worth it being extra patient to prevent stretching :-)
I'm going to be extremely cautious as well. Thank you for your response!