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Your FTM and FTN Top Surgery Recovery Guide
Top surgery is a life-changing procedure for many transgender men and gender nonbinary individuals. Whether you’re undergoing female-to-male (FTM) or female-to-nonbinary (FTN) gender affirming chest surgery, the journey doesn’t end in the operating room. Rather, it continues with the recovery process. This phase is essential for you to be able to achieve the best long-term results.
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Ignore it at your peril.
At the Arizona Center for Breast Surgery, we seek to provide you with elite, professional, non-judgmental and compassionate care — beginning to end. This has always been the unwavering principle of Dr. Steven H. Turkeltaub, who is a plastic surgeon board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
The FTM and FTN top surgery recovery guide below offers guidelines and tips to help you heal smoothly and confidently, with a special focus on comfort, scar care and maximizing results. Of course, there are many variations depending on individual factors.
Understand that these are not the only correct recommendations. There can be other approaches that lead to similar results. Ultimately, though, you should follow the recommendations of your treating plastic surgeon.
The Importance of a Thoughtful Recovery
After you have undergone your FTM or FTN top surgery, your body will need time to heal appropriately, preferably under ideal circumstances. This will help reduce the incidence of complications and undesirable issues, facilitate less conspicuous scars and maximize the likelihood of superior results.
While Dr. Turkeltaub will provide personalized written and verbal instructions tailored to your procedure, goals and progress, the following outlines what most FTM and FTN top surgery patients can generally expect during their recovery. If ever you have any questions, you are ALWAYS encouraged to ask.
Finally, no matter what the postoperative time period is, FOLLOW YOUR INSTRUCTIONS!!
Expectations and Guidelines — Postoperative Week 1
- Someone should be with you for at least the first 24 hours after surgery.
- Have someone drive you home after surgery and to your first postoperative appointment.
- The surgical dressing is removed in the office after 2 – 3 days. At that time, you will be placed in a supportive postoperative garment.
- After removal of the surgical dressing, you can take a shower but must not get your chest wet.
- You will have drains in place for around 10 days to two weeks. These will need to be emptied, as instructed, and the drainage amounts recorded for each side, keeping a 24-hour total by date.
- Discomfort should only be mild to moderate. Take pain medication as instructed.
- If you are nauseous or are vomiting, take the medication prescribed for this. Vomiting, especially in the first 48 hours, can lead to postsurgical bleeding which may require a return to surgery to address.
- You can walk around at a casual pace but no vigorous aerobic activities.
- Lifting more than 10 pounds should be avoided for the first three weeks. Stretching and reaching should be minimized for three months.
- Follow nutritional guidelines including a high-protein diet, high-dose Vitamin C and multivitamins.
- Avoid blood thinners like aspirin, MOTRIN®, Aleve®, etc. for the first two weeks.
Expectations and Guidelines — Postoperative Week 2
- Office visits at around ten days and two weeks.
- Drains are typically able to be removed at around ten days to two weeks. Drainage amounts will determine that.
- Dressings on the nipple-areola grafts are removed at around two weeks.
- Discomfort is generally minimal.
- Activity level can be increased — such as walking more.
Expectations and Guidelines — Postoperative Weeks 3 – 4
- Office visit at four weeks.
- Fewer showering restrictions.
- For sedentary jobs with minimal arm movement and lifting requirements, returning to work is a possibility starting around week four.
- Scar gel and/or scar tape will be started at around four weeks.
- You will feel a lot better and can be more active but still follow the specific activity limitations.
- After four weeks, the surgical garment no longer needs to be worn.
- You can start driving more at around three weeks. You must be very careful with the shoulder part of the seat belt as this can disrupt or destroy the nipple-areola complex grafts for the first six to eight weeks after surgery.
Expectations and Guidelines — Long-Term
- All activity restrictions are removed by three months. This encompasses leisure and work.
- Scar gel/scar tape should be continued for at least six months, once started. Some individuals may need to continue for an even longer period of time.
- Full scar maturation can take up to a year, sometimes longer.
- Over a several year period, the scars will become more inconspicuous.
- Most of the swelling subsides by six months. Final results — including chest contour and scar fading — can continue to improve for up to a year, or longer.
- Scars should be protected from sun exposure for at least the first year. A high SPF sunscreen (50 or greater) or a high UPF sun shirt should be used when out in the sun either with no shirt or with a thin t-shirt.
- If dog-ears are present, treatment can be considered at around nine months to one year.
- There will be some longer-term follow-ups in the first year. This can be done virtually for those living far away from Dr. Turkeltaub’s office or out of state. The reason for this is to assess your progress and make any changes if warranted, especially regarding your scar management regimen.
Trust Your Recovery to an Experienced Top Surgery Provider
With extensive experience in gender affirming FTM and FTN top surgery, Dr. Steven H. Turkeltaub and his staff are thoroughly and sincerely committed to providing you with the best postoperative care. We will guide you every step of the way of your postsurgical recovery journey.
To learn more about FTM and FTN top surgery or to schedule your consultation with Dr. Turkeltaub, please call us at (480) 451-3000 or complete our online contact form today.