Reading patient feedback, there are moments when a single sentence tells you what kind of person wrote it.
The patient I want to introduce today wrote his feedback less than a month after surgery, and he did not declare that the side effects he had worried about were "all fine now." His answer was that it had not yet been a month, but so far things were fine — an answer that stated exactly where in time he stood. I think that caution is what makes his account more trustworthy, not less.
He was worried about the chest sinking or sagging
Asked what worried him most before surgery, he named side effects, and in particular the chest sinking in or sagging.
The shape after gynecomastia surgery settles over time. That is why we do not describe the result based on how things look immediately after the operation; we check the course of recovery stage by stage. His way of observing his own condition with the timeline in mind is a very good attitude toward recovery.
"I was surprised there was no pain at all"
Asked about the moment that stayed with him, he answered that he was surprised to feel no pain at all once the surgery was over.
I pass that answer along as he wrote it, but one thing needs to be clear: this was his case. Pain is felt differently from person to person, and we never tell patients there will be no pain after surgery. What this says is that for him, the gap between the pain he had built up in his mind and what he actually experienced was wide enough to surprise him.
"Don't sit with it alone — start with a consultation"
As a message to men facing the same concern, he wrote this.
"My satisfaction is quite high. Don't sit with it alone; go to a clinic and at least get a consultation first."
That recommendation comes from his own experience, but I do agree with the idea of at least starting with a consultation. Having a consultation does not commit you to surgery. First you find out where your condition stands and what you actually need; the decision comes after that.
Light clothes, bright clothes
Asked what he most wanted to do after surgery, he chose wearing thin or brightly colored clothes. Which also means he had spent a long time hiding behind dark clothing.
A month from now, and once the season turns, I hope his wardrobe looks a little different.
