It’s impossible to determine exactly what your chest will look like post-surgery, but most patients are extremely satisfied with their results. Ultimately, the final appearance of your chest will depend on a variety of factors such as your body type and level of skin elasticity (tightness), as well as the techniques used during your chest reconstruction surgery.
You should maintain realistic expectations when considering FTM/N chest surgery. Your results probably won’t be “perfect,” and you shouldn’t anticipate buff, traditionally masculine-looking results if that doesn’t match your body type to begin with. During your personal consultation, we will work with you to form realistic post-surgical expectations.
Additionally, you will have the opportunity to experience our 3D before and after photos to help gauge your expectations of masculine transformation. Like cisgender men, not all transmen and non-binary transmasculine people have identical chests. You should keep this in mind when viewing before and after photos. Choosing patients with a similar body type to your own will help you form realistic expectations.
Your final chest appearance will be highly dependent on the surgical technique that you and your surgeon choose during your consultation. Some patients choose breast reduction, which reduces the size of the breasts. If you choose this route, your chest will appear much flatter in clothing, but it will still retain a somewhat feminine appearance. Chest reconstruction completely removes all breast material and results in a much more masculine-looking chest.
Ultimately, the best procedure for you will depend on your cosmetic goals and personal preferences. Some patients first choose breast reduction and eventually choose chest reconstruction later to enhance their final results. While this surgical route is entirely possible, it is important to note that it may lead to more severe scarring.
Because most people designated female at birth have less exposure to testosterone, weight training is highly recommended, both before and especially after surgery for a more masculine appearance. Following surgery there will be less fat on the surface of the muscle and it will be much easier to see well-developed muscle definition.
Ideally, in the months leading up to your surgery, you should initiate a healthy exercise routine, focusing on chest exercises. Cutting out fatty foods and increasing your protein intake will help you build muscle mass to enhance your post-surgery results.
Following surgery, you will need to take at least four weeks to recover. During this recovery period, you should avoid heavy lifting and rigorous cardiovascular exercise. Once at least a month has passed, you can gradually resume your normal exercise routine, but it will continue to be restricted for an additional eight weeks until you’ve reached a full recovery.
Bodybuilders who have undergone a double incision FTM chest surgery should avoid heavy chest workouts for even longer, up to three months, to avoid stretching the incision scars. Your surgeon will be able to provide you with a more personalized timeline during your consultation.
FTM/N chest surgery will give you permanent results. However, significant fluctuations in your weight may impact the appearance of your chest. In most cases, you would need to gain a great deal of weight for the chest contour to change substantially. The best way to ensure long lasting results is to implement a balanced diet and exercise routine.