This moment feels like a strange in-between: not fresh out of surgery anymore, but not fully healed either. Three weeks after top surgery, I’m noticing changes every single day, sometimes hour by hour, and that’s been both comforting and nerve-wracking.
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How I’m Feeling Mentally (and Emotionally)
Overall, I’m actually doing pretty well. Mentally, I feel lighter and happier than I expected at this stage. Last week, emotions were hitting hard and fast, but this week things have leveled out. I’m still a little more sensitive than usual, but nothing like before. Most of my anxiety now comes from the unknowns of healing—wondering what’s normal, what’s temporary, and what’s just my brain overthinking everything.
Physical Energy: The Sneaky Kind of Tired
Physically, the tiredness is still very real. It’s a weird kind of exhaustion, though. My body doesn’t always feel worn out, but my mind does. I can feel good for a few hours after waking up, and then suddenly it’s like I’ve hit a wall. I’m still going to bed early, and on the nights I don’t, I definitely pay for it the next day.
Movement, Sensation, and Small Wins
My range of motion has slowly improved. Things don’t pull as much, and I can reach a little higher than before, though I’m still being careful and not pushing past shoulder level. Sensation is coming back in patches, which is honestly fascinating and a little bizarre. The incisions themselves are mostly numb, but underneath the skin there’s awareness. The nipples are the most sensitive right now, which surprised me—I didn’t expect feeling to return this soon.
The healing from top surgery isn’t linear. Some spots feel great, others feel achy, itchy, or just strange as nerves wake back up. Dry, flaky skin has been part of the process too, especially around the incisions, but that’s easing now that I’m done with the compression wrap.
What Healing Looks Like Right Now
At three weeks, things are visibly improving. Incisions are closed, bumps are flattening out, and stitches are slowly disappearing. There are still little things that catch my attention—a spot that looks different, a color change that makes me pause—but I remind myself that healing takes time. I take daily photos so I can look back and see progress when my brain tries to convince me nothing is changing.
Looking Ahead
Every day feels like a step forward, even on the slower ones. Starting hormone therapy tomorrow adds another layer of excitement and nerves, but mostly excitement. Choosing top surgery was about aligning my body with how I’ve always known myself, and even in this awkward healing phase, I feel more at home than I ever have before.
If you’re in the middle of recovery too, or even just thinking about it, know that it’s okay to worry, to feel tired, and to celebrate the smallest improvements. Healing doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.
