Hi everyone—my name is Reid, and I’m officially two weeks post-op. I wanted to sit down and share how things have been going so far, because when I was preparing for surgery, hearing real experiences helped calm my nerves. This is my honest snapshot of top surgery recovery at the two-week mark: the good, the weird, and the slightly scary.
Watch the companion video here!
How I’ve Been Feeling Lately
The biggest thing I’ve noticed lately is how tired I’ve been. The first couple days back into the week, I was exhausted—the kind of tired where you have no choice but to take a midday nap. That’s eased up now, though. I still feel tired, but it’s manageable, and today I finally had enough energy to film and talk about it.
Pain-wise, there really isn’t much. I get occasional little “zaps,” but they’re more uncomfortable than painful. I haven’t needed any pain meds at all. A lot of the area is numb, which honestly makes it easier not to fixate on pain during this stage of top surgery recovery.
Mobility, Tightness, and Learning My Limits
My mobility is better than I expected, but it’s still limited. I can lift my arms to about a 45-degree angle comfortably, and anything beyond that feels tight—not exactly sore, just stiff enough to make me cautious. Some of it is physical, and some of it is mental. I don’t want to push too far and mess something up.
The ace bandage hasn’t been terrible, but sleeping is the hardest part. I usually wake up feeling really tight, but once I sit up and move around, it settles down. I think it’s mostly just how I’m laying at night.
Fear, Healing, and Trusting the Process
I’m not great with medical stuff. Doctors, surgery—pretty much all of it has always scared me. Even now, I’m nervous to touch my chest, clean it, or shower. I know I’m being gentle and that I’m not hurting myself, but anything that feels “out of the ordinary” makes my brain spiral a bit.
I’ve been constantly checking in with my sister, who’s had several surgeries, asking if things look normal. Thankfully, everything is normal—even if it doesn’t always look pretty yet. Healing isn’t aesthetic at two weeks, and I keep reminding myself that this stage of top surgery recovery is temporary.
What My Chest Looks Like at Two Weeks
I just took the tape off yesterday, so there are still wrinkles and marks that need time to flatten out. There’s some yellowish coloring around the nipples from leftover dressing, a few small sutures sticking out, and a tiny spot where the incision didn’t fully close yet. None of it is ideal-looking, but all of it is expected.
Most of the incision lines and nipples are numb. Some surrounding areas still have sensation, and I get occasional mild pain here and there. Overall, things are healing—even if slowly—and I’m learning to be patient with my body during this phase of top surgery recovery.
Final Thoughts (For Now)
Two weeks post-op feels like this strange in-between stage: past the worst of it, but not far enough along to feel “normal” yet. If you’re here because you’re researching, preparing, or just curious, I hope this helped make the process feel a little less intimidating.
If you have questions, I’m always open to sharing more. Healing isn’t linear, and none of us are doing it perfectly—but we are doing it. 💛
