surgical procedure

the surgical procedure

The surgical field will be draped and remain sterilized throughout the proceedure.
Based on the chosen top surgery type, the plastic surgeon will make the necessary incisions.
An electrocautery pen that utilizes electrical current to seal blood vessels and cut tissue without searing it.

A circular mark is made to resize your areola. A scalpel is used to make the circular incisions.
The nipple/areola complex (NAC) is then fully removed from your chest.
After tissue and excess skin removal, they are grafted back onto your chest.
- Grafting requires removing superficial layers of skin from the new NAC position on your chest.
- After being repositioned, they are sutured back into place attaching the NAC to the larger circle.
- After closure, each NAC is covered with nipple bolsters that apply pressure during healing.

For a flat chest contour, excess adipose fat tissue is removed using electrocautery.
The amount of tissue removed is based on your starting shape and desired outcome.
A second incision can be made to excise extra skin and shape your final enclosure.
Liposuction can be performed to even your chest appearance.

Drains ensure the drainage of excess fluid (blood and/or seroma) from around the surgery site.
Jackson-Pratt (JP) drains are the most common kind where the surgeon makes a small incision in or just under the armpit area and the tubing is inserted with a collecting strip under your skin and collecting bulbs connected to the tubing outside of the body.
Some types of top surgery allow the surgeon to place the drains through the existing incisions with no additional scarring.

Sutures close the FNG and incisions.
- Different techniques require different suture materials.
  - Synthetic and dissolvable sutures combinations are common
All incision areas are cleaned with antiseptic or betadine.
Incisions are bandaged and a compression garment is put on as you are waking up from anesthesia.

You will be moved into the recovery room until the anesthesia wears off.
You will slowly come out of sedation, which you are unlikely to remember.
You will remain in the recovery room until you fully come out of sedation.
- Your recovery advocate will be allowed into the room to assist you in your wheelchair out of the hospital.
Congratulations, your top surgery is complete!