My surgery was '87 I think. I kept vaseline on my stitched areas for a whole year or more each night to encourage healing. I know they have scar healing gel now but the vaseline did fine. Do not use an antibiotic one, as that creates keloid scarring - causes too much skin production to cover the cut mark. Any bothersome stitches (ones that wouldn't dissolve) I quickly noted to the surgeon for a quick removal - I didn't want any pesky slow dissolvers to create a lumpy look. I kept wrapping and the bras situated much longer that I should have - I still gave breathers and took cotton with witch hazel to gently cleanse and let the area breathe - but then I'd wrap it up nice. Gosh, I remember that first time taking all of that off, and standing in front of the mirror - woowie - I felt like I was 14 years old again, and I do mean YOUNG. It was such a high!

Sadly, over the years, my breasts just continued to grow. The only thing that helped to keep them in a healthy smaller version was to speed-walk every day for an hour - I was in great health while doing that. But when I got sick, I couldn't do it any more, and so the breasts began taking on weight, and now, here I am, with circus-sized breasts once again, that pull me forward with such weight, and I am sure attribute some to the TOS pain.

Like I said, I am ecstatic for you, and God bless your healing process!!!

PS - take a quick read of what RSD feels like and just check to see if you feel that is occurring to you and then talk to your surgeon. Doesn't sound like it to me - my RSD was severe swelling, burning, hot spots and then whole areas of my body felt like I was layed in a pizza oven (for real.)