Trans top surgery traditions?

[babyrocket]

Hiya. My best friend is going to have top surgery soon and I'll be looking after him at my house during his recovery. Are there any traditions/ things people do when people get top surgery? I was thinking of getting him a card and present and arranging a little "comforts" box of snacks and toiletries for when he's here but are there any traditions that you know of that I could honour?

literally no idea about 'traditions' but a bra/binder burning might feel apropos.

You can get special mastectomy pillows and drain bags (I assume both of these things apply to top surgery as well). Etsy has lots of nice ones.

Traditions? I don't think so. This is a pretty recent thing. Nobody used to do this.

This is so sad, doesn't feel like something to be celebrated at all.

When I had a double mastectomy for breast cancer, I took all the meds, kept my fluid intake up and used a mastectomy pillow. HTH.

Oh well, less chance of breast cancer. I dunno watch top gun? Get some new trainers in preparation for better running?

For things to become traditions they have to be around for a long while. This trend is quite new so I got nothin'.

How old are they? If younger than about 30 I'd make them a compilation of all the detransitioners expressing regret - you can find them easily on youtube - and see if you can save them from a bad decision.

Give the person a manly slap on the back. Proper hugs will be off limits for a while.

Nope, can’t find any enthusiasm for celebrating someone experiencing dysphoria to the point where they will undergo surgery to remove healthy parts of their body.

Sometimes people post on here hoping for comments screenshot and prove what a bunch of evil terfs we are
just saying

This.

If you need to warn others about that, consider those people might have a point.

OP, remind your friend to make jokes about getting something off his chest as soon as he wakes up. And avoid the urge to hug him. Bra burning might be a nice bit of fun, but if it doesn't do much for him you can suggest he gives them away to someone who needs them. Same goes for binders, there are projects giving away free binders he could give his old ones to.

Imagine your friend had surgery. You really wouldn't celebrate them making it through?

What do you mean by recent?
First surgical mastectomy was done in 1804, the first one on a trans man in 1940's. Is the better part of a century "recent" in your opinion?

Amazonian hunters did this, didn’t they?

The idea that mastectomy is something to celebrate is very recent.

So you can answer the OPs questions in what kind of traditions there are to support her friend and give them a lift right?

Traditions? WTF?!

There aren't exactly Hallmark cards for someone amputating healthy body parts.

As someone who had breast surgery for medical reasons I'd say they'll need help for the first few days and won't be sleeping all that well while the drains are in.

If your friend is so dedicated to appearing like a man that cosmetic surgery is being undertaken then there's nothing you can get that will match the sheer joy of having that surgery. But helping carry things and cook in those first few days will be useful. And a top tip is that putting a pillow under knees while sleeping in a semi-upright position is a great way to stop you turning into your side (don't want to be doing that with two drains in!).

Pretty sure OPs friend isn't identifying as an Amazonian hunter of past.

From friends I've heard it can be hard to lift your arms for a while afterwards so if he uses roll on deodorant, maybe some spray on and those wash mits to help in the shower.
Havent heard of any specific traditions for top surgery but i cant think of any traditions for many operations, grapes and magazines?

Maybe you could get him a shirt that he has always liked the idea of wearing but would have caused dysphoria before? My mate always likes the vest top style gym shirts with no sleeves and the big gaps as the arm holes but wouldnt have been comfortable pre surgery. He lives in them now.

There are no traditions to "celebrate" having a double mastectomy. It's not a thing.

But when looking after someone who is recovering from this surgery I would recommend what you already suggested - keeping drinks and snacks close to hand - and also keeping the patient comfortable, keeping the house quiet so they can nap, keeping a schedule of their medication so they are on top of pain relief, keeping a schedule of any medical appointments that will follow, and being a good supportive friend.

There are no traditions to "celebrate" having a double mastectomy. It's not a thing
This.