Gynaecomastia

Surgery for gynaecomastia is a commonly sought procedure amongst men. The problem can have considerable physical, pain, social and psychological consequences.

It may commence at any stage after puberty and may have an underlying cause such as hormonal imbalance, liver malfunction, side effects of certain drugs or cannabis usage. However in the majority of cases, there is no known cause. There are 3 main components that contribute to gynaecomastia – and excess of fat, breast gland and skin. Depending on the degree to which these various components contribute to the problem, I will discuss with you in detail which surgical procedure would be most suitable, taking into consideration your expectations and desired outcomes.

Consultation

During the consultation, I will explore the reasons for you requesting surgery to your male breasts. We will discuss what you expect from surgery and I will examine you and take some measurements that will guide me in giving the correct advice.

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After the Procedure

Sutures
The incision is closed using absorbable sutures. The incision is then covered with a state-of-the-art waterproof dressing which will come off after about 3 weeks.

Garments
You will be provided with a special garment appropriate for your size, which will provide compression to the chest wall, minimise the risk of bleeding or other fluid collection, and reduce the time taken for swelling to subside. This garment must be worn continuously for 6 weeks, and be taken off only when showering or to wash the garment.

Recovery

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I will see you immediately after surgery to discuss how things went and to check that all is well. I will make sure you are comfortable before you go home. In the vast majority of cases, patients undergoing gynaecomastia surgery are able to go home the same day. You will be given adequate pain relief. Please avoid taking any aspirin or blood thinning medication such as aspirin. You will also be given a 5 day course of oral antibiotics to reduce the chances of infection. Finally, you will be given a 3 day course of a medication that reduces the chances of bleeding.

Potential Complications

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Other Information

The outcome of all cosmetic surgery is highly subjective. Whilst your surgeon will try to give you a realistic expectation, the satisfaction which you feel about your result depends on many things.

Most people are delighted with their outcome. If there are elements of your surgery that fall short of what you had hoped for, you MUST feel free to discuss them with me, as the majority of issues are easily resolved.