Male Breast
Reduction Surgery
The surgery to remove excess breast tissue in males is
performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia in our
medicare-accredited, state-of-the-art Newport Coast Surgical Center. The operation takes approximately one hour to
perform. The patient is monitored by an
anesthesiologist throughout the procedure.
The operation begins with a one inch incision along the
lower border of the areola. The excess
breast tissue is excised and tapered to leave a smooth contour to the chest
wall. This is followed by liposuction to
remove the fat in the breasts and to smoothen out the chest wall. This provides further flattening of the
breast. The incision is then closed with
absorbable sutures. For men who also
have expansion of the areola, the size of the areola can be reduced in the same
operation using the donut breast lift technique. For Pseudogynecomastia, only liposuction is
needed since the breast enlargement is only from excess fat and not actual
breast tissue.
BEFORE - AFTER
Only a thorough and candid discussion between you and Dr.
Doan can determine the best surgical options for you. Doctor Doan will discuss with you in detail
every step of the procedure and he will review with you the possible
complications of the operation.
The Recovery From
Male Breast Reduction
Your chest may feel tender, stiff and sore for a
few days. You will not want to use your arms too much since the pectoralis
muscle, which spans the chest and connects to the upper arm bone, will be very
sore. You should try to move around the
house to get food or to go to the bathroom. Sitting around all day increases
your risks of blood clots which is very dangerous. Your stitches do not need to
be removed. Be sure to take your required medications and follow the precise
instructions provided to you by your surgeon.
You may also experience sharp pains, burning
sensations, heat, tingling, prickling, etc. This is from minor nerve damage and
the normal sensations will begin to return by 4 to 6 weeks.
You will be prescribed medication to control the pain and nausea. You will also be prescribed antibiotic pills
to prevent infection. You will need to
wear a sleeveless compression vest for six weeks after the surgery to help tighten
the skin during the healing process. The
sutures are absorbable and do not need to be removed. Most patients will be able to return to work
in one week and will be able to return to their normal exercise routine by six
weeks.
Asymmetry may be a fact of life for you until you
are fully healed. The body does not heal equally on each side. Expect that one side may seem larger than the
other. Be patient and wait it out before looking into revision surgery.
Swelling can alter the appearance of your body and mask the true results,
whether it will ultimately be a good result or a bad result (lumps). Patience
is the only remedy until you are able to make a true judgment. This judgment
cannot be made until you are fully healed.
You will be instructed not to exercise or engage in strenuous activities
for at least 4 weeks. You may be swollen for up to 4 months, although this
could be very slight and only noticed by you. Overall improvement will be
appreciated in just a few weeks. The majority of the swelling will have
subsided by this time and the results will be apparent. It takes about 3 to 4
months for the rest of the swelling to subside, although it can remain up to 6
months. The scar requires 12 to 18 months to fade, flatten, and soften. Doctor Doan and his staff will guide you
through the entire recovery period to make sure that it is as smooth as
possible.
You should be up and about the next day to prevent blood
clots from developing in the veins of the legs.
You will be prescribed medication to control the nausea. You will also be prescribed antibiotic pills
to prevent infection. Ice should be
applied every 20 minutes to the nose and cheeks for the first 48 hours to
minimize the degree of bruising and swelling.
You will need to wear the nasal splint for 7 days. The sutures across the base of the nose will
be removed 7 days after surgery. Most
patients will be able to return to work in one week and will be able to return
to their normal exercise routine by six weeks.
Most of the swelling and all of the bruising will be gone by two
months. Complete resolution of the nasal
skin swelling may take 6 months to a year.
Doctor Doan and his staff will guide you through the entire recovery
period to make sure that it is as smooth as possible.
Complications of Male Breast Reduction
If you are a healthy candidate with no pre-existing
disorders or diseases which may inhibit healing, the general risks for male
breast reduction surgery are very low. However, since it is indeed surgery,
there are inherent risks you must consider before choosing to undergo a
procedure such as this. Potential
complications associated with Otoplasty surgery may include the following:
Bleeding: Minor bleeding will resolve on its own. More severe cases may require a minor procedure to aspirate the blood to relieve pain and prevent wound healing complications in the future.
Infection: This is very rare and usually responds to antibiotic pills.
Asymmetry: If one breast appears larger than the other breast after 6 months, then a revision procedure may be required to further reduce the larger breast.
Irregular Contour Deformities: Depresssions and bumps may appear after your procedure which may require additional surgery. This can be from fibrous scar tissue formation which can
naturally happen and be the fault of no one - merely happenstance.
