GYNAECOMASTIA

Gynaecomastia (sometimes referred to as “man boobs”) is a common condition that causes boys’ and men’s breasts to swell and become larger than normal. It is most common in teenage boys and older men.

Procedure time & anaesthetic

Breast reduction surgery is usually carried out under general anaestheic. The operation takes about 90 minutes.

There surgery involves, making a cut (incision) around the nipple, using liposuction to suck out excess fatty tissue and extending the cuts and repositioning the nipples if there is a lot of tissue to remove.

Complications of mastectomy may include hematoma, surgical wound infection, breast asymmetry, changes in sensation in the breast, necrosis of the areola or nipple, seroma, noticeable or painful scars, and contour deformities.

 

The causes can be:

  • Hormone imbalance; can be caused by an imbalance between the sext hormones testosterone and oestrogen (causes breast tissue to grow). While all men produce some oestrogen, they usually have much higher levels of testosterone, which stops the oestrogen from causing breast tissue to grow.
  • Obesity
  • Puberty; During puberty, boys’ hormone levels vary. If the level of testosterone drops, oestrogen can cause breast tissue to grow. Many teenage boys have some degree of breast enlargement. Gynaecomastia at puberty usually clears up as boys get older and their hormone levels become more stable.
  • Older age; As men get older, they produce less testosterone. Older men also tend to have more body fat, and this can cause more oestrogen to be produced. These changes in hormone levels can lead to excess breast tissue growth.

Recovery time & after care

Gynecomastia surgery is a low-impact procedure normally using twilight sedation, which typically requires only a couple of hours for recovery. The patient can return home after the surgery, and often resume normal activities after a few days. Swelling after a gynecomastia treatment subsides after a few weeks, and after a few months, there is normally no noticeable scarring. You will need to wear an elastic garment day and night for a few weeks after the operation. You should avoid stretching, strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for up to six weeks after the operation. You can drive again when it’s no longer painful to wear a seatbelt, which may be several weeks.

After surgery

Immediately after surgery, you will be taken into a recovery area for close monitoring. You may be permitted to go home when you are stable for discharge, typically after an hour or so. During the recovery the nurses will measure your Blood pressure through a cuff. She will also attach a monitor to your finger to check your pulse and level of Oxygen in your blood to ensure you are fully oxygenated. Before leaving, you will be given specific postoperative instructions for your recovery and a follow- up appointment with your plastic surgeon. You may also receive medications or a prescription, but many plastic surgeons prescribe postoperative medications in advance. Your prescribed medications may include pain pills and an antibiotic to prevent infection. We advise no showering for one week which is a very difficult task for anyone. We advise that it is ok to have regular hand showers with lukewarm water and ensuring no water is submerged onto the incisions. We will advise you of this before you leave the hospital.

7 days after surgery

You will return to the hospital for your post-operative review, in which any stitches are removed. Though the surgeon uses dissolvable stitches, we will check to make sure your incisions have healed. You will also be assessed with any leftover swelling and any advice to help improve your recovery time.

 

1 year after surgery

As apart of your aftercare, we advise all patients to book in once a year to see their surgeon for a brief assessment of the consistent results.

 

Time off work

We recommend taking 7 days off of work following your breast enlargement procedure. In this case I can supply you with a medical certificate for your employer.

Post-op appointments

Post-operative follow-up is of paramount importance. Each patient undergoing any Cosmetic Surgery will be given post operative appointments for wound management and suture removal.
Post-operative instructions are vital and we consider it very important that you adhere to them.
Failing to follow these guidelines and attend your appointments can adversely affect the outcome of surgery and put patient safety at risk.