Gynecomastia
Surgery in Utah

What is recovery like after gynecomastia surgery?

Most patients recover quite quickly from our surgical treatment of gynecomastia in Salt Lake City.

• If liposuction alone is performed, you will be able to return to activities in a few days. Activities may be performed to comfort, meaning that any activity that does not result in pronounced pain or discomfort may be performed right away. You should be cautious to avoid activities that are associated with more significant pain.
• Should skin removal or an incision be needed to directly remove the excess tissue, then recovery might be prolonged for up to two weeks. You should be able to resume more vigorous activities at that time.
• Occasionally a drain may be inserted into the surgical area. This device will be removed postoperatively in the office once the volume of liquid that drains out is low enough.
• Lastly, expect to be placed in a compression garment to minimize swelling and bruising. You will want to wear this religiously night and day for two weeks. For the following two weeks, you will be asked to wear the garment as much as you are willing. From that point forward, the garment may be worn as desired.

Risks of gynecomastia surgery

• As with any operation, there are risks of bleeding, poor healing, infection, dissatisfaction with the results, and complications from the anesthetic, such as blood clots, etc.
• Certain behaviors around the time of your surgery can influence your risks of problems, such as smoking and failing to follow instructions regarding wound care and activities.
• Specifically, smokers are required to discontinue smoking a minimum of three weeks prior to surgery and not resume smoking until proper healing has been verified.
• Because the breast tissue is densely adherent to the undersurface of the nipple and areola, removal of this tissue must be accomplished very carefully. If this requires an incision at the lower edge of the areola, then there exists a risk of excess removal of tissue and subsequent death of the areola secondary to loss of blood flow.
• Loss of sensation to the nipple and a deep indentation (called saucer defect) is also possible.
• Certainly, there is a risk that too much or too little breast tissue and fat can be removed, and differences in size and shape of the chest comparing sides could occur.
• Although infrequent, breast tissue can enlarge again at some point after surgery, possibly requiring further treatment.