Gynecomastia surgery is a surgical treatment option if other therapies are unsuccessful and the patient is severely affected by the enlargement of the breast. However, the surgery does not eliminate the cause of gynecomastia, but merely removes the mammary gland tissue and fat. Find out more about the surgical treatment options here.
Reasons for gynecomastia surgery
In many cases, male breast augmentation returns automatically, so gynecomastia treatment is not necessary. This is usually the case before the age of 20, especially in puberty gynecomastia. Even with a pseudogynecomastia (lipomastia), the fatty tissue often forms by consistent weight loss. If this is not the case, you can try to stop breast growth with medication. In any case, it is important to try to find out about and treat the causes of gynecomastia before starting any therapy. If these treatment approaches are unsuccessful, gynecomastia surgery may be considered.
Gynecomastia is not really a dangerous disease. Gynecomastia surgery is only appropriate if the person is suffering from breast enlargement, is in pain, or has limited mobility. The transition between plastic surgery and medically sensible surgery is fluent here, which makes reimbursement by the health insurance in some cases more difficult.
Gynecomastia Surgery: Procedure
Gynecomastia surgery may be performed under local anesthesia or under general anesthesia. This decision is made by the patient and the anesthetist. The size and expected duration of the procedure also play a role. Part of the educational process is that the doctor performing the surgery explain the surgical procedure and the risks involved to the patient and answer all questions.
The procedure usually takes one to one and a half hours, but depending on the form of anesthesia, the patient must come to the hospital the evening before the procedure and remain sober even with local anesthesia before surgery. In addition, any medication should be discussed with the doctors in the two weeks prior to the operation, as some drugs – especially painkillers such as acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen or diclofenac – reduce the coagulation of the blood.
Gynecomastia surgery is usually performed by a plastic surgeon. It usually takes place through a small cut in the nipple area. New surgical techniques can avoid large scars in many cases. During gynecomastia surgery, glandular tissue and adipose tissue are removed so that the breast should not grow again in the future. However, it can still come to a new breast growth, this is called a relapse, or recurrence. Also, sensory disturbances in the area of the breast can occur or parts of the nipple die or invade. Another risk of surgery is a later side imbalance (asymmetry) of the breast. Also, inflammation or severe scarring are possible consequences of the surgery. For this reason, a surgical procedure should always be considered well.
Follow-up treatment in gynecomastia surgery
After Gynecomastia surgery It is important to closely observe the healing process of the surgical scar. Wound control is important for timely detection and treatment of inflammation or excessive scarring. The improvement of the external appearance is an important goal of the treatment of gynecomastia. Before-and-after comparisons by photo can document the success of a surgical procedure very well and also make clear to the patient the improvement achieved. In this way, a possible renewed breast growth can be detected.