Can I Bench Press After Smart Lipo for Gynecomastia?

In my practice, I advise patients to refrain from upper body exercise for 6 weeks after gynecomastia surgery.  However, you should follow the recommendations of your surgeon.  Good luck
and be safe.John T.
Nguyen, MD, FACS, FICSDouble Board
Certified Plastic Surgeon

I prefer a less agressive resturn to exercise and resistance following gynecomastia repair. I allow gentle resistance in the range of 10-20 pound beginning 2-3 weeks after surgery if there are no seromas and will progress up to unrestricted exercises somewhere between 6-8 weeks depending on the extent of the surgery and the volume removed.

That’s great to hear your results have been positive – sounds like a huge relief for you.
Even though your doctor gave the green light to resume workouts at 2 weeks, bench pressing specifically places significant strain on the chest area, which is exactly where you had surgery. Since SmartLipo plus gland removal involves both fat melting and tissue disruption, pushing too hard too soon could lead to:
• Swelling or fluid buildup
• Scar tissue formation or contour irregularities
• Delayed healing or minor tearing at the surgical site
A conservative recommendation:
Wait 4 to 6 weeks post-op before returning to heavy chest work like bench pressing. Start with light resistance or machines, and gradually ramp up. If you’re at 2-3 weeks now, it’s safe to focus on cardio, legs, and light, non-straining upper body movements (e.g. biceps, triceps with low weight).
Always follow your surgeon’s specific guidance – especially since they know exactly how much tissue was removed and how you’re healing. Maybe they were not in the know about your specific activity or something may have been lost in communication.

Hi jarmell44,Thanks for the post. Congratulations on your surgery. My best recommendation is to follow the advice of your plastic surgeon regarding when to exercise.  Every surgeon has their own protocol which works best for their practice.  There is no one correct time to wait before starting chest exercises. Sincerely,Dr. Dadvand

I usually advice patients that they can start aerobic at 2-3 weeks and chest exercise at 3-4 weeks, and increase the duration and intensity individually and gradually.It is important to communicate with the physician and alert him about anything that is unusually uncomfortable or painful.