What Are the Chances of Full Sensation After Massive Gynecomastia Surgery?

I'm a guy with a hormonal problem (it's in the process of being corrected)looking to get chest surgery. My "man boobs" are a BIG problem and from what I've been told are approximately an F cup size. There is a lot of breast tissue and I do want surgery but not if there is a high risk of losing sensation (I can tolerate the compression vests). So, given that information, how high likely am I to lose or reduce nipple sensation, and about how long would it take to regain maximum sensation?

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9 Doctor Answers | Asked by 1866anon in USA

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Sesation loss after Gynecomastia Surgery

You should consult an experienced board certified plastic/gynecomastia surgeon. See his web sites and his many before and after pictures, and if it is not necessity to perform nipple grafting(I have never had to performed nipple grafting in all my 30 years in practice,including for the very sever cases of gynecomastia) which may be in your case. The long term impact on your sensation may not be major, about 10% chance for a sbstential reduced sensation. see video

Risk of Sensation Loss following Gynecomastia

Chances are very likely that you will loose erogenous sensation but have a reasonable chance of recovering protective sensation after significant gynecomastia surgery. For most men the surgery is worth it and few complaints about this loss of sensation occur, quite the opposite situation for most women.

Loss of sensation in male breast reduction (gynecomastia repair)

In all likelihood, it is probable that you will lose nearly all sensation to the nipples with a full correction of your gynecomastia. Some cutaneous sensation and deep pressure sensitivity (not true nipple sensation) may recover over a two year period. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

33 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Gynecomastia excision

Without evaluating you it is hard to say. If you have rather large breasts, some surgeons would do a free nipple graft type of resection and then you definitely would lose sensation. Even if you have a "pedicled' type reduction, you can lose sensation.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Sensation after large Gynecomastia removal

You will require a total mastectomy with nipple transplant. This entails removing the nipple/areola, doing a mastectomy (just like for cancer in women), and then replacing the nipple back on the chest as a skin graft in the proper position. The difference between this and a cancer operation is that not as much tissue is removed and the surface of the skin can be left smooth and even. The nipple complex usually grows back normally. The residual skin retains its normal sensation. The... more

Nipple Sensation Retention would depend on the TYPE of Man Boob Surgery required

Gynecomastia is extremely common. Although the vast majority of teens outgrow it, it persists in a very large number of men and is a life time source of shame. Because Gynecomastia (Man Breasts) comes in different degrees, no one therapy and mode of treatment can adequately correct the full spectrum of Man Boob anomalies; Obviously, a small prominence of the breast would be a lot easier to correct than having sagging, large breasts hanging over ones chest. While many cases of... more

Gynecomastia surgery

Many men, including teens, are too ashamed of their overdeveloped breasts to take off their shirt at the beach. The common condition known as gynecomastia (Greek for "womanlike breasts") is characterized by enlarged breast tissue. The surgery can now be performed through a small incision under the nipple and it is also possible to have gynecomastia correction as an outpatient procedure under twilight anesthesia administered by a board certified anesthesiologist. Problems... more

Depends...

But, I would say you are very likely to loose nipple sensation. If you are really that large, you may require skin excision and a nipple graft -- so I doubt you would have nipple sensation.