Can breast tissue grow back after keyhole/gyno surgery?

Hello,In almost all types of FTM chest surgery some breast tissue is left behind to avoid leaving a concave result.  Generally the breast tissue is minimal and on testosterone the likelihood of growth of this tissue is minimal.  As you are only 2 months after surgery your body is still actively healing and it isn't unusual  to feel areas of unevenness or lumps.  Be sure to to address your concerns with your plastic surgeon as they are your best resource having done the surgery.  Best of Luck with your healing!Dr. Rednam

Hi,Thanks for the post. With keyhole surgery there is some tissue that is left behind the areola to avoid cratering. It is unlikely that this tissue will regrow. The lumps being on top of the chest may be scar tissue or fat globules. I would follow up with your surgeon regarding this. As long as it is not affecting the contour of your chest, feeling lumps is not unusual.Sincerely,Dr. Dadvand

Gender confirmation mastectomy removes the majority of breast tissue, however, it never removes 100% of the breast tissue.This is explained by the fact that some of the breast tissue comes very close to the undersurface of the skin and therefore it is preserved in order to produce a smooth appearance of the skin. Breast tissue regrowth after this surgery is very unlikely, although not impossible.

Thanks for the question and congrats on your surgery.  An in office exam would be required to see exactly what you are feeling.  It could be breast tissue, or it could just be fatty tissue.  Depending on the body habitus and anatomy of the patient, I might completely remove all the tissue, and even do some liposuction and contouring, OR i might leave some of the breast tissue down in order to prevent a scooped out appearance in certain areas.  Typically we would not leave "lumps" behind.  This could be some residual fat that was left behind and has "died" undergoing fat necrosis which is why it could be firm and hard.  Best thing to do is ask your surgeon to examine you.  The revision rate in these types of procedures are still pretty high, so if they are an honest surgeon they will just tell you that maybe they need to do a little touch up to get it just right.  "The above answer has been given without seeing this patient and cannot be substituted for actual in-person examination and medical advice; it is only opinion. Seek in-person treatment with a trained medical professional for appropriate care."

Hi, thanks for your question.
Breast tissue won't spontaneously grow back, but you may have small amounts that are not removed. It is unlikely to undergo the usual cyclic changes if you are taking Testosterone. There is a wide variation in how top surgeries are performed amongst surgeons, one of my colleagues makes no aims to remove all breast tissue, preferring instead to keep a thick even skin flap. Whilst this more easily avoids the 'dished out' look (when the skin flaps are too thin), I have found most patients really want all of their breast tissue removed. When the nipples are maintained on pedicles, a small amount of breast gland may be retained behind the nipple and depending on the surgeon's technique, some may be present in the pedicle. This is very variable amongst surgeons.
The pedicle will become swollen post surgery and this is the most common cause of prominent lumps post op. If you have liposuction as part of your procedure, you may have areas of fat necrosis. This is common and will usually resolve with time.
I hope this information has helped!

Without photos and a careful examination, it is impossible to determine exactly what is going on in your situation. At 2 months you will still have a lot of inflammation which can be manifest by lumps. You will need to give this at least around 6 months to have a better idea as to what this represents. It would be quite reasonable to ask your surgeon his/her opinion as to what this may represent.Your hormonal status, which you did not mention, will influence the possibility of breast tissue growth. If you are taking testosterone, this is generally not a problem.Steven Turkeltaub, MDScottsdale, AZ