What percentage of surgeries for crater correction from gyno surgery are successful? (Photos)

Question

I had gyno surgery by a renown board certified plastic surgeon 8 mo ago. Vaser lipo & gland excision, apron. 300 ccs total. He said he'd leave some gland to prevent indents, not sure he did. Oversection and scar tethering happened. Don't understand how it can occur this bad. Now I want to know the hard data and facts to decide if I should accept my fate or consider revision (fat grafting). What's the success rate for a case like this? I don't want to make it worse and would like a second opinion.

Robert M. Tornambe, MD · Answer

I appreciate your concerns and frustration, however if the dents and irregularities bother you, fat grafting with release of the tethering scar tissue is an extremely reasonable option. The combination is needed, because after the scar tissue is released, the grafted fat should prevent tethering from occurring again. The grafted fat should also fill-in and smooth skin irregularities. If your primary surgeon is unwilling to perform the revision at a much lower cost, I would consider getting a second opinion from another board-certified plastic surgeon in your area. Good luck.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Nice122898,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. Based on your photos, it looks like you would benefit from fat grafting in order to improve dents. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Michael Law, MD · Answer

You clearly have a very difficult situation and you have endured a lot of frustration. I am sorry you've been through all of this. Your situtation can be improved. 
You state that your surgeion left some glandular tissue behind to prevent indents. What prevents crater deformity is leaving some fat behind. The Nipple areola complex (NAC) is technically part of the breast. So, in a sense, you are leaving a tiny bit of breast tissue behind. But that thin rim of breast tissue on the posterior surface of the arealar is not enough to regenerate visible gynecomastia. Most of what is supporting the NAC is fat and dermis
 Fat grafting is not always the answer to crater deformity correction. For fat grafting to be effective,some soft tissue structure must be present to act as a scaffolding to hold the grafted fat.  The other question is whether you have crater deformity alone, or also animation deformity. Animation deformity is caused by excessive removal of breast tissue and fat in the area where deformity occurs. The scar tissue which forms to heal and surgical site tethers the area of over-resection to the pectoralis major muscle. So, when the muscle contracts, it pulls on the scarred tissue almost like a marionette string. The only way of correcting this is to release the scar tissue and place grafts of solid fat or fat and dermis between the skin that is released and the muscle. 
Animation deformity after poorly performed gynecomastia surgery can be very difficult  I urge you to find a plastic surgeon with extensive experience in gynecomastia correction surgery
The success of this procedure will depend upon the method used and the experience and expertise of he surgeon performing gynecomastia.

Frederic H. Corbin, MD (license restricted) · Answer

Sorry for your problem but release of the scar and fat grafting should correct the problemDr Corbin

What percentage of surgeries for crater correction from gyno surgery are successful? (Photos)

Answers (4)

Answer: Fat grafting

Answer: Fat grafting

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Everything you need to know about Gynecomastia Surgery

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What percentage of surgeries for crater correction from gyno surgery are successful? (Photos)

Answers (4)

Answer: Fat grafting

Answer: Fat grafting

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Gynecomastia Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.