Worsening swelling even 7 months post-op. How do I fix this? (Photo)

Question

Hello, I am very concerned about outcome of my Gynecomastia Surgery (+ Liposuction) done 7 months ago. While initial results looked great for 1 week, ever since then my chest continued to fill up, getting bigger, rounder, puffier. To make matters worse, swelling is not localized to areola/breast, but it covers the entire pec upto the Armpit. Essentially, swelling all along the areas touched by Lipo's cannula. What could be causing this and how do I fix this ? Please help.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello Compassionate818508 in Houston, and thank you for your question regarding persistent swelling after gynecomastia surgery with liposuction.

Thank you for sharing your concerns and photos. While your initial results looked great, it’s not uncommon for some patients to experience prolonged swelling, especially in areas affected by liposuction. This could be due to lymphatic inflammation or fluid retention in the treated areas.

To address this, I recommend lymphatic massage, which is particularly effective for reducing post-surgical edema. Typically, 6 to 8 sessions are recommended, but if swelling persists, additional treatments may be needed. Additionally, continuing to wear a compression garment is essential, even 7 months post-op. If your current garment isn’t providing adequate compression, you can insert lipo foam between your skin and the garment or consider switching to a tighter-fitting garment.

Over time, the swelling should naturally subside as your body continues to heal. However, if the swelling persists or worsens, I strongly encourage you to follow up with your board-certified plastic surgeon to rule out any underlying complications, such as fluid collections or other issues that might require medical attention.

I hope this guidance helps address your concerns and provides you with actionable steps to manage the swelling.

Sincerely,
J. Timothy Katzen, MD

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

It may occasionally happen that scar after liposuction and in particular excision surgery of gynecomastia creates significant reccurent deformity. Injection of diluted steroid like Kenalog will help to reduce and completely eliminate the mass in significant number of cases. That is worth of trying. Good luck.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

To make an accurate assessment regarding the outcome of any plastic surgery procedure we generally need to see a complete set of proper before and after pictures.
Your picture shows skin markings from wearing compression garments.
Are you still wearing compression? If so, then you should expect Relative swelling when you take the compression off. Your pictures also look like you have some residual bruising.
Are these pictures taken seven months from surgery?
At seven months after this procedure, your results are final and it’s unlikely that you’re still swollen.
There are number of variables to take in the consideration when making an assessment for the procedure and in regards to the results.
It’s a little difficult to give you a good answer because the information presented seems a little abnormal.
If you don’t have proper before, and after pictures, then ask your surgeon to forward the pictures they took.
You should also follow up with your surgeon regarding any concerns about the outcome of the procedure.
If you don’t have before, and after pictures, then ask your surgeon to forward the pictures they took.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

Worsening swelling even 7 months post-op. How do I fix this? (Photo)

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Worsening swelling even 7 months post-op. How do I fix this? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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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.