Why Do I Have Indents on Chest After Gynecomastia Surgery?

Question

I'm a little over 3 months postop on my gynecomastia surgery. I had gland removal and lipo. For the most part healing has gone fine, but whenever I move certain ways, put my hands behind my back, or flex, you can see these weird indents, almost like bands of tissue all across my pecs. Is this scar tissue? Swelling? Will it go away on its own or will i need another surgery ? Ive been massaging daily since about 3 weeks post up and wearing a compression stage 2 vest. surgeon is in another city

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

You appear to still be swollen.  However, getting the skin in this area to retract perfectly after liposuction if the preoperative breast is large is quite a task.  Sometimes, the area can be improved with additional intervention, but I would wait at least 6 months.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Tim Neavin, MD · Answer

It appears to be a combination of swelling and skin redraping issues which is common enough, or, tissue resection..  I'd wait until 6 months from surgery to start discussing revisions.  Be sure to follow up with your plastic surgeon at that time.

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

It's still early in your recovery from gynecomastia surgery. As you heal, the area may feel “lumpy” and irregular. This, too, decreases with time, and massaging these areas will help soften the scar tissue. The #compression garment helps reduce the swelling, and the longer it is worn, the more quickly you will #heal. It can also assist in the retraction of the skin. In the future, if you are still experiencing your crater concern, its best to ask questions of your surgeon or their nursing staff.  They may possibly be able to address the issue with fat grafting or cosmetic fillers if you are a good fit.

Richard Silverman, MD · Answer

Depending on how extensive your resection was, it is common to have swelling and mild contour irregularities post-operatively.  These improve over time, and I'm a fan of massage, which it sounds like you're doing.  You should massage vigorously enough to break up any underlying scar tissue, which might cause tethering of the skin to the underlying chest wall.  You should see improvement over time, and you shouldn't consider any sort of revision before 9 months to a year.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

Three months after gynecomastia treatment swelling still exists in the area treated. This will improve with time and with it any contour irregularities should improve in might even the permanently result.

Why Do I Have Indents on Chest After Gynecomastia Surgery?

Answers (10)

Answer: Contour irregularity after gynecomastia surgery

Answer: Contour irregularity after gynecomastia surgery

Answer: Contour irregularities three months after gynecomastia treatment may still resolve.

Answer: Contour irregularities three months after gynecomastia treatment may still resolve.

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Everything you need to know about Gynecomastia Surgery

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Why Do I Have Indents on Chest After Gynecomastia Surgery?

Answers (10)

Answer: Contour irregularity after gynecomastia surgery

Answer: Contour irregularity after gynecomastia surgery

Answer: Contour irregularities three months after gynecomastia treatment may still resolve.

Answer: Contour irregularities three months after gynecomastia treatment may still resolve.

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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.