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Why does it really take 3-6 months for final results after gynecomastia or lipo?

I hear a lot and read about the recovery stages after gynocmestia and all doctors say it takes almost half a year to see final results. Is there really a big difference between 6-7 weeks post op to 6 months?

Doctor Answers 9

Why does it really take 3-6 months for final results after gynecomastia or lipo?

November 4th, 2016
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Most of the healing occurs in the first 6-8 weeks as the collagen and scar tissue is building up but also swelling may persist for months. 

Seek a plastic surgeon with specialty training in #gynecomastia surgery, has great photos, and is an expert in male breast reduction.

Web reference: http://drhazani.com/procedures/your-gynecomastia-specialist/

Ron Hazani, MD, FACS


Beverly Hills General Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 306 reviews

November 4th, 2016

Why does it really take 3-6 months for final results after gynecomastia or lipo?

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Most of the healing occurs in the first 6-8 weeks as the collagen and scar tissue is building up but also swelling may persist for months. 

Seek a plastic surgeon with specialty training in #gynecomastia surgery, has great photos, and is an expert in male breast reduction.

Learn more: http://drhazani.com/procedures/your-gynecomastia-specialist/

Ron Hazani, MD, FACS


Beverly Hills General Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 306 reviews

When are Results Noticeable after a Male Breast Reduction

November 3rd, 2016
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Seeing the #final results can take some time as each breast commonly heal at different rates of each other. Also, your incisions will go through a maturation process after #gynecomastia surgery. For the first few months they will be red and possibly raised and/or firm. As the scar matures, after 6-12 months, it becomes soft, pale, flat, and much less noticeable. You may experience numbness, tingling, burning, “crawling”, or other peculiar sensations around the surgical area. This is a result of the healing of tiny fibers which are trapped in the incision site. These symptoms will disappear. Some people are prone to keloids, which is an abnormal scar that becomes prominent. If you or a blood relative has a tendency to keloid formation, please inform the doctor.

Bruising and #swelling are normal and usually increase slightly after the removal of any tape or foam. The bruising will decrease over 3-4 weeks, but may last as long as 6 weeks. The majority of the swelling will be gone within the first 3-4 weeks. However, it may take 6-9 weeks to disappear completely. 

Also, 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, any #indentations may be addressed with fat #grafting or #cosmetic #fillers if you are  deemed a good fit.If you have any concerns about #healing, its best to ask questions of your surgeon or their nursing staff.

Web reference: http://www.horowitzmd.com/male-plastic-surgery-newport-beach/gynecomastia/

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS
November 3rd, 2016

When are Results Noticeable after a Male Breast Reduction

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Seeing the #final results can take some time as each breast commonly heal at different rates of each other. Also, your incisions will go through a maturation process after #gynecomastia surgery. For the first few months they will be red and possibly raised and/or firm. As the scar matures, after 6-12 months, it becomes soft, pale, flat, and much less noticeable. You may experience numbness, tingling, burning, “crawling”, or other peculiar sensations around the surgical area. This is a result of the healing of tiny fibers which are trapped in the incision site. These symptoms will disappear. Some people are prone to keloids, which is an abnormal scar that becomes prominent. If you or a blood relative has a tendency to keloid formation, please inform the doctor.

Bruising and #swelling are normal and usually increase slightly after the removal of any tape or foam. The bruising will decrease over 3-4 weeks, but may last as long as 6 weeks. The majority of the swelling will be gone within the first 3-4 weeks. However, it may take 6-9 weeks to disappear completely. 

Also, 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, any #indentations may be addressed with fat #grafting or #cosmetic #fillers if you are  deemed a good fit.If you have any concerns about #healing, its best to ask questions of your surgeon or their nursing staff.

Learn more: http://www.horowitzmd.com/male-plastic-surgery-newport-beach/gynecomastia/

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS

Post Op Gynecomastia

September 8th, 2015
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In 6-7 weeks post op you should see about 80% of your result. The final 20% could take up to 6 months. The reason for this is because of normal swelling, contouring and maturation of scars could take up to 6 months to settle.
Theodore Lazzaro, MD
September 8th, 2015

Post Op Gynecomastia

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In 6-7 weeks post op you should see about 80% of your result. The final 20% could take up to 6 months. The reason for this is because of normal swelling, contouring and maturation of scars could take up to 6 months to settle.
Theodore Lazzaro, MD

Final Results After Liposuction or Gynecomastia Surgery

September 4th, 2015
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After any surgery or injury, the body will quickly heal itself using scar tissue. It is like carpenter’s glue to put things together. Like any glue, the scar or wound healing process then takes a while to mature or cure. For most glues that is 24 hours but for scars it is 6 to 12 months. Usually the results are about 90% of the final at around 3 months but that last 10% improvement to the end result can be very slow. This is because your body has to remove the immature scar or early scar that is heavy, thick and red. It then replaces that early scar with mature scar that is soft and more pliable and that is a slow process.

The entire time you will have slight, almost imperceptible improvement in your results but that is why we say your final results from any cosmetic surgery can take up to a year to be fully realized.

I hope that helps.

Best regards.

Web reference: http://drwindle.com/breast-body-plastic-surgery/gynecomastia-male-breast-reduction/

Brian Windle, MD
September 4th, 2015

Final Results After Liposuction or Gynecomastia Surgery

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After any surgery or injury, the body will quickly heal itself using scar tissue. It is like carpenter’s glue to put things together. Like any glue, the scar or wound healing process then takes a while to mature or cure. For most glues that is 24 hours but for scars it is 6 to 12 months. Usually the results are about 90% of the final at around 3 months but that last 10% improvement to the end result can be very slow. This is because your body has to remove the immature scar or early scar that is heavy, thick and red. It then replaces that early scar with mature scar that is soft and more pliable and that is a slow process.

The entire time you will have slight, almost imperceptible improvement in your results but that is why we say your final results from any cosmetic surgery can take up to a year to be fully realized.

I hope that helps.

Best regards.

Learn more: http://drwindle.com/breast-body-plastic-surgery/gynecomastia-male-breast-reduction/

Brian Windle, MD

Why does it really take 3-6 months for final results after gynecomastia or lipo

September 2nd, 2015
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Thank you for submitting your question.  Final results will take 6 months after gynecomastia surgery for the swelling to subside.  Best Wishes.
Jeff Angobaldo, MD
September 2nd, 2015

Why does it really take 3-6 months for final results after gynecomastia or lipo

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Thank you for submitting your question.  Final results will take 6 months after gynecomastia surgery for the swelling to subside.  Best Wishes.
Jeff Angobaldo, MD

It takes time for body to mold after surgery

September 2nd, 2015
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Bodies go through period of swelling as result of surgery. It takes up to 6 months for the swelling to subside and skin to re drape after liposuction and gynecomastia surgeries.  There is no fast forwarding after surgery. Patience is needed. 
Vasdev Rai, MD

Vasdev Rai, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 23 reviews

September 2nd, 2015

It takes time for body to mold after surgery

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Bodies go through period of swelling as result of surgery. It takes up to 6 months for the swelling to subside and skin to re drape after liposuction and gynecomastia surgeries.  There is no fast forwarding after surgery. Patience is needed. 
Vasdev Rai, MD

Vasdev Rai, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 23 reviews

Gynecomastia

September 2nd, 2015
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Yes.  No question there is skin tightening that can occur for up to 6 months or more.  Everyone tightens at their own pace and degree. If skin doesn't tighten all the way and residual excess remains, it can be excised if necessary in the office.

Web reference: http://www.artisanofbeauty.com/breast-procedures-beverly-hills/gynecomastia/

Tim Neavin, MD

Tim Neavin, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 48 reviews

September 2nd, 2015

Gynecomastia

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Yes.  No question there is skin tightening that can occur for up to 6 months or more.  Everyone tightens at their own pace and degree. If skin doesn't tighten all the way and residual excess remains, it can be excised if necessary in the office.

Learn more: http://www.artisanofbeauty.com/breast-procedures-beverly-hills/gynecomastia/

Tim Neavin, MD

Tim Neavin, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 48 reviews

Gynecomastia

September 2nd, 2015
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Wonderful question. Yes what you heard is pretty much true. People tend to see the majority of the results in the first month or two and the final stages can take not just 6 months and a year but sometimes even longer. The entire operation is done through such a small incision it's hard for non surgeons to understand how much disruption takes place beneath the skin. There is a lot of bleeding and swelling and the body has to go through a long healing phase. Scar tissue develpos after the surgery and that helps to shrink the overlying skin. 
Sherwood Baxt, MD

Sherwood Baxt, MD
Paramus Plastic Surgeon
3.8 out of 5 stars 25 reviews

September 2nd, 2015

Gynecomastia

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Wonderful question. Yes what you heard is pretty much true. People tend to see the majority of the results in the first month or two and the final stages can take not just 6 months and a year but sometimes even longer. The entire operation is done through such a small incision it's hard for non surgeons to understand how much disruption takes place beneath the skin. There is a lot of bleeding and swelling and the body has to go through a long healing phase. Scar tissue develpos after the surgery and that helps to shrink the overlying skin. 

Sherwood Baxt, MD
Paramus Plastic Surgeon

Gynecomastia TX

September 2nd, 2015
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How should I choose a surgeon?
Choose carefully. The decision is yours. Advice to assist in making your selection.Only a board certified plastic surgeon 1. Experience matters. Choosing a surgeon increases the likelihood that they have seen a case similar to yours in the past. Selecting a surgeon whose practice is focused on gynecomastia exclusively is also an indicator of experience. 2. Results matter. The more before-and-after pictures, the better. Pay attention whether the surgeon is confident enough to show multiple angles of the same patient. 3.Only gynecomastia Reviews matter. 4. Expertise matters. Is your surgeon recognized by the profession as an authority in the field? Have they authored books or medical journal articles regarding your surgery? Be realistic about your expectations. Also, revision surgery tends to be significantly more difficult than initial surgery.

Web reference: http://www.gynecomastia-md.com

Mordcai Blau, MD
September 2nd, 2015

Gynecomastia TX

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How should I choose a surgeon?
Choose carefully. The decision is yours. Advice to assist in making your selection.Only a board certified plastic surgeon 1. Experience matters. Choosing a surgeon increases the likelihood that they have seen a case similar to yours in the past. Selecting a surgeon whose practice is focused on gynecomastia exclusively is also an indicator of experience. 2. Results matter. The more before-and-after pictures, the better. Pay attention whether the surgeon is confident enough to show multiple angles of the same patient. 3.Only gynecomastia Reviews matter. 4. Expertise matters. Is your surgeon recognized by the profession as an authority in the field? Have they authored books or medical journal articles regarding your surgery? Be realistic about your expectations. Also, revision surgery tends to be significantly more difficult than initial surgery.

Learn more: http://www.gynecomastia-md.com

Mordcai Blau, MD

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.