How long does it take to see results on a gynecomastia (man boobs) surgery??

Question

Marie E. Montag, MD · Answer

Gynecomastia
surgery involves removing fat and varying amounts of breast tissue from the
overgrown male breasts. When this is performed, there is a very significant
immediate change in the contour of the chest. There is always some swelling and
bruising after any surgery that takes a few months to resolve, but you should
see improvement in shape even at your first dressing change the day after
surgery. That is why gynecomastia surgery is usually very rewarding to
patients. You can tell from the beginning, your contour will be corrected.

Typically,
swelling is gone by about 3 months post-op but this can vary a lot from one
patient to another and in some cases, patients may even see some subtle
swelling as up to 6-8 months out, and scar tissue can soften for even 12-18
months. Early compression and restriction of activity can make the swelling
mobilize faster, and scar massage after early healing is done (3-4 weeks) can
help scars mature faster. Generally the more tissue that has to be removed, the
longer the healing may take.

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

Following surgery, your incisions will go through a maturation process. 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. If you have any concerns about #healing, its best to ask questions of your surgeon or their nursing staff.

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. If you have any concerns about #healing, its best to ask questions of your surgeon or their nursing staff.

Miguel Delgado, MD · Answer

Every patient is different, but most men notice improvement immediately after a
male breast reduction procedure and continue to see improve as the area heals
over the course of a few weeks. The precise healing time may vary and will
depend on the technique used. To help facilitate healing, a compression garment
is generally worn for a few days. Fortunately, male breast reduction can yield
long-lasting, even permanent, results. So you can look forward to a greater
confidence for years to come.

Frank Lista, MD · Answer

Be patient.  Your body needs time to heal but you should
see some improvement almost immediately.  Swelling will subside gradually each day but your initial swelling can
last 4 – 6 weeks following your surgery.  It can take up to a full 6 - 8 months for you to see your final
result.  Be sure to follow your surgeon’s
post-operative instructions carefully to maximize your results and contact or visit their office should
have any questions or concerns.

Lewis Albert Andres, MD · Answer

Hello!  Thank you for the question!  It is common for swelling to persist for 6-12 weeks postoperatively after any surgical procedure.  Swelling will gradually resolve after a few weeks up to this amount of time.  If you have liposuction performed with your gynecomastia procedure, I would expect an even longer period for full resolution and to see final results.  This along with scarring sometimes takes up to 6-12 months to see your final result.  But, with this type of procedure, you can see results almost immediately, which will continue to improve over the next several months.Best wishes for an excellent result!

Matthew G. Stanwix, MD, FACS · Answer

There are various types of surgical techniques that are used for gynecomastia surgery . Ultimately it depends on the size and shape of your chest now which technique can be used. For the most part I use advanced minimally invasive techniques. For most individuals with mild or moderate increase I can do the whole surgery with  state of the art VASER liposuction techniques. Other minimally invasive approaches can be use to give optimal results. Regardless of what technique is used, most results are immediate. Swelling and final results are seen 6 months down the road but a lot is seen immediately. Best wishes.

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

Mel breast reduction reserve also liposuction. Little suction results and final contouring occur gradually over time it usually takes about three months for the final result was the reveal itself. The compression garment is a very significant piece in the recovery and final outcome. Maintain all your post op visits  with your plastic surgeon and your results should be readily seen in three months.Good luck.Earl Stephenson Jr MD DDS FACS

Charles A. Wallace, MD · Answer

You should be able to see an immediate difference after surgery whether it is an excisional gynecomastia or just suctioning of fat from the area.  There will always be initial swelling whichwill subside in 4-6 weeks. With an excisional gynecomastia, careful scar maintenance is importantto minimize the scarring.