Areola excessively stretches when lifting arm after gynecomastia surgery? What is the cause of this? (Photos)

Question

6 weeks post surgery. However, now when I raise my arms, my left nipple seems to rise and track with my chest muscle as it should, but my right appears to sit below my chest muscle upon lifting my arm and the areola itself is stretched considerably. What is causing this? Nipples tracked in sync prior to surgery when arms were lifted. I have more scar tissue on right areolar incision, is this thick scarring causing abnormal movement and stretching of the areola? Left nipple also sunk in on top.

Ankur Mehta, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for posting photos along with your question! It would be helpful to see your pre-operative photos to be able to compare. Humans are all asymmetric by nature and if that areola was a little bigger before surgery it is still going to be a little bigger after surgery. If it was lower before surgery then it is still going to be lower after. If your right areola was larger to begin with and you had lipo, it will appear to shrink and darken because the fat is not stretching it out anymore. But, in reality, the same amount of areola is there. So when you stretch the right will be able to stretch more than the left. However, if these differences weren't there pre-op and you think the areola maybe a little tethered, then you should see your surgeon to see what recs they may have. You may want to ask about starting some scar massage at this time. Hope this helps and I personally think your results are looking great!Ankur Mehta MD

Robert M. Tornambe, MD · Answer

Time to relax and take a deep breath! Your photos demonstrate an excellent result at just six weeks postop. However, you are still healing, and all scsrs need to mature and soften with time. Stay in touch with your plastic surgeon and try to be patient. Best of luck.

Daniel Butz, MD · Answer

There are a couple things to keep in mind when observing your post operative symmetry. Nipples are never perfectly symmetrical preoperative. We frequently tell our female patients that breast are sisters, not twins. The same applies to the nipples. 
At 6 weeks the scarring phase is ramping up and it's not unusual for sides to scar differently. So slight tethering on one side may occur. Fortunately, scar massage, steroid injection and time will help settle this down. 
Give it more time and talk to your surgeon about your concerns. Overall things look very good for 6 weeks out. 
Hope this helps.

Tim Sayed, MD, MBA, FACS · Answer

Your photos show what appears to be an EXCELLENt early result. Mild asymmetry is normal. Your areolas may have been asymmetric preop or had significant lax skin that is still in the process of retracting. If there ends up being a little excess skin on one areola after 6-9 months of healing, your surgeon could likely trim the excess tissue under local anesthesia with a mild touchup. Continue to follow your surgeon's guidance on scar management postop.

Alastair J. Platt, FRCS (plast) · Answer

You look as though you have a very good result from your surgery.  At only six weeks after surgery there is still a lot of scar settling to still take place.  Please be patient and follow the advice of your plastic surgeon.  Best wishes.

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Areola excessively stretches when lifting arm after gynecomastia surgery? What is the cause of this? (Photos)

Answers (6)

Answer: Should I be concerned about areola asymmetry after #gynecomastia surgery?

Answer: Should I be concerned about areola asymmetry after #gynecomastia surgery?

Answer: Scars after gynaecomastia surgery

Answer: Scars after gynaecomastia surgery

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