How difficult would it be to resolve this severe of a crater deformity? (photo)

Question

Surgery was 5+ years ago and from a seemingly inexperienced general surgeon (I was dumb and broke at that point in the life). Anyway, I now understand the importance of a skilled plastic surgeon but would like some input on how bad this is in the grand scheme of things and how difficult it would to regain a normal appearance on the left side of my chest.

Daniel Careaga, MD · Answer

You bring up a good point in your question: general surgeons are concerned about removing the excess glandular tissue, but don’t really have the liposuction experience to contour the entire chest. In the 15 years that I have performed over 1000 gynecomastia procedures, I rarely find that I ever have to remove the glandular tissue through an incision around the areola such as you had. Using an ultrasonic liposuction, I can break up the hard breast tissue, remove the excess fat of the entire pec with a very small hidden incision and no chance of leaving the deformity that you have above. This deformity is correctable with liposuction and fat re-distribution. I would take the fat from both sides of the chest and on the left side I would re-distribute it so that there is a thin layer of fat behind the areola. That should prevent the deformity from coming back.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello, and thank you for your question regarding addressing the crater deformity on your left chest. I appreciate your openness in sharing your history and photos.

Based on your description and photos, the best approach to correcting the crater deformity would involve fat grafting. This technique uses fat harvested from another area of your body, such as the love handles or around the belly button, to fill in the hollow area. The fat is carefully processed, purified, sterilized, and then meticulously injected into the affected area to create a smoother and more natural contour.

The procedure is relatively straightforward and can be performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on your comfort and the surgeon’s recommendation. It typically takes one to two hours to complete. While there may be some residual scar tissue from the original surgery, this should not significantly hinder the fat grafting process.

It’s essential to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon experienced in chest contouring and fat grafting for the best results. They will evaluate your anatomy and recommend a personalized approach to achieve symmetry and a natural appearance.

Good luck with your revision journey, and I hope this information provides clarity as you move forward!

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Paul M. Steinwald, MD · Answer

. . . via someone with experience in this matter, of course. Only limitation may be how much scar tissue is in the "recipient" zone for successful fat placement/take (but can almost always find donor fat!)

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

This is severe asymmetry that requires surgical correction; a combination of liposuction and fat transfer is needed to correct deformity. This time you should carefully select a board certified plastic surgeon and check his/her expertise in this type of surgery. Good luck.

Tek Przylecki, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. Several options to correct (or at least improve) the are of concern exist. This includes fat grafting, possible dermal/fat grafting, and possibly subcutaneous tissue rearrangement. A competent plastic surgeon should be able to help you. Always seek consultation with a Board Certified plastic surgeon. Best of luck!

Hilton Becker, MD · Answer

It appears that excessive tissue was removed from the right breasts.
This could be corrected with fat grafting, which mat take more than one procedure .

How difficult would it be to resolve this severe of a crater deformity? (photo)

Answers (6)