26 year old male, was obese as a kid, looking to get my gynecomastia removed. 1. Should I consult my physician first? 2. I am currently out of shape. Is it ideal to get in shape (lower bodyfat %) first? will that affect cosmetic results? 3. Should I opt to get put out or just partially sedated? I would prefer to be as conscious as possible. 4. How long is the typical recovery time? Thank you in advance.
August 17, 2015
Answer: Gynecomastia questions. Should I consult my physician? Is it ideal to get in shape first? Thank you for the question. Yes, it is ideal to achieve your long-term stable weight prior to proceeding with chest wall surgery. Exactly what operation you should undergo will depend on your physical examination and accurate diagnosis. It is important to differentiate gynecomastia ( excess breast tissue) from lipomastia ( otherwise known as pseudo-gynecomastia or excess adipose tissue of chest wall). Treatment will differ depending on diagnosis. In most cases, gynecomastia is treated with resection of the excess breast tissue; peripheral chest liposuction surgery may also be helpful. Practices will vary, but I generally perform these operations under general anesthesia, under the supervision of board-certified anesthesiologists. Recovery time will vary from one patient to another, depending mainly on exactly what procedure is performed.
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August 17, 2015
Answer: Gynecomastia questions. Should I consult my physician? Is it ideal to get in shape first? Thank you for the question. Yes, it is ideal to achieve your long-term stable weight prior to proceeding with chest wall surgery. Exactly what operation you should undergo will depend on your physical examination and accurate diagnosis. It is important to differentiate gynecomastia ( excess breast tissue) from lipomastia ( otherwise known as pseudo-gynecomastia or excess adipose tissue of chest wall). Treatment will differ depending on diagnosis. In most cases, gynecomastia is treated with resection of the excess breast tissue; peripheral chest liposuction surgery may also be helpful. Practices will vary, but I generally perform these operations under general anesthesia, under the supervision of board-certified anesthesiologists. Recovery time will vary from one patient to another, depending mainly on exactly what procedure is performed.
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August 18, 2015
Answer: Preparing for gynecomastia surgery 1) It is always recommended to see your primary doctor first for an overall health evaluation, especially if you haven't done so in the past year. 2) It's hard to answer this question without seeing pictures or knowing your height/weight/etc. Everyone's opinion of being out of shape varies. Your plastic surgeon will be able to tell you if he recommends losing weight before surgery or not. Obviously, being in ideal shape is beneficial for many reasons, however it's not always necessary in order to have a successful surgery. 3) I cannot answer this question without knowing how severe your gynecomastia is. If a more extensive surgery is needed, general anesthesia is recommended. If you have standard gynecomastia, most of my patients have surgery under local anesthesia w/ an oral sedative. 4) Recovery time applies to different things. Going back to work, being able to exercise, going in a pool or hot tub, etc. Most stand gynecomastia patients can resume work within 3-5 days, however it will be longer if the job requires heaving lifting, rigorous activity, etc. The entire recovery period is about 4-6 weeks in total. This just means until incisions have closed up, swelling has subsided, full movement of your arms, you can work out, etc. The most important advice I can give you is to make sure you go to a plastic surgeon who is specialized in gynecomastia surgery. Ask how many surgeries he performs each year, make sure you have access to viewing a large photo library of before/after photos, ask to speak with former patients, etc. Best of Luck!
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August 18, 2015
Answer: Preparing for gynecomastia surgery 1) It is always recommended to see your primary doctor first for an overall health evaluation, especially if you haven't done so in the past year. 2) It's hard to answer this question without seeing pictures or knowing your height/weight/etc. Everyone's opinion of being out of shape varies. Your plastic surgeon will be able to tell you if he recommends losing weight before surgery or not. Obviously, being in ideal shape is beneficial for many reasons, however it's not always necessary in order to have a successful surgery. 3) I cannot answer this question without knowing how severe your gynecomastia is. If a more extensive surgery is needed, general anesthesia is recommended. If you have standard gynecomastia, most of my patients have surgery under local anesthesia w/ an oral sedative. 4) Recovery time applies to different things. Going back to work, being able to exercise, going in a pool or hot tub, etc. Most stand gynecomastia patients can resume work within 3-5 days, however it will be longer if the job requires heaving lifting, rigorous activity, etc. The entire recovery period is about 4-6 weeks in total. This just means until incisions have closed up, swelling has subsided, full movement of your arms, you can work out, etc. The most important advice I can give you is to make sure you go to a plastic surgeon who is specialized in gynecomastia surgery. Ask how many surgeries he performs each year, make sure you have access to viewing a large photo library of before/after photos, ask to speak with former patients, etc. Best of Luck!
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