I wore a pull over compression garment after gynecomastia gland excision and had to stretch my arms up? Did this cause damage?

Question

I had to lift my hands up immediately after surgery to put on a pullover compression garment. I felt slight pain and stretching at the incision. Could this possibly cause a widened scar or a hematoma or cause wound healing issues?

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

COMPRESSION GARMENT:  You will be required to wear a compression garment after
surgery for the next few weeks. The extra pressure this garment provides
helps reduce swelling and discomfort. You should not remove this garment at all
until the second or third day after surgery. After that, feel free to remove
the garment temporarily for showering or laundering.  We want you to have
circumferential pressure for 4-6 weeks, but you may switch to an exercise
compression garment when advised.BRUISING AND SWELLING: 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. The compression garment helps reduce the swelling, and the longer it is worn, the more quickly you will heal.NUMBNESS: It is normal to experience numbness around the areola and chest. As your body heals, you may notice random bursts of pain in your chest. This is usually a sign that the numbness is subsiding.LUMPINESS: 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.ACTIVITIES: If your work keeps you sedentary, you may return whenever you feel up to it. If your work is strenuous, wait until your work activity does not cause pain. Wait at least 4 weeks to begin aerobic exercise.As with all operations, pain and discomfort varies greatly from patient to patient. Generally, one should expect that pain medication will be required for the first several days. Continuing discomfort can last varying amounts of time. The best thing to do if you experience questions or concerns during the healing process is to visit your surgeon for a follow-up to make sure that all is progressing as it should.

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

I recommend my patients wear their garments for a minimum of 3 weeks if not a lot of redundant skin following liposuction male breast reduction to a maximum of 6 weeks. To be effective the garment needs to fit snug but not too tight as to cause pressure problems (inspect your skin if discomfort and when skin is exposed), or prevent you from sleeping. As the edema resolves it is common for patients to switch to a smaller garment that fits - A Spanx type garment would work rather than ordering one or paying more at your doctor;'s office.Male Breast Reduction (Gynecomastia Reduction) by liposuction requires compression garments for three main reasons:it restricts the amount of edema that forms and hastens its resolution by mechanical pressureIt decreases the amount of bruisingIt assists the loose skin in retracting or shrinking

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello, thank you for your question regarding gynecomastia surgery.   I don’t think pulling a compression garment over your head has caused any damage after your gynecomastia surgery. Hematomas and whitening of scars are rare after gynecomastia surgery. I don’t think putting a compression garment would have increased your chances of these associated complications.
Compression garments are essential after gynecomastia surgery. Compression garments minimize swelling and minimize the chances of hematoma or seroma formation. 
In my practice, I used compression garments that have Velcro straps over the shoulders. They also have a zipper in the front. This minimizes the chances of you having to raise your arms. It also allows for easier access to change the dressings. Good luck. 
I hope this answers your questions regarding compression garments after gynecomastia surgery.  If you have any more questions regarding gynecomastia, please contact my office. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Normal movement should not affect your results.  If you are at all concerned, speak with your surgeon.

R. Stephen Mulholland, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear foreveryoung908,

Thank you for your clinical
post.  Most gynecomastia garments do have
a zipper fixation system to avoid having to pull one over your head and
minimize the stretch and discomfort that you went through.  Slow purposeful movements like this would
rarely result in any complication to the area of surgery and glandular
excision.  Conceivably done repeatedly or
with force there could be some dehiscence of the incisions and perhaps internal
bleeding and hematoma but this is unlikely.

I would seek out the advice of your
operative surgeon if there is another garment that has a front opening,
clasping or zipper system to minimize the need for raising your hands over
head.

I hope this information is of some
assistance and best of luck.

To find out more, please visit the
link below. Visit the areas on gynecomastia as well.

R. Stephen Mulholland, M.D.

Certified Plastic Surgeon

Yorkville, Toronto

I wore a pull over compression garment after gynecomastia gland excision and had to stretch my arms up? Did this cause damage?

Answers (6)

Answer: Gynecomastia and movement

Answer: Gynecomastia and movement

Answer: Compression garment after gynecomastia

Answer: Compression garment after gynecomastia

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Everything you need to know about Gynecomastia Surgery

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I wore a pull over compression garment after gynecomastia gland excision and had to stretch my arms up? Did this cause damage?

Answers (6)

Answer: Gynecomastia and movement

Answer: Gynecomastia and movement

Answer: Compression garment after gynecomastia

Answer: Compression garment after gynecomastia

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Gynecomastia Surgery

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