Gynecomastia surgery but it seems to be coming back after 3 months??

Question

I had Gynecomastia surgery 3 months ago and my chest was very flat after surgery, however after 4-5 weeks i noticed my chest starting to fill out and now it is not as flat as it was after surgery and i can also feel the hard tissue under my right nipple. Im scared this may be returning so soon after my procedure. Why has my chest filled out? I have read that after tissue is removed it can not come back? Does that mean it wont ever come back as bad if it did return? Please help?

Miguel Delgado, MD · Answer

Scar tissue can form anytime after surgery, usually at 4 to 12 weeks. Scar tissue will feel like breast tissue and causes alarm for many men. Most of the time it will resolve on it's own or steroid injections may be given to help dissolve it. Talk to your surgeon. Good luck.

Ozge Ergun, MD · Answer

Thanks for the question. After 6 weeks your surgery area is totally healed and yes you can return to normal life and also do other activities. I wish you all the best.

Anthony Barabas, MBBS, FRCS (Plast) · Answer

Some scarring and bruising is normal. If the hardness is just under one nipple then you might have developed a small seroma (collection of tissue fluid), particularly if you had open surgery and have now stopped wearing your compression top. If this is the case it can be easily treated by draining off the fluid, so I would recommend you go for a review with your surgeon.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question.  Once the gynecomastia is removed it is permanent and will not return.  As you were very flat after surgery this is likely scar tissue formation, and I would encourage massaging your chest tissue to help soften it.  It is always best to voice your concerns to your surgeon, as they know the full details of your procedure and can provide the best information.

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

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 in order to receive answers for post-operative healing is to visit your surgeon and have the area examined to make sure that everything is progressing as it should or if any corrections or revisions are needed. Good luck.

Sean Doherty, MD, FACS · Answer

This hardness under the nipple sounds like scar tissue. Although it could be fluid accumulation since you are also experiencing increased swelling. I would probably recommend that you have this checked out by your surgeon. Always best to be safe. Hope this helps.

Robert Caridi, MD · Answer

The most common cause of gynecomastia recurrence is incomplete removal of the tissue at the time of the procedure. The majority of the swelling after treatment is gone after several weeks and it takes over a year for all the swelling to subside. It's possible you had some fluid in the area that is turning into scar.

I would suggest that you massage the area with your fingers to soften it. You need to give this up to a year to settle out unless it's obvious that tissue remains. The doctor who performed the procedure is your best source of advice.

David E. Berman, MD (retired) · Answer

if you had a complete excision of the tissue in your breast tissue, this is probably just some scar tissue forming in the area. You need to be patient and no panic and wait and see how things do over the next 6 months. david berman md

Gynecomastia surgery but it seems to be coming back after 3 months??

Answers (8)

More Gynecomastia Surgery Questions

Gynecomastia or Pseudogynecomastia? (photos)

Is this gyno or fat? (Photos)

Gynecomastia scars. What is the best way to treat them? (Photo)

Permanent fillers for male gynaecomastia crater scar (apart from autologous fat)?

Revision required 3 weeks after Gynecomastia? (photo)

Can tightening skin laser help flatten chest and puffy nipples after gynecomastia surgery?

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS