This is a young male 3 months after his male breast surgery that shows amazing results with no scarring.
Gynecomastia is a condition of enlarged breasts and undesirable contour changes in men, making the male chest more feminine. Gynecomastia surgery scars are likely to develop after the surgery when left unattended.
Gynecomastia surgery is a procedure to remove unwanted excess breast tissue and fat in men, giving them a more masculine appearance. More and more men are having it done at younger ages.
Gynecomastia Surgery Scars
Either VASER liposuction can perform gynecomastia surgery on the male chest to remove excess fat and surgically remove excess breast tissue. Both techniques require small incisions below the areola and can leave minimal gynecomastia surgery scars.
If a patient has predominantly excess fat in the chest, the VASER liposuction technique can be used alone. A small incision will be made below the areola to allow the liposuction cannula to be placed to emulsify, break down the fat, and remove it via suction.
The small ½ cm incisions for liposuction gynecomastia surgery are closed using a thin absorbable 5-0 plain gut suture for external closure, allowing for a seamless surgical scar. Over the top of the incision line, steri-strips are applied, giving additional strength and eliminating the traditional “hash-mark” scars. The steri-strips are usually removed approximately two to four weeks post-op. These tiny gynecomastia surgery scars are negligible and eventually fade over time.
If a patient has excess glandular breast tissue, then an excision, or removal of breast tissue, must be performed. Excision of glandular tissue is done by making a small 1-2 cm incision below the male areola. This technique allows the surgeon to access the breast tissue and surgically remove the tissue from the chest.
The incision is closed using an absorbable 5-0 PDS suture for deeper closer using a simple interrupted suture and a running subcutaneous absorbable 5-0 plain gut suture for more superficial closure.
Similarly, steri-strips are placed over the incision site to give additional strength and eliminate the external ugly hash-mark scarring. This type of closure allows for minimal gynecomastia surgery scars.
Occasionally, a liposuction and excision combination technique may be needed. If you consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon, your options will be discussed, and the best procedure for you will be determined. At that time, your surgeon will discuss gynecomastia surgery scarring, what to expect, and how to reduce your chances of scarring.
In addition to small incisions and absorbable sutures, other precautions are taken to minimize gynecomastia surgery scars. Tension in incisions equates to scarring, so tension must be minimized. Swelling postoperatively is minimized by placing the patient in a compression garment worn constantly.
The pressure garment reduces swelling and keeps the tissues compressed, so the incision sites do not stretch and widen, decreasing the patient’s potential for scarring. It is imperative to minimize swelling. In addition to compression garments, a Medrol dose pack is given to patients to decrease inflammation and thus decrease incision scarring.
At postoperative week four, once the steri-strips have been removed, silicone sheets by Silagen are used for scar management for approximately one month. After one month, topical silicone gel can be used for up to six months if needed.
In the interim, after the patient is two months postoperative, intense pulsed light (IPL) can be used for any remaining hyperpigmentation at the incision site. The IPL is a light therapy that is absorbed by hyperpigmentation and used as heat to diminish unwanted pigment. Many steps are taken to ensure and minimize gynecomastia surgery scars.
Schedule your complimentary consultation today with our SurgiSculpt surgeons to discuss your gynecomastia treatment options.
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