The term gynecomastia indicates an increase of the volume of the mammary gland in human beings. It is induced by various causes and may occur in any period of life. Currently ,the only treatment able to guarantee the resolution of this pathology is the surgical mastectomy, possibly combined to a liposuction.
A Gynecomastia surgery can get good results and satisfaction to patients, allowing them to regain self-esteem and an virile image, overcoming the embarrassment and psychological distress caused by such imperfections. It is possible to identify two types of gynecomastia.
The true gynecomastia, with stable increase of the glandular component. The pseudo-gynecomastia, basically formed by an increase in subcutaneous fat. The indications on the surgical treatment of true gynecomastia are based on two major objectives: restoring the shape of the chest and the diagnosis of a possible suspect breast lesion. In the latter case, in addition to the removal of the male mammary gland it will proceed with the histological examination of the surgical findings. The results of surgical gynecomastia are excellent; the breast region is redefined by eliminating the excess adipose and skin and, in the case of true gynecomastia, by removing glandular excess. At the end of the liposuction, only small imperceptible scars will remain, little while, as for adenectomia, the resulting scar will be positioned at the margin between the areola and the skin, extended by half or the whole of the areolar circumference, depending on the surgical operating necessity.
Preoperative preparation
To perform the liposuction surgery is essential that the patient is subjected to thorough medical examinations and pre-operative standards required by the surgeon. The patient must be healthy and in good condition. In order to reduce the risk of bleeding and difficulty in healing of the scars, you should stop taking antiplatelet medications or blood thinners like aspirin and sop smoking (at least two weeks in advance). The patient must promptly report to his surgeon the appearance of any symptom of the disease which could make it advisable to postpone the operation (cold, sore throat, cough, skin diseases arisen recently). The day of the surgery the patient must fast (from midnight of the day before) and has to have with him he elastic sheath recommended by the surgeon for the post operative. After the surgery, a compressive dressing and an elastic girdle is applied to the patient, who has to wear it for about 20-30 days, abstaining for the entire period from sporting activities or heavy effort. The sutures are removed after 7 days. Since that time, the patient can go back to the shower.
Possible risks and complications
Gynecomastia surgery, like all surgery, can cause some complications that are still rare and, in case, be solved through appropriate treatments without compromising the final result. There are complications related to anesthesia and complications of surgical relevance. The risk of complications increases in patients with diabetes or heart or lung conditions. The anesthetic complications can be serious but are a rare event, in particular in patients in good health. Surgical complications, such as hematoma, bleeding, seroma, infection and unsightly scars or pathological (keloids) they too are rare. In case you have one or more postoperative complications it may be necessary some medications or it may be necessary to repeat a further reconstructive surgery with results generally satisfactory.