Undergoing gynecomastia surgery requires a thorough preparation and understanding of each step of the journey from the initial consultation to the post-operative recovery course to ensure the best outcome.
In this section, we will review the surgical process at the Boston Gynecomastia Specialists and emphasize what you should expect at each stage of the to help you become more confident and comfortable with your experience.
Consultation
Once you have submitted your online intake form with as much information as possible, we will conduct a preliminary evaluation and if it appears that you may be a good candidate for Male Breast Reduction surgery at the Boston Gynecomastia Specialists, you will be scheduled to meet with our boar-certified surgeon, Dr. Edwin Ishoo, in our beautiful and private facility in Cambridge to discuss your condition, past medical history, undergo a physical examination and discuss the proposed treatment plan, recovery course, realistic expectations of outcome and cost of the procedure as well as get answers to all your questions.
Prior to Surgery
When you are ready to schedule your gynecomastia surgery, it is critical to prepare thoroughly in advance of the surgery day to achieve the best results. This may include following Dr. Ishoo’s the pre-operative instructions such as adjusting medications, making dietary and lifestyle changes to optimize your surgical outcome.
Prior to the procedure, all of your questions will be answered, your chest will be measured for compression garments, pre-operative photos will be taken, and you will be provided with prescriptions to fully prepare you for a great surgical experience.
Timeline for recovery from Gynecomastia surgery at the Boston Gynecomastia Specialists may vary based on several factors – for instance, your Gynecomastia Grade, Components, age, skin condition, and overall fitness. As you go through your consultation and instructions prior to surgery, you will get a better overall sense of whatbe provided with information that will allow you to have a much better idea what to expect for your specific surgery.
Risks and Complications of Gynecomastia Surgery
Some of the possible risks and complications associated with the procedure are:
- Irregular chest contour
- Poor scarring including keloid scars
- Loss of sensation in the nipple
- Recurrent glandular tissue
- Partial or total loss of the nipple and/or areola
- Wound breakdown and delayed healing
- Postoperative infection
- Bleeding or hematoma
- Revision surgery
Gynecomastia Surgery Day
The big day has arrived, and you are feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness about your male breast reduction surgery day. Rest assured; you are in great hands! All of the details have been taken care of by Dr. Ishoo and his caring team.
Dr. Ishoo performs all of his procedures under local anesthesia at our private and well-equipped facility within our office in Cambridge where you had your consultation, so there is no need to go to another facility or hospital to have your procedure.
Night Before Male Breast Reduction Surgery
- Our office will contact you the day before your surgery to answer any questions you may have and to re-confirm your arrival time.
- Shave your chest the day before.
- Make sure to get plenty of rest and take your antibiotics as instructed.
- If you feel overly anxious you may take a sedative if you have been prescribed one but avoid consuming alcohol.
- Make sure you set your alarm to wake-up with more than enough time to arrive at our office at the designated time and consider weather and traffic around Boston.
- Notify our office should you start to present any signs of an illness prior to or after surgery (fever, cough, flu-like symptoms)
Day of Male Breast Reduction Surgery
Finally, the big day has arrived, and you are feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness about your male breast reduction surgery day. Rest assured; you are in great hands! All of the details have been taken care of by Dr. Ishoo and his caring team. Prior to your arrival at our office:
- Take a shower the morning of surgery and scrub your chest and arm pits with Hibiclens.
- After showering, do not apply any antiperspirants, lotions, or powders to your skin.
- Eat a moderate breakfast such as eggs, cereal or Oatmeal and juice before taking your prescribed antibiotics.
- You will need to arrive at our office at the designated time given by the staff.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing with a zip-up hoodie or shirt that closes in the front so that you will not have to pull it over your head.
- Bring your ID, medications, and glasses.
- You will need be driven to and from our office on surgery day and your follow-up the next day as you are not allowed to drive.
Keep yourself calm and relaxed and let our staff take care of you through the surgical process.
After surgery, you will be moved to a recovery room. Recovery times vary with each patient and the procedures being performed. You will be discharged to your friend or family who will drive you back home.
Don’t forget, you are one step closer to achieving your goal of having the masculine chest you have always wanted!
The Gynecomastia Surgery
Dr. Ishoo performs his gynecomastia procedures safely and comfortably under local anesthesia in our office. Gynecomastia surgery at the Boston Gynecomastia Specialists involves four steps, including tumescent infiltration for the local anesthesia, VASER™ ultrasound-assisted liposuction to loosen and soften the excess fatty tissue, Power-assisted liposuction, and the thorough dissection and surgical removal of breast gland. Once excess tissue has been removed and the chest has been successfully sculpted, Dr. Ishoo uses cautery to stop any bleeding and may place drains into the wound to prevent post-operative blood and fluid collection to expedite healing and achieve smooth and natural-looking results. The peri-areolar incisions are closed with absorbable sutures which will not require removal later.
Dr. Ishoo strives to deliver the best gynecomastia surgery Boston has to offer. It is very important to note that (despite what you may have heard online) gynecomastia cannot be treated by liposuction alone. In some cases, it makes the condition look even worse. By removing the thick tissue and gynecomastia gland, Dr. Ishoo gets rid of the underlying cause of gynecomastia and prevents recurrence. Without this step, your gynecomastia has not been treated.
Dr. Ishoo also believes that VASER-assisted liposuction has revolutionized gynecomastia surgery by emulsifying or softening the fat through sound waves and improving the ease and effectiveness of fat removal for sculpting and contouring the male chest, while reducing the trauma. It has significant benefits over standard or even LASER liposuction, including predictability, less pain, and shorter recovery. These details , along with Dr. Ishoo’s experience, separate Boston Gynecomastia Specialists from other treatment facilities in the area and are why our patients experience such exceptional, permanent results from their procedures.
After Gynecomastia Surgery
First few days after surgery, you should plan to rest and move about gently to avoid prolonging your recovery. You should plan to sleep on your back with your head and back elevated in a recliner chair or using a wedge pillow. You will be instructed on how to manage your drains until your follow up visit with Dr Ishoo at which time they are likely removed. You’ll be placed in a compression garment which you will not loosen or take off until you are seen by Dr Ishoo on your first post-operative visit. Generally, pain medications are not necessary, and none are prescribed by Dr. Ishoo. Over-the-counter Tylenol will help manage any discomfort in the first few days after surgery.
After the first few days, you may be able to resume some of your personal and work activities, avoiding strenuous exercise and heavy lifting as advised by Dr. Ishoo. During your subsequent follow-up visits, Dr. Ishoo will monitor your healing as your swelling and bruising resolve usually by the third or fourth week after surgery.
As your chest recovers from the surgery, Dr. Ishoo will advise you on the type and extent of exercise and physical activity you can engage. You will be meeting with Dr Ishoo regularly after surgery to address any concerns and ensure a successful recovery.
The final surgical result may take 4-6 months depending on the individual’s age, overall health, physical conditioning, and the type of procedure performed. As the final masculine chest contour emerges, your long-awaited transformation will be complete.
Post-Surgery Recovery Recap
What can I expect after the gynecomastia surgery?
One Day Post-Surgery
One day after your gynecomastia surgery, you can expect the following:
- Your bandage will be removed, and you’ll be able to shower again within 1-2 days.
- You should limit your arm motion as much as possible. In particular, you should not raise your arms above chest level or engage in overhead lifting.
- If drains were placed during the surgery, they may be removed during this stage.
- After around 72 hours, you can start driving again.
6 Days Post-Surgery
Almost a week after surgery, a few more options will open up:
- If you have small children, you can pick them up and hold them again (assuming limited arm movement).
- You must still keep your arm motions limited so as to continue to promote healing.
- During a second post op visit, your incisions will be checked.
2 Week Post-Surgery
Light lower-body exercises may resume (exercise bicycle, squats etc.).
3-5 Weeks Post-Surgery
At this stage, patients can expect the following:
- An increased range of arm motion (care must still be taken).
- The compression vest can generally be discontinued around this time.
- Limited upper-body workouts may begin again.
10-12 Weeks Post-Op
Healing should be coming along nicely by this time. At this stage:
- The scars will be checked to ensure they are healing properly.
- The patient will be able to engage in any and all physical activity, even high-impact ones.
6 Months Post-Op
At this point, only a cursory examination is required:
- Scars will be checked to make sure they’ve healed over nicely and are skin-tone in color. Though the scars will largely be invisible at this point, they will continue to heal for another year.
Gynecomastia Post- Op Visits
Gynecomastia post-op visits are a critical component of your surgical journey towards living a life free of enlarged male breasts. Continuous communication with our office and following post-operative instructions will ensure you have the best possible experience possible, and, more importantly, obtain your desired result.
Gynecomastia surgery recovery is exceptionally tolerable compared to that of other surgical cosmetic procedures. The first day after your surgery, you will have your follow up appointment with Dr. Ishoo and our staff at our office. This visit will allow us to monitor how your body is immediately reacting to surgery and will allow us the opportunity to educate you about the recovery process and what to expect as you heal. During this first post-operative visit, we will give you detailed instructions on how to care for yourself after surgery and answer any questions you may have. The following steps are typically followed during this gynecomastia post-op appointment.
- Dr. Ishoo will usually remove drains on the first post-operative day if appropriate, based on the reported drainage over night..
- Dr. Ishoo will examine the area(s) where surgery was performed to ensure proper healing and drainage of any fluid collection such as hematoma or seroma.
- Dr. Ishoo will change dressings covering your incisions.
- We will help you fit your compression garment and instruct you on the proper amount of pressure required for optimal healing. During this time, we may also instruct you on where to purchase additional garments as needed.
- We will provide you with your post-operative surgical kit, containing supplies you may need during your recovery. We will also instruct you on how and when to use each item.
- We will answer all your questions regarding your recovery and healing during your follow up visit.
- Future post-operative visits will be arranged according to your needs and healing time.
Most patients return to their regular activities (including work) just one to two days after gynecomastia surgery. However, if your job is physically strenuous, you may need to take additional time off from work. While you will be able to return to the gym after just three to four weeks, you will need to wait until Dr. Ishoo clears you to engage in cardio, chest exercises and heavy lifting. This typically happens after four weeks post-surgery.
You will be provided with different compression garments at the different stages of recovery which you will need to wear for more than eight weeks to aid with swelling management, support, and skin retraction. You will also undergo specialized post-operative massages in our office and will be instructed on how to massage your chest to prevent the formation of long-term scar tissue. You will need to do this for at least 15 minutes two to three times a day, beginning three weeks after your gynecomastia surgery and continuing for a minimum of eight weeks. The recovery period is critical for optimal results.
Please keep in mind, you may call us anytime during your stay with questions or concerns. Remember, no question is too small or insignificant… we want you to feel comfortable and secure throughout your recovery.
Gynecomastia Surgery Recovery in Boston
- Post-Operative Compression Garment: When you wake in Recovery, you will be wearing a sleeveless Post-Operative Compression Vest. This garment needs to be worn continuously for the next 6 weeks. However, it can be removed for showering after the sutures have been removed.
- Dressings will cover each incision. Do not get them wet by having a bath or shower. You can sit in a low bath to wash your lower body and sponge under your arms but do not wet the dressings. Do not remove the dressings until your sutures are removed.
- Bruising & Swelling: Expect some bruising on the chest which will disappear in 2-3 weeks. Swelling largely settles within 4 weeks but in some people total disappearance of all swelling can take several months. Do not be unduly concerned about these appearances – they are normal and temporary, NEVER permanent.
- Post-Operative Discomfort is easily managed by pain relievers your doctor will prescribe for you.
- Drains: Your surgeon may decide to insert a drain to prevent blood and fluids collecting in your breast. These drains are easy for you to manage at home and you will be shown how to do this. These drains are usually removed within 7 days after your operation.
- Exercise: Light exercise within your limits of comfort can be resumed after 2 weeks. However, if whatever you do causes even slight discomfort, stop it and try it again after another 2 weeks.
- Sutures are usually removed 7-10 days after surgery.
- Resumption of Gym Activities: Lower body exercises (excluding treadmill) can be resumed after 3 weeks and gentle upper body routines after 8 weeks. However, always resume your exercise routines gradually, and always ‘listen to your body’. If whatever you do hurts you immediately or the next day, wait 2 weeks before trying it again. Eventually, you should be able to return to all your exercise routines completely without any discomfort at all.
- During The First 6 Months:
- Short gentle walks are recommended.
- Avoid body contact sports.
- Do not lift heavy things or over-exert yourself.
- Avoid potentially harmful activities or body contact sports which could result in a direct injury to the chest.
Your Gynecomastia Surgery Results
You will notice an immediate difference in your chest following your procedure and the majority of your swelling will subside within the first two weeks. However, it may take several months for swelling to subside completely. As soon as your incisions heal, Dr. Ishoo recommends the use of medical-grade silicone scar sheets or gel, although in most cases, the scars heal nicely on their own.
Ultimately, you can look forward to a permanently more sculpted masculine chest and more confidence in or out of clothes. While there is not a substantial amount of published materials discussing psychological recovery from gynecomastia, there are zero doubts concerning the benefits of gynecomastia surgery. Dr. Ishoo always empowers you to see the excised tissue to confirm that the condition was successfully resolved. For some men, this offers invaluable closure to their struggle with gynecomastia.
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The Boston Gynecomastia Specialists is the premier Greater Boston Gynecomastia Center of Excellence. Our primary focus is on providing outstanding care throughout every step of your journey, from the first consultation to your full recovery. We recognize and appreciate the confidence you have in us and are unwavering in our commitment to maintaining the utmost level of patient care. Led by Dr. Edwin Ishoo, a highly skilled, board-certified surgeon with expertise and over 30 years’ experience in Male Breast Reduction, our dedicated team is fully committed to ensuring the best possible surgical outcomes tailored for each individual. Recognizing that every man is unique, we personalize our approach to meet your specific condition, needs and expectations. We welcome you to take that first step to achieving the transformation you have been imagining and contact the Boston Gynecomastia Specialists, the leading Gynecomastia Center in Boston, to meet with Dr. Ishoo for your personalized, in-person consultation and have your questions answered. Let us take the gynecomastia concern off your chest in a day and off your mind forever!
