Gynecomastia is more than just embarrassing. Large male breasts can significantly decrease self-esteem. For many guys, a male breast reduction provides relief; offering the correction needed to restore a smooth, flat chest. However, not all procedures have a picture-perfect ending. Poor male breast reduction results can stem from a variety of issues, ranging from an inexperienced surgeon to a genetic tendency for scarring. When a male breast reduction does not adequately improve a large chest, gynecomastia revision surgery can, in most cases, provide the needed changes and deliver desired results.
Reasons to Consider Gynecomastia Revision Surgery:
Scar tissue formation:
Some scarring is normal after a male breast reduction. However, on rare occasions, thick scar tissue can cause the breasts to look lumpy, asymmetrical, or misshapen. To be safe, those patients prone to hypertrophic scarring should make their gynecomastia surgeon aware of the situation prior to surgery. Otherwise, a scar revision procedure may be required.
Under-estimating correction:
An inexperienced or inadequately trained surgeon may misguidedly attempt to correct gynecomastia with liposuction alone, when glandular tissue is present, as well. If only the large breasts are caused by fatty tissue only, then liposuction can bring desirable results. However, glandular tissue is too dense for liposuction, so its presence will require an excision procedure. In this case, lipo alone can make the glandular tissue more obvious. Luckily, a gynecomastia revision surgery with excision can improve the chest.
Lax skin:
The skin of the chest stretches to accommodate growing breasts. Over time, this skin will lose its elasticity, no longer having the ability to ‘bounce back’ to a smooth, taut position. If the unwanted fatty tissue is removed, but the skin has poor laxity, saggy tissue can remain on the breasts. In this case, excision of unwanted skin is required to tighten and flatten the breasts.
Crater deformity:
Sculpting a smooth, masculine contoured chest is best left to an expert. If too much fat is removed from underneath the nipple/areola complex, the tissue will sink inward. When this happens, a depression – or crater – will form mid-breast, looking noticeably misshapen. To create an even, blended contour to the chest, building up this area using a fat transfer, or similar procedure, will be required.
Asymmetry:
An experienced plastic surgeon will ensure that both breasts match in projection, and the nipples are symmetrical, following gynecomastia correction. Unfortunately, some men find that once their male breast reduction has healed, the breasts do not look the same. After six months, when all residual swelling has resolved, a reputable surgeon will be able to determine what is needed to bring symmetry to the chest.
The best way to avoid a gynecomastia revision procedure is to choose a board certified plastic surgeon with the extensive experience in male breast reductions. Dr. Paul Vitenas is one of the country’s leading male breast reduction providers, and has close to 30 years of experience. If you are considering gynecomastia correction, or are unhappy with the results from a previous gynecomastia procedure, contact Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery at 281.668.7370.