Are Gynecomastia Surgery Scars Noticeable?

In most cases, gynecomastia surgery scars are small enough that they are very difficult to see once they’ve healed.

An essential part of having as few scars as possible is ensuring you choose the right surgeon and the right surgical treatment for your particular situation. A typical gynecomastia patient may present with excess fat only, in which case they’d only need liposuction incisions as opposed to the more substantial excisions necessary for breast tissue removal and removing excess skin.

Let’s dive a bit deeper into what you can expect from gynecomastia scars after surgery.

Does Gynecomastia Surgery Leave Scars?

Yes, any gynecomastia surgery technique is going to result in scars.

A scar is essentially your body’s natural reaction to lost or damaged skin and tissue. So, if you get a cut, an incision, or a scrape, your body is going to send collagen to that area to reconstruct the lost tissue and skin.

Excess Fat Removal Only

Some patients will only require fat removal to get rid of their gynecomastia.

In this case, liposuction is the cosmetic surgery that can help with this issue. Liposuction scars will be small and the procedure requires extremely small incisions that are made nearby the treatment area. These incisions really only need to be large enough for a thin cannula to fit through them.

Usually, it takes just one or two incisions to remove the extra fat in the breast. After that, each small incision will be carefully closed so that they heal quite flat and eventually fade with time.

Removing Excess Skin and Excess Breast Tissue

Other times, patients who are seeking a gynecomastia surgical procedure come to us with actual glandular tissue that needs to be removed. This can sometimes present as a hard disk that sits directly beneath the nipple.

There’s no way to remove glandular breast tissue without male breast reduction surgery.

Fortunately, the procedure typically only necessitates a small incision on each breast, which can usually be made on the outer edge of the areola. This is ideal because over time, as that incision heals, it’s going to blend in nicely with the change in pigment.

In some cases, when more breast tissue needs to be removed or when excess skin needs to be removed as well, an additional incision will be made in the breast fold located at the bottom of the breast.

This incision, too, should heal well. It should fade over time and flatten out. Furthermore, a lot of men have a slight shadow there. This can help conceal the scar, and chest hair can help to camouflage the area also.

Will Scars From Gynecomastia Surgery Go Away?

You can never fully get rid of a scar of any kind. So, in a way, you’ll always have your gynecomastia scars.

The good news is they’re going to fade. Just naturally, scars fade and become flatter and more blurred with the surrounding skin. As stated above, things like the slight shadow beneath the male breast and chest hair can also help to conceal your scars.

If you had incisions placed on the edges of the areolae, the fact that the pigment changes here from the areola to your normal chest skin will also help to conceal your incision sites. In these ways, mild surgery scars should become almost invisible as the years progress.

Tips for Reducing Scar Appearance After Gynecomastia Surgery

Proper post surgery scar management can help to insure that your gynecomastia surgery scar heals and fades well, follow these rules:

1. Stay out of the sun.

Sunlight can cause scars to be more noticeable, so use sun protection when you’re outdoors.

2. Apply scar cream.

Certain scar creams made of silicone (or silicone sheets for scars) can help scars fade faster and blend more evenly with surrounding skin.

3. Don’t agitate your scars as they heal.

Rushing into exercise following surgery, stretching or straining your incision sites, or otherwise disregarding your gynecomastia surgery recovery instructions could lead to visible scarring down the line.

4. Use lymphatic massage.

Regular massage after your incisions have closed can reduce the production of scar tissue, which might otherwise appear as lumpy and bumpy beneath the skin.

FAQ: Gynecomastia Scars

What does scar tissue look like after gynecomastia surgery?

The scar itself should be flat and relatively smooth once healed. This should only improve with time.

If you notice hardening of the underlying scar tissue after around a month or longer, talk to your surgeon about techniques you can use to break up this scar tissue and avoid lumpiness.

Prior to surgery you could review gynecomastia before and after photos to get an idea of how previous patients healed.

What happens to nipples after gynecomastia surgery?

This depends on the scope of your procedure. For some men, the nipples will be reduced in size following surgery because the puffiness will be gone. For others, they’ll have improved nipple definition.

Some patients may experience some mild sensation loss (numbness) in the nipples following surgery as well. This usually regulates on its own.

How much does gynecomastia cost?

The cost of gynecomastia surgery can vary depending on several factors.  However, it’s important to remember that each patient’s case is unique, and the final price may vary based on individual circumstances.

Make Arrangements for Your Consultation Appointment

Is enlarged breast tissue causing you embarrassment and discomfort? Plastic surgery is often the only solution.

Gynecomastia surgery can effectively remove excess fat, skin, and breast tissue with great results and minimal scarring. Dr. Smita Ramanadham is a board certified plastic surgeon who can help you achieve long-lasting results with gynecomastia surgery. Call today to book your appointment.

References

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/scar-treatment-101-what-are-the-first-steps