Patients who are considering undergoing gynecomastia surgery always ask can gynecomastia come back after surgery. Yes, gynecomastia can come back after surgery. However, that happens to only a few men. Most men do not get gynecomastia after surgery.
Factors such as hormonal imbalances, weight gain, age, and certain medications can contribute to the recurrence of gynecomastia.
You can reduce the risk of recurrence by maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding certain medications, engaging in regular exercise, and monitoring hormone levels. Preventative measures can help decrease the chances of gynecomastia returning after surgery.
Read on to discover what happens after gynecomastia surgery and how you can minimize the chances of gynecomastia coming back.
What is Gynecomastia Surgery
Gynecomastia surgery is a procedure used to remove excess breast tissue in men who have developed gynecomastia. The surgery involves removing excess fat and glandular tissue from the breast area to create a flatter, more masculine chest appearance.
Gynecomastia surgery can be performed using various techniques, including liposuction, excision, and a combination of both. The type of gynecomastia surgery will depend on the extent of the gynecomastia and the individual’s unique anatomy.
The goal of gynecomastia surgery is to create a natural-looking chest that is proportional to the rest of the body. The surgeon performs it under general anesthesia, and it can take one to two hours to complete.
After surgery, you can expect some discomfort and swelling, which should subside within a few days. It may take several weeks for the full results of the surgery to become apparent. Most patients are able to return to work and normal activities within one to two weeks.
Possible side effects of Gynecomastia Surgery
Generally, gynecomastia surgery is a safe and effective way to restore a more masculine chest appearance for men with enlarged breasts. However, as with any surgery, there are potential risks and complications.
Therefore, it is important for individuals to carefully consider their options and discuss their concerns with a qualified plastic surgeon.
Some common side effects of gynecomastia surgery include:
- Pain and swelling: Most patients experience some discomfort and swelling in the breast area after surgery. This should subside within a few days but can persist for several weeks in some cases. You can manage the pain medication prescribed by the surgeon.
- Bruising: Bruising is a common side effect of gynecomastia surgery, and it may take several weeks for the bruises to disappear fully.
- Scarring: Gynecomastia surgery can result in scarring. That is usually minimal, and you can hide it with clothing. The scars may be more noticeable, particularly if the incisions are large. Scarring is rare when the surgeon uses incisions to extract the excess tissue.
- Changes in sensation: Some patients may experience changes in sensation in the breast area after surgery. This is usually temporary and should resolve within a few weeks.
- Asymmetry: Gynecomastia surgery may result in slight asymmetry between the two breasts. That often happens if you undergo surgery on one breast only. Most surgeons will operate on the right and left breasts to prevent asymmetry.
These side effects can vary depending on the extent of the gynecomastia, the surgical method used, and the individual’s anatomy.
Can Gynecomastia Come Back After Surgery
Yes, gynecomastia can come back after surgery. That can happen if you do not take care to address the underlying causes. The common reasons that can contribute to the recurrence of gynecomastia include:
Hormonal imbalances: Hormonal imbalances can cause the growth of breast tissue. Therefore, if you do not address the hormonal imbalance, it can cause gynecomastia to reoccur back after surgery.
Weight gain: Significant weight gain can cause the fat in the breast area to increase. That can lead to the recurrence of gynecomastia.
Your Age: As men age, hormonal changes can occur, and that can lead to age-related hormonal imbalance. For some men, that leads to the growth of excess breast tissue, even after surgery.
Medications: If you take certain medications, such as steroids and some antidepressants, they can cause hormonal imbalance. That could contribute to the development of gynecomastia or reoccurrence if you underwent pecs surgery.
The possibility of gynecomastia returning after surgery
While the recurrence of gynecomastia is possible, it is relatively uncommon. You can achieve long-term results with gynecomastia surgery. Nevertheless, it is important you be mindful of your overall health and lifestyle choices to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
You can do that by maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding certain medications, and monitoring your hormonal levels. If the condition does return, you may need to undergo additional surgery to achieve the desired results.
Most people who are under gynecomastia do not need to go for a second surgery. And a majority of men with gynecomastia look forward to having their surgery and are not worried about a reoccurrence.
How to Prevent Recurrence of Gynecomastia
Monitor Hormonal Levels
You can prevent gynecomastia from coming back by working to keep your hormonal levels normal. Ask your doctor to monitor your hormonal levels periodically.
For instance, you can go for a checkup every two months. Alternatively, you can closely observe your chest for signs of tissue growth.
Lose weight and Eat a Healthy Diet
If your gynecomastia came about because of weight gain, watching your weight can prevent it from coming back. You can enroll in a weight loss program, which can help you to create and eat a healthy weight loss diet.
Exercise Regularly
You can also engage in regular exercises, which can help you lose some extra fat. However, your diet should help you lower your weight over the long term. Gynecomastia that comes from weight gain is common among older men and is harder to get rid of without surgery.
Avoid Recreational Drugs
Most skinny young men often get gynecomastia because of taking workout or recreational drugs. Often the drugs are for recreational purposes or for enhancing muscle gain. You can avoid such medications if you want to prevent gynecomastia from coming back.
Such drugs include alcohol, marijuana, steroids, and medications for treating heart and kidney conditions. You can talk to your doctor about alternative medications if you need to take your drugs for health reasons.
Gynecomastia after Surgery
Can gynecomastia come back after surgery? Well, that will depend on how you go about your life. It is possible to stop gynecomastia from coming back. You just have to manage the underlying cause, just as any other person who is worried about getting gynecomastia.
The good news is if you monitor your hormonal levels and keep them balanced, the gynecomastia cannot come back.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28280898
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5109391/
https://med.stanford.edu/cosmeticsurgery/aestheticservices/Breast/gynecomastia.html
