Gynecomastia is the enlargement of the breasts in men. It can be unilateral or bilateral. It can cause psychological and social problems in patients. It usually appears during puberty and is permanent. The cause is often unknown. However, certain diseases and medications can cause gynecomastia. Gynecomastia may be characterized by enlargement of the breast gland tissue or the fatty tissue in the breast. If there is only excess fatty tissue, it can be treated with liposuction alone. However, if there is also excess breast gland tissue, additional interventions may be necessary. The need for such procedures may increase, especially in cases where there is excess skin.
During the consultation, your overall health will be assessed. You will be asked about your current illnesses, medications you are taking, previous surgeries, and any breast diseases in your family. A detailed examination will be performed. The volume of your breasts and the quality of your skin will be assessed. Before every gynecomastia surgery, screening for breast cancer and possible hormonal disorders is recommended. Before every cosmetic surgery, photographs are taken, and immediately before the surgery, drawings are made to plan the surgery.
If our surgery is performed using only the liposuction technique, you will have 1-2 scars measuring 0.5 cm. However, if the mammary glands also need to be removed, you will have a crescent-shaped scar on the edge of the brown part of the breast. If there is excessive skin sagging and excess skin needs to be removed, the resulting scar will be larger. We provide detailed information during your consultation.
The scar left by the surgery will be permanent. Although it will be more noticeable at first, it will fade within a year.
The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. It takes approximately 1-2 hours. For liposuction, 0.5 cm incisions are made near your breast tissue. Through these incisions, a fluid is first administered to ensure you do not feel any pain. Then, the fat is removed using suction. If this method is not sufficient, it may be necessary to remove breast tissue through a semicircular incision made just below your nipple.
We recommend staying in the hospital for one night after surgery. Pain is minimal to nonexistent in gynecomastia surgeries. We prescribe painkillers and antibiotics after discharge. We recommend resting for 7-10 days. You will also need to wear a special compression garment for 6 weeks.
Breasts are not expected to grow back after gynecomastia surgery. However, in rare cases or if significant weight is gained, fat accumulation may occur in the breast tissue, similar to other parts of the body, leading to an increase in breast volume.
If your breasts enlarge again due to weight gain, you may undergo gynecomastia surgery again.
Every surgery has risks. There may be early or late complications related to anesthesia or surgery.
In the early postoperative period, bleeding, infection, or wound dehiscence may occur. There may be slight asymmetry in breast size. Numbness may be felt in the nipple. These are usually temporary complaints. However, permanent loss of sensation may occur in rare cases. The risk increases, especially in smokers. During the healing period, depressions may rarely occur as the swelling subsides. Your scars may heal with some swelling.
You can see the results of the surgery immediately, but the swelling associated with the operation will take about 1 month to subside, and it will take 6-12 months for the breast to take its final shape.
The results of the surgery are permanent. New generation prostheses are suitable for lifelong use. However, a revision surgery may be necessary in later years to address sagging that may develop over time.
Every surgery has risks. There may be early or late complications related to anesthesia or surgery.
In the early postoperative period, bleeding, infection, or wound dehiscence may occur. Mild asymmetry in size and shape between the breasts may be present. Excessive sensitivity or numbness in the nipple may be observed. These are usually temporary complaints.
A complication specific to this surgery is capsular contracture. Any foreign object entering the body is surrounded by a capsule. Although the exact cause is unknown, in some cases this capsule can thicken and harden, causing deformity and even pain in the breast. In such cases, a second surgical procedure is required to remove this capsule.
Another potential risk associated with the capsule is the development of Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL). ALCL is not breast cancer, but rather a type of lymphoma. It does not originate directly from the breast implant. It can develop from the capsule that forms around any foreign object placed in the body. It is a very rare complication.
Gynecomastia surgery does not cause breast cancer. However, a cancerous mass in the breast may not be detected within enlarged breast tissue. Therefore, it is recommended that everyone undergo breast cancer screening appropriate for their age before any breast surgery.