Enlarged tissue in the chest area is very common among teenage boys, but usually, swollen breasts go away within six months to two years. If you have been suffering from this condition, also called gynecomastia, for a long time or you have excess breast tissue because you’ve recently lost a lot of weight, you might benefit from male breast reduction surgery. At Plastic Surgery Specialists of South Florida in Hollywood, FL, we regularly perform this operation.
How Long Does It Take To Recover After a Male Breast Reduction?
When they first come to our clinic, many men are worried about the disruption to their lives the treatment causes. One of our most frequently asked questions is how long the recovery process takes. In general, you can expect to take around one week off work, although this depends on your job. Let’s have a closer look at the recovery, your expected results, and whether this surgery could be the right option for you.
What Is the Recovery Process Like?
The breast reduction treatment we offer is highly effective and provides you with permanent results. But because it is considered surgery, you will need to take some time off work to recover. If you have a job that doesn’t require much physical exertion, you might be able to return within a few days. However, anyone whose profession is physically taxing and involves heavy lifting will need to stay away for longer.
For the first one to two weeks after your surgery, you will need to wear a compression garment, which keeps your chest in the correct shape and facilitates healing. In most cases, you can resume lifting, stretching, and bending within three weeks, although it might take you up to six weeks to be fully back to normal. At your initial consultation, your doctor can let you know how much time you should book off work and give you a recovery timeline.
Expected Results
It can take up to half a year for you to see the full results of your surgery. These will include reduced tissue in your breasts and a more chiseled appearance. When you have this operation performed by a professional with a lot of experience, you can ask them to re-shape the tissue and tailor your results to your preferences.
While it does take a while for your body to adjust to the new shape, it’s important to note that this procedure is considered permanent in almost all cases. Once the tissue has been removed from your chest, it won’t return, and you don’t have to come back to the clinic for more treatment. Thus, you will benefit from the results of your breast reduction for the rest of your life.
Augmenting Your Results
The only reason why you would have to come back and repeat surgery is if you regain a lot of weight and the shape of your chest therefore changes again. Most people with gynecomastia were overweight in the past, and it is important that they maintain a healthy lifestyle after the operation. Only some of the fat cells are removed during surgery, and the others can make your breasts appear larger again if you don’t maintain your weight.
During your initial consultation, your doctor will speak to you about the lifestyle your currently lead and the weight you have lost. That way, they can evaluate whether you are likely to be able to maintain your weight after the treatment. If this could be hard for you, your doctor might suggest some lifestyle changes, such as a healthier diet or increased exercise levels, before getting started.
Who Should Get Their Breasts Reduced?
Breast reduction can help reshape the chest area and remove excess tissues, but it isn’t the perfect option for everyone. In fact, it isn’t meant as a weight loss measure, and anyone who is approved for this treatment will need to be close to their target weight already. What’s more, patients have to be in good general health, since this is a surgical intervention.
Your safety is our priority, so we will do a thorough screening before allowing you to participate. We will make sure you don’t have underlying health conditions, such as cancer or a circulatory disease, which could cause a problem during surgery. What’s more, we will take any other treatments you have undergone and your goals into consideration.
Men Who Have Tried Other Weight Loss Methods
As discussed, this procedure isn’t designed as a weight loss measure, and it is only appropriate for men who have already worked hard to achieve their ideal body shape. If you’re just starting out on your weight loss journey, your doctor will ask you to give diet and exercise a go before opting for surgery. This is because losing the excess weight sometimes resolves the problem, so an operation can be avoided.
If you have achieved a weight you are happy with and your breasts are still enlarged, you are likely to be the ideal candidate for breast reduction surgery. You should book in for a consultation with your local specialist to find out more about the treatment.
Men Suffering from Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia is a condition that mainly presents itself in men who are overweight, but it can also be caused by genetic factors. Men who suffer from this issue have a hormonal imbalance, namely an increase in the hormone estrogen, which causes the breast tissue to grow. No matter how much exercise they do and how well they eat, the tissue in the breasts won’t melt away on its own.
Your surgeon can diagnose you with gynecomastia when you come to the clinic. The best candidates for male breast reduction are usually men who have suffered from this condition for a long time and who have already tried to resolve the problem with other treatments.
Men Who Have Cosmetic or Physical Concerns
During your consultation, we will speak to you about your problem and find out how it affects your day-to-day life. In some cases, the concern is mainly cosmetic, but some men experience physical pain as a result of their gynecomastia. In either case, we are happy to help you if you are suffering because of the condition.
What Is the Operation Like?
The length of your surgery depends on how much tissue needs to be removed, but it is generally around 1.5 hours. Your surgeon will make an incision around the nipple and remove the excess fat with a scalpel or with the help of liposuction. If you have sagging skin because you’ve recently lost a lot of weight, this can be removed, as well.
After their surgery, most men will need to stay in hospital for observation overnight. They will be able to leave the day after and spend the rest of their recovery time at home.
How Can You Prepare?
Your surgeon will speak to you about how to optimally prepare your body for the procedure. The most important direction will be to stop taking blood-thinning medications such as NSAIDs around a week before the surgery. However, you can also make several lifestyle changes that will facilitate healing. For instance, most doctors advise you to stop smoking and drinking alcohol, since these substances can be harmful to your recovery.
We will speak to you about how to prepare for the recovery time. Many patients benefit from having someone else at their house who can take care of them and complete strenuous household tasks such as lifting things and cleaning. Some people also like to meal prep or arrange for delivery in the first days, since they might not feel like cooking after surgery.
Get Rid of Excess Breast Tissue Now
Gynecomastia is a condition that causes extra breast tissue to form. It mainly affects men who are overweight, but there is a genetic component, as well. If you suffer from enlarged breasts and would like to have them removed, you can opt for male breast reduction surgery. This procedure can effectively decrease the size of your chest and allow you to enjoy that chiseled look you have been dreaming of.
Fortunately, the recovery time after breast reduction isn’t very long. Most men can return to work within a few days or a week, and they can resume strenuous exercise and heavy lifting in approximately 21 days. The results are permanent, so patients don’t need to return to the clinic for repeat surgery. Contact us at Plastic Surgery Specialists of South Florida in Hollywood, FL to find out whether you could be the perfect candidate for this treatment.
