Unhappy with Gynecomastia Surgery Results?

Guys with man boobs often feel that there could be few things worse in life than having actual breasts.  One of them might be choosing male breast reduction surgery, only to find the results disappointing. If this has happened to you, chances are you find yourself looking in the mirror over and over and second-guessing yourself frequently. Why did this happen? How bad is it, really? Should you have decided against surgery and just tried to live with your moobs?

Men who are unhappy with the outcome of gynecomastia surgery at other practices and even in other states reach out to us for advice from time to time. Here are three courses of action we recommend:

Evaluate your results objectively. The first thing to ask yourself is whether you have allowed enough time for all swelling to subside and your new appearance to be final. Remember, this can take a few months. You should also be honest with yourself about following post-surgical recommendations. Have you worn your compression garment as directed? Have you avoided working out until getting the green light?

The other aspect of objective evaluation is to consider whether your expectations are in line with reality. If you are somewhat overweight and/or out of shape, you will not look like a sculpted bodybuilder after surgery. But getting rid of those moobs can perhaps get you back in the gym to start heading in that direction.

The next move you should make is to voice your concerns to your original plastic surgeon. Listen carefully to his or her input about your appearance. Do their views match your own? Can they suggest a plan to get closer to the results you were expecting, and does the plan make sense to you?

Finally, arrange at least one consultation with another plastic surgeon for a second opinion. This is especially important if the doctor who performed your procedure is not a true specialist in gynecomastia surgery. If your outcome calls for minimal fine-tuning – such as scar treatment – it may make sense to stick with your original plastic surgeon. But if you decide to have revision surgery, you will want to choose an expert in gynecomastia (this may require traveling). Revision surgery is more difficult than a first procedure, and getting a good outcome requires a high amount of skill and experience.

One other consideration to keep in mind: guys with enlarged breasts tend to scrutinize their appearance. They often check to see whether their moobs can be detected in the clothes they’re wearing, and they look at their bare chest frequently to see if there’s any change in their condition. This sort of vigilance is not just habit-forming; it causes anxiety as well. It may be that your results are not what they should be, but it’s also possible that you look pretty good and should try to relax.

If you would like us to weigh in on the possibility that revision gynecomastia surgery would be a good choice for you, please fill out our contact form. Few gynecomastia surgeons in the country have as much experience as we do, and we would be pleased to see if we can help you out.