Types of Gynaecomastia

GENERALISED BREAST FULLNESS:

This may be associated with a gain in weight. The breast in this case is predominantly fatty.

PUFFY NIPPLES:

This can occur in chests with little fat or glandular tissue. In these cases the nipples “puff up” more in the warmer months and are particularly problematic when wearing tight clothes.

A POINTY BREAST:

This indicates breast tissue underneath the areolar. There may be a lesser amount of fat in the surrounding tissue.

EXCESS SKIN:

In some cases the gynaecomastia has an excess skin component. In this situation more extensive surgery is required to address the excess skin. This can be performed with an incision around the areolar or an incision in keeping with a breast reduction type procedure. (horizontal or inverted T incision). In most cases gynaecomastia surgery focuses on removing dense glandular tissue by excision and liposuction to surrounding fatty tissue to re-contour the area.

SURGERY:

Surgery is performed under general anaesthesia. It is often performed as a day case. An incision is made underneath the areolar (between 4 and 8 o’clock on the areolar). The surgery for both gland excision and liposuction can be performed through this access point.

If patients are discharged the same day they have a review scheduled in our rooms the next day.

 

Post operatively, patients are instructed to wear a garment for 6 weeks. The garment is to worn as much as possible for the first 2 weeks, “half time” (either night or day) for the next 2 weeks and then if puffy for the last 2 weeks of the 6 week period.

Most patients resume normal work within one week.

Gynaecomastia surgery carries a very high rate of satisfaction. Surgery involves minimal downtime and is not associated with much post-operative pain.