Gynaecomastia

You may be a good candidate for surgery if you:

• Are in good health.

• Have maintained a stable weight.

• Have realistic expectations about the surgery.

• Do not smoke, or can temporarily stop smoking for the surgery.

In planning for your surgery:

• Consultation
  The consultation with Dr Law will begin with a conversation about your goals and expectations. Please feel free to be as detailed as possible, and bring any questions you may have. As part of the consultation, clinical photographs will be taken, and the procedure will be explained in detail - covering what it can and cannot achieve. Dr Law will also discuss the surgical process, possible risks, and complications. To ensure you feel fully informed and confident in your decision, a second consultation will be arranged before proceeding with surgery. This gives you the opportunity to ask additional questions.

• Smoking
  Please stop smoking as soon as you are able to, as smoking increases the risk of complications from surgery. If possible, please stop smoking at least six weeks before your surgery.

• You may be asked to get blood tests and other health checks to prepare for your surgery.

• You will be given instructions ahead of time regarding fasting and other practical information.

When you arrive to hospital on the day of surgery:

• You’ll meet with a nurse, who will assess your health.

• The anaesthetist will meet you and confirm your anaesthesia plan to make sure the procedure goes as smoothly and safely as possible.

• Dr Law will see you to confirm details of the procedure, take photographs, and draw markings on your skin to guide surgery.

Surgery is usually done under general anaesthetic (you’ll be asleep) in an accredited hospital.

There are different types of surgery depending on the type of tissue you have in your chest area.

• If you have fatty tissue in the chest: Sometimes this can be treated with liposuction, which removes fat through a small tube using very small cuts.

• If you have glandular (firm) tissue: This may need to be surgically removed. This may leave a small scar around the areola (the darker skin around the nipple).

• Some men need both liposuction and gland removal.

• If there’s a lot of tissue or skin, a bigger operation with longer scars may be needed.

• Scars vary by person (genetic factors) and area of the body. Most fade over time but won’t disappear completely.

• Liposuction scars are small and usually not obvious after 6–12 months. If you are undergoing liposuction only, the scars are usually not noticeable in the long term.

• Scars from excision surgery are more visible around the nipple area.

• Large operations can leave longer, permanent scars.

• Rarely, scars can become thick, raised, or itchy (especially in younger or darker-skinned patients).

• Dr Law will take care to hide and minimise scars where possible whilst still helping you achieve your desired outcome.

Dr Law will give you personalised instructions to follow after your surgery. Please also note that recovery can vary between individuals. But in general after gynaecomastia surgery:

• When you wake up from surgery, your chest will be covered with special tape and you’ll wear a tight-fitting compression garment to reduce swelling. Please keep the garment on day and night for about four weeks.

• You’ll have a follow-up appointment with Dr Law’s team after the surgery.

• Stitches are usually dissolvable, so they don’t need to be removed.

• Expect bruising and swelling in the chest area.

• Please note that final results take time to show.

• Avoid exercise and heavy activity for at least four weeks.

• In general, most people return to normal activities in six weeks after this surgery.