Anchor scar?

[notmyname]

Hi all,

I'm 28 years old, 5'8 and weigh 185 pounds. I have severe gyno. Type 5 I believe. I have lived with it all my life (without letting it impact my social or sex life) but I am tired of feeling embarrassed to take my shirt off at the beach.

I met with a plastic surgeon today who is board certified and seemed to care, and gave me by far the best rate of anyone I've spoken to. He however admitted he does not often do severe gyno procedures such as mine.

He suggested that an anchor lift be done after the fat and gland removal to tighten my chest and not leave any breast/skin sag and so that my nipples are repositioned more naturally. However, the scarring that can come from this seems pretty significant. There would be a circle around my entire nipple, one line running vertically to the bottom of my breast, and a horizontal line running sideways at the end of the vertical line.

Has anyone had this type of procedure done? Is it necessary no matter how severe the gyno? I do not want sagging breasts, but I do not want to live with scars.

Any advice would be appreciated..

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

The anchor scar is a classic means of doing breast reduction on a woman.  It is used to reduce the breast but not totally eliminate it -- merely to give a woman a smaller, more comfortable breast with a better shape and with nipples positioned appropriately.  In my opinion, the anticipated scars and this particular method is not appropriate for a man.

Men want a flat, contoured chest with reasonably tight skin and nipples positioned appropriately on the chest.  In cases such as you described, there is no alternative to removing skin, which will leave scars -- larger scars than the standard minimal scar technique that most gyne surgeons use.

If you go to the before and after photo gallery on my gyne site (see URL below), check out case #17 under adolescent patients, case #2 under body builders, etc.

I would strongly advise you to discuss these issues with the surgeon and if necessary, secure a second opinion from another experienced gyne surgeon.  It may be worthwhile to travel for another opinion.

Good luck!

Dr Jacobs