Just seen a UK NHS surgeon, and this is what he said to me

[worriedgynopatient]

Hi guys,

I'm new to this website, but I've read through alot of the posts over the years. Just to introduce myself,I'm 21 and have suffered from gynecomastia since the age of 13. To cut a long story short - it's ruined my teenage life. I'm of a slim build and they're very prominent.

I went to see my GP about it back in Jan this year. He recognsied it as gyno straight away and (eventually)referred to me to see a surgeon.

I went to see a general surgeon 2 weeks ago. He asked me all the standard questions etc, and said pretty much the same thing as the GP. He did say it was a ''mild form'' though, and that surgery has all these risks and blah blah... basically trying to deter me. I was adamant though, as even though I don't exactly have massive breasts, I have pronouced glandular tissue under my nipples, with fat as well and it ''hangs'' from my chest. I've had friends grab them, people laugh at them and I've never been able to wear a tshirt in public/go to the beach/swimming pool.

So the general surgeon referred me to a breast surgeon who I saw today. I had an ultrasound scan and it was confirmed I had small amounts of glandular tissue under both nipples. There was fat there too.

He again tried to deter me from it. He said that you're type of skin is prone to getting keloid scars, and that surgery will risk scarring. I said I didn't care, as long as these damn breasts are removed from me. Then he said he could do liposuction. I told him that would hardly help as its GLANDULAR TISSUE, the fat is pretty minimal !!

After a while, he finally said okay, he'll now refer me to a plastic surgeon. And that when I speak to him, I should go in with an ''open mind and not rule out just liposuction''.

Have I done the right thing people? Am I being silly for really pushing gland removal as well as the lipo? Should I just say fine, do the lipo?

I am a student and there is no way I can fork out £4000 grand to go private. This is my only option without question!

Sorry for the rant, but I feel pretty alone about this, I can't talk to my rents/friends about this as its such a sensitive issue. I hope you understand   

[captain chesty]

You've been doing the right thing mate - we all know the only solution to the gland is for it to be cut out, lipo alone cant do that so your right to push for the excision.

I think the important thing is to be clear on the surgical technique that will be used for the excision. Bear in mind, if its not a small excision at the areolar you could be left with unnecessary scarring.

good luck with it and hopefully you will be happy with the outcome

 


 

[worriedgynopatient]

Thanks a lot mate, glad to hear I have support

Should be seeing the PS in 2 weeks in London, so I'll update you on what happens. I'll be interrogating them on technique etc as well for sure. I'm actually a 4th year medical student and it shocked me how little they seemed to care about the gyno/how much they tried to belittle the effect it's had on my life etc... I know I won't be like that if I stay with the NHS once I'm done!

Anyways, thanks for your help mate

[captain chesty]

Yeah, from reading these boards my impression is that most people get fobbed off when they approach there GP about gyno. I think most doctors consider it as benign in the physiological sense and probably, as you say, not enough weighting is given to the psychological aspect.   

Have you encountered gyno as a subject in your medical studies? I think part of the problem is that in clinical training gyno is rarely looked at as a disease on its own merit but more as a side effect of more significant disease, and therefore never becomes a focus of study. Thats despite the fact its usually idiopathic and comes with its own problems.

If anything your referral is probably quite lucky - although you did say yours is quite prominent.

Anyway m8, if theres a positive it's that you'll be a better doc for being able to empathise with your gyno patients 

I will look out for your news of the outcome of the consultation, cheers.