Risks.....

[broman]

What are the risks of the surgery, like gangrene and infection? I know they are risks but are they common and why do some people get them?

[headheldhigh01]

not enough to really worry about, and certainly no more than for any other kind of operation.  if you're seriously worried, you could look into the history of your particular physician. 

to be rid of gyne, small risks are a small price. 

[Paa_Paw]

Typing a list of all the possible risks of surgery could consume hours. (I'm not a fast typist.)

The long and short of the whole matter is that all those horrible things happen very rarely.

Worry is a grand waste of time. The things which I worried over the most never happened.

The most dangerous thing we do every day is wake up! Failing to wake up is fatal though.

[Miguel Delgado]

For a personal evaluation you are invited to visit Dr. Miguel Delgado’s new website www.gynecomastiaspecialist.com
After viewing his extensive website, if you are interested in a phone consultation, you may email photos along with your phone number to the email address listed on his website. He will then contact you to discuss your concerns and options. If you are interested, you will be given a quote specific to your case. There is no charge for this service.
 
Thank you for your interest,
Janice Nunez
Email Communication Coordinator
Office of Miguel A. Delgado, Jr., M.D.
415-898-4161
www.gynecomastiaspecialist.com

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

What are the risks of the surgery, like gangrene and infection?

When gyne surgery is performed on a healthy person (young or older), the risks are minimal.  Certainly bleeding and infection are possibilities -- but both are quite uncommon.  If bleeding occurs during surgery, any surgeon will stop it before he completes the operation.  Certainly he will not send you out of surgery while you are still continuing to bleed.  A late bleed (a day or two later) is possible -- but very rare.

As for infection, this is a clean and fast operation -- infections are extraordinarily rare.  Many surgeons, including myself, will cover the patient with antibiotics at the time of surgery -- to make absolutely sure that this doesn't happen.  Can it occur?  Yes, but very rare.

Most other potential complications, such as with anesthesia, etc, are rare as well.

And gangrene?  Fuggedaboutit!!!

Dr Jacobs

[Wayne1985]

Dr. Jacobs, you are the man.

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the crater deformity.  This has always been my biggest concern.  I'd rather have the mild case that I have now than have the crater deformity.

[freefromG]

Yep not just the crater under the nipple either. 7 weeks and i have a scoop of fat that must have been removed somehow with the gland (still think there is some in there as well) that goes from my nipple in a 45 degree angle towards the centre of my chest. When relaxed it isnt really noticable but when flexed a divit occurs. I did not have a bad case before but im pissed that one pec is smaller than the other with a shirt (and my pecs stick out quite a bit).
I think a fat graft or dermil filler is in order, or a visit to one of the top guns (although my doc had good pics and credentials, damn will this ever end). I should post some pics

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

Yes, for sure, a crater deformity is a "risk" -- but presumably controllable by the surgeon.  I was talking about potential risks such as bleeding and infection which, to a certain extent, cannot be controlled by a surgeon.

I would place a crater deformity or other contour irregularity as a potential complication.  However, in my practice, I do not leave the operating room if it doesn't look as good as I can get it.  In gyne surgery, if it doesn't look good initially on the OR table, it will not get spontaneously better over time.

Dr Jacobs

[freefromG]

what about dermal fillers or fat grafts after less caring or experienced doctors? i have heard they don't look so good in animation but i would be happy for it to just even look more normal... Thanks Dr Jacobs.

[DrBermant]

What are the risks of the surgery, like gangrene and infection? I know they are risks but are they common and why do some people get them?

You can find an introduction to the Risks of Gynecomastia Surgery here. Even the best surgeons can experience complications.

There are real risks of any surgery, just like driving a car. They can happen. The issue is to work hard to lower the risk for such issues. Beware a used car salesman who tells the buyer "no risks here," referring to the dilapidated clunker with the oil stains under it and wire and tape holding it together. I have evaluated devastating complications from incompetent doctors who reportedly told the patient that this surgery has few to little risk. One such disaster was someone who had stomach liposuction with the gynecomastia with multiple penetrations of his intestines by the hack who did not even recognize the disaster. Subsequent total body infection and blood loss destroyed the kidneys leaving the patient needing dialysis.  I have seen scars from major skin loss after lost blood supply from such doctors who never had training in this surgery. The hospital notes talking about wet dead tissues that needed to be removed probably meant there was gangrene. 

Good doctors go through an extensive discussion of risks, benefits, and alternate methods of care with their patients.  This is an extended discussion for my patients.  Way too much detail to post here.  Careful doctors work hard to help their patients minimize the risks as part of good surgical technique and through detailed patient education.

The first step in minimizing such risks is picking an experienced doctor who deals with this sculpture on a regular basis. I posted how to pick a gynecomastia surgeon here:

http://www.gynecomastia.org/smf/index.php?topic=16474.0

Hope this helps,

Michael Bermant, MD
Learn More About Gynecomastia and Male Breast Reduction

[fluffy_tits]

I had a crater after surgery but mine went away as my skin tightened up.  And It still has alot of tightning up to do.  but it looks waaay better than before.  I had big crater where my nipples are and lower chest also but it tightened cause if it didn't tighten my doctor said he could always take some fat out of my stomache and fill it in but im glad it did cause i don't want fat back in my damn chest haha.