Surgery?

[Wanted]

My endocrinologist says I have to be totally done with puberty before I get surgery (although I've had gyne for almost 3 years now) but I've seen online that many people my age get surgery.What do I do?

[xelnaga13]

I had surgery at age 14- it returned a year later. I have mixed feelings about my first surgery. I wonder whether or not it was worth it considering it came back. Ultimately I would do it again because it did give me a year free of gyno, and it limited to size my gyno would have gotten have I never had surgery.

The real question is how much its affecting you presently. If its interfering with your ability to lead a normal and happy life, then I say get the surgery.

I would suggest maintaining regular visits with your endo to ensure your blood work stays stable. 

[Wanted]

Ok well that post makes me 100 percent sure I want it but I still don't know what to do. Do I find a surgeon and set up some appointment or must I do it through my endo who won't let me get it yet?

[xelnaga13]

Ok well that post makes me 100 percent sure I want it but I still don't know what to do. Do I find a surgeon and set up some appointment or must I do it through my endo who won't let me get it yet?

Your endo is entitled to his opinion, and you're entitled to get surgery if you feel it's your best option. The next step is finding a good plastic surgeon and schedule a consultation.


The exception is if your endo thinks you have an underlying hormonal imbalance, other than normal puberty. If this is the case you need to address that first. Did your endo do blood work?>

[Wanted]

They did take my blood work and everything was fine and ordinary. Do you think the surgeon could think I'm too young? I guess that depends on the surgeon but in general do they care?

[xelnaga13]

They did take my blood work and everything was fine and ordinary. Do you think the surgeon could think I'm too young? I guess that depends on the surgeon but in general do they care?

Based on the surgeons Ive met and/or read about on forums like this most appreciate a young man's need to feel good about their appearance.

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

I have operated on several hundred adolescents, from age 12 - 18, and successfully rid them of their gyne.  To this date, not one young man has had a recurrence of his gyne.  I believe that performing gyne surgery on adolescents, as long as it has been stable for 2-3 years and there are no other signs of hormone irregularity, is a safe procedure. 

Unfortunately, there are many doctors who are stuck with the idea that one must be age 18 or significantly past puberty in order to be eligible for surgery.  And it is due to this medical "myth" that insurance companies frequently refuse to provide coverage for gyne surgery on a teen.

I cannot begin to tell you of the countless times I have been thanked for "giving their life back" to a young man.  This operation does succeed in removing a physical stigma which significantly affects the lives of many young men and it can help to avoid many of the embarrassments, ridicule, teasing, bullying, etc of teen life.

Dr Jacobs

[Wanted]

So I don't need a referral or anything?

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

It depends.

If you want to try to get the surgery covered by insurance, then you would probably have to go through the process of going to your primary care physician and then getting a referral to a plastic surgeon.  Be advised, it is extremely difficult to get insurance to cover -- they put a huge number of roadblocks in the way.

On the other hand, if you want to consult with a plastic surgeon directly, then find one (preferably someone who has demonstrated expertise in gyne surgery) and call for an appointment.

Dr Jacobs