Why is liposuction used in combination with excision surgery?

[shiftr]

The subject is pretty much self explanatory. Is lipo necessary in surgery? Or is excision normally enough, and only in some cases fat is taken out? Could losing weight through exercising post-op have the same effect as having lipo during the surgery?

Thanks.

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

Liposuction is one of the mainstays of gyne surgery.  It is used to remove excess tissue (fat and/or gland) of the chest in areas away from the nipple.  It also smooths (surgeons call it "feathering") the edges of the operated upon area into the normal and undisturbed areas of the chest.  This is what provides a smooth contoured chest.

If only excision is done, there is a good chance of cratering.

Dr Jacobs

[shiftr]

Thanks for answering Dr. Jacobs.

Now with cratering, say if it occurred, would one be able to build up their chest muscles so it isn't visible any more. Or is going under the knife again the only viable option?

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

Minimal cratering may improve with time -- more extensive cratering will NOT spontaneously improve.  And no amount of diet, exercise, muscle building, etc, will affect it or improve it.  The only treatment would be additional surgery (ie probably lipo, which perhaps should have been done in the first place).

Dr Jacobs

[DrBermant]

Now with cratering, say if it occurred, would one be able to build up their chest muscles so it isn't visible any more. Or is going under the knife again the only viable option?

Posting Standard After Gynecomastia Surgery pictures or Male Chest Movies can help others better understand your concerns.  Flexing views, arms up over the head,  and the video really demonstrate deformity such as craters.

Building muscles will not help with a Crater Deformity Defect After Gynecomastia. Losing body fat can decrease the size of the fat walls of some crater deformities.  Although some tissue evolution occurs with healing, prevention is the best way to have such a deformity.  When there are adequate nearby resources, I prefer my Fat Flap Contouring to bring soft living fat into the defect.

Hope this helps,

Michael Bermant, MD
Learn More About Revision Gynecomastia and Chest Surgery