worried about crater deformity

[bigmike82]

hi guys im new to the boards and im scheduled to have surgery on june 30, 2010. im going to a general surgeon since my insurance would cover it. i told him i was worried about the gland removal and my nipple caving in or looking deformed. he said it was a possibility but he was gonna try his hardest not to let that happen.  now im pretty low bodyfat anyway, proly around 10% or 11%. the lump isnt noticable when relaxed or flexed and no one can notice it so im thinking there wont be that much of a difference when its out. im wondering how many people here went to a general surgeon and had problems with crater deformity. any help or input is appreciated since im getting scared that my chest will look worse after the surgery as opposed to when i had it. thank-you

[bigmike82]

i was also wondering if for my pre-op testing if i should take any supplements the night before and i proly shouldnt take any in the a.m. when i workout before the testing. the pre-workout i take raises my blood pressure. they also said to bring any supplement im taking

[Gynosaur]

I've seen quite a few posts on here by people who went to general surgeons and were very unhappy with the results.  Your whole purpose in getting the surgery is to look better and feel better about yourself.

Which circumstance would you rather be in:
-take your shirt off in front of a few people and have puffy nipples that most people don't notice or care about
-take your shirt off in front of people and have obvious scars and/or cratering

I'd take the first choice any day.  A general surgeon simply will not have the same skills as a plastic surgeon in giving you a good and natural-looking outcome. 

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

You are far, far better off going to a gyne specialist.  Not to disparage the general surgeons, but they simply do not do the volume that plastic surgeons do for this particular operation.  Maybe you found THE general surgeon who has done lots of gyne surgery -- then ask to see some of his before and after photos.

It is better to research your surgeon carefully -- ahead of time -- than to deal with a possible need for revision surgery.

Dr Jacobs

[DrBermant]

hi guys im new to the boards and im scheduled to have surgery on june 30, 2010. im going to a general surgeon since my insurance would cover it. i told him i was worried about the gland removal and my nipple caving in or looking deformed. he said it was a possibility but he was gonna try his hardest not to let that happen.  now im pretty low bodyfat anyway, proly around 10% or 11%. the lump isnt noticable when relaxed or flexed and no one can notice it so im thinking there wont be that much of a difference when its out. im wondering how many people here went to a general surgeon and had problems with crater deformity. any help or input is appreciated since im getting scared that my chest will look worse after the surgery as opposed to when i had it. thank-you

Check out this recent thread on this forum:

http://www.gynecomastia.org/smf/index.php?topic=20487.msg139736

I have posted how to pick your gynecomastia surgeon here:

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

Gynecomastia surgery is an art form. Puffy Nipple Gynecomastia in particular demands a refined touch. Not all doctors have the same skills. A surgeon should be able to show many before and after pictures / movies of their surgical sculpture. Unfortunately I have seen many Crater Deformities from Bad Gynecomastia Surgery by doctors who probably should not have been performing this operation.  Revision surgery tends to be more complex, difficult, and costly. Then there is the time for a second recovery.

Hope this helps,

Michael Bermant, MD
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