How much glandular tissue SHOULD someone have after surgery?

[iginla23]

i had an excision operation only, can still feel some gland but not much. How much tissue should remain? like the size of a penny?

[9Wolf]

Hmm... well if they're going to remove your glands, I'm assuming they would take it all out. If you're feeling something right under your nipple, could it just be the scar tissue?

It's difficult to answer your question without more details on your individual case...

[DrBermant]

i had an excision operation only, can still feel some gland but not much. How much tissue should remain? like the size of a penny?

Early healing tissues and scars can be firm and feel like gland.  However, remaining gland also can be firm.

Each surgeon has his / her own techniques.  Some prefer to leave a "button" of gland behind the areola to "minimize crater formation."  I prefer to target the gland first with my Dynamic Technique. This permits me to remove most of the gland and then sculpt the remaining tissue to minimize contour problems.  Removing the gland just under the areola skin muscle is a great way to minimize a Puffy Nipple Deformity and maximize areola shrinkage to a more reasonable size.

Any surgery technique, even radical breast mastectomy for male breast cancer can leave gland behind.  The problem is that there are fine fingers of gland that dissect between fingers of fat and can extend quite far into the chest.

You can see what I mean by fingers of gland here.

By concentrating on the gland first I am also able to minimize the chance of breast regrowth.  It is very rare for my patients to have recurrence.  With my techniques and red flag before surgery evaluation system, I have only a few patients over the many years I have been doing surgery that I know have regrown.  However, gynecomastia surgery does not stop breast regrowth.  For patients having breast growth, I have advised for many years that they should get their problem under control before surgery.  There are exceptions, such as young men with massive breasts that have not stopped growing.  That is why each case needs to be individually evaluated.  Such issues are better discussed during a consultation with your surgeon or someone who can advise you about your options.  We help patients explore such issues during consultations or preliminary remote discussions.

Hope this helps,

Michael Bermant, MD
Learn More About Gynecomastia and Chest Sculpture

[CodySockeye]

I always thought it was about the size of a pea, but dont listen to me... listen to bermant!!! he knows his sh*t!