Does it really always take 6 months or more for final results?

[cube]

I have had two surgeries so far, the first one the doc did nothing other than scar up my chest. The second one I'm sure the doc took out the gyno cause I saw it on the table and because I awake. So I know the gyno is gone, but the right side still protrudes like I have gyno it's only been 3 months. Is it always the case you have to wait a year?

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

You cannot speed up Mother Nature.  It takes a minimum of six months (and sometimes longer) to see the final results of any operation.  At that time, you can assess the situation.  Your first stop should be to return to your surgeon for a discussion.  If you are not satisfied, then you can consider traveling to another surgeon for possible revision surgery.  You may want to read some comments I have posted about revision surgery on this site:  http://www.gynecomastia.org/smf/index.php?topic=20066.0

I have done many revision operations on patients from other surgeons.  If you wish to explore this possibility, then contact my office in New York City at 212 570 6080.

Dr Jacobs

[DrBermant]

I have had two surgeries so far, the first one the doc did nothing other than scar up my chest. The second one I'm sure the doc took out the gyno cause I saw it on the table and because I awake. So I know the gyno is gone, but the right side still protrudes like I have gyno it's only been 3 months. Is it always the case you have to wait a year?

Three months can be very early after surgery with some techniques.

Posting Standard After Gynecomastia Pictures can help other better understand your concerns. Using Standard Videos to Show the Male Chest Contour Issues is even more revealing, but difficult to create.

Although gland was removed, the question is the remaining contour issue residual gland, swelling, or scar?

Early after surgery swelling can mask residual deformity.  How Tissues Evolve After Gynecomastia Surgery depend on many factors. Firm tissues after surgery can be residual gland, but also can just be healing tissues or scars.  Different surgical techniques injure tissues to different degrees.  The body typically needs to heal before considering revision surgery. Rushing into secondary surgery can be a mistake unless there are complications that need to be addressed or the next surgery is component of a staged procedure.  Time to tissues softening can vary depending on the original problem, what was done, after surgery care,
Scar Care, After Surgery Compression Garments, and many other factors. Options depend on the problem to be treated. Time can range from 6 months to a year but can vary depending on many issues best explored with your doctor.

I see many patients who complain of residual Puffy Nipple Gynecomastia after another doctor's surgery.  There are many possible problems causing such a deformity.  The most common is remaining gland behind the areola as seen in these Anatomy of Puffy Nipple Drawings.  Check out the images with the link for remaining gland after surgery to see what I mean. 

Liposuction is great for fat, but does not do well for gland at all.  As shown in the anatomy link, there are usually fingers of gland between fingers of fat.  Liposuction no matter what technique (sharp cutting cannula, sharp cutting cannula, ultrasonic, laser, or "smart") targets the fat first.  Remove the fat and the gland remains behind condensing the fingers making a firm mass.  Even if the doctor achieves a flatter chest, that firm mass does not look like fat, move like fat, or compress like fat.  It just does not move well or look good (especially on animation).  That is why few doctors will show results with chest muscles tightened or arms up over the head or movies showing the tissues in motion.

Hope this helps,

Michael Bermant, MD
Learn More About Revision Gynecomastia Chest Surgery