1 month Post Surgery Concerns with Pictures

[samkilty]

Thanks for reading. I had minor excision a month ago, and have a few concerns. First of all, the left side is bulging out with a hard mass under it, which i am almost positive is scar tissue. I just started massaging, and i hope it will go away within a month or 2 (or should i expect to wait longer?). My right nipple is flat, but the aerola edge on the scar is puffed way out past the acutal nipple/nub. Is this normal? Thanks a lot!

Straight on:  http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2lavwi1&s=7 
Right Nipple:  http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2hmpht5&s=7
Left Nipple Bulging (scar tissue?):  http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=xkwtxd&s=7

[DrBermant]

Thanks for reading. I had minor excision a month ago, and have a few concerns. First of all, the left side is bulging out with a hard mass under it, which i am almost positive is scar tissue. I just started massaging, and i hope it will go away within a month or 2 (or should i expect to wait longer?). My right nipple is flat, but the aerola edge on the scar is puffed way out past the acutal nipple/nub. Is this normal? Thanks a lot!

Straight on:  http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2lavwi1&s=7 
Right Nipple:  http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2hmpht5&s=7
Left Nipple Bulging (scar tissue?):  http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=xkwtxd&s=7

No, for my chest sculpture, not it is not normal to have such contour problems.

The Puffy Nipple Complication After Gynecomastia Surgery is best prevented in the operating room than hoping it may resolve over time. In fact tissues do evolve after surgery. To what degree depends on the original problem, what was done, after surgery care, and many other factors. Both residual gland and scar tissue are firm and even pathologists seem to have difficult differentiating between the two under the microscope without special techniques. By Examination of the Male Chest, there is no hope of telling the difference.

Such questions are best directed to your surgeon who is more familiar with what has been done or someone you see for a second opinion during a consultation or a Preliminary Remote Discussion

Hope this helps,

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

[George Pope, M.D.]

On your left side, it's possible that there's still some breast tissue present.  Was it flat right after the surgery?  If so, maybe there's some scar tissue buildup.  On the right side, your scar is a little thick, or hypertrophic.  I instruct my patients to use some type of scar preparation, such as Mederma (pharmacy) or ScarGuard (doctor's office) to help prevent or treat thickened scars. 

Did your surgeon start you on massage exercises?  That helps swelling to resolve more uniformly and a little more quickly.

It's only been a month.  Be sure to discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon and keep all follow up appointments, follow all of his/her instructions.

Dr. Pope, MD

[samkilty]

Thanks for answering so fast. The left side was very flat right after surgery, and the lump underneath definitely does not feel like tissue. It feels really hard, like scar tissue. I am massaging, but my surgeon didn't show me how. I'm just using a balm and rubbing in circles with moderate pressure. I am using Mederma, and the right side scar is thicker at some times than others, i don't know why. How long will that much scar tissue take to go away? And will the right side return to normal? Thanks!

[DrBermant]

Thanks for answering so fast. The left side was very flat right after surgery, and the lump underneath definitely does not feel like tissue. It feels really hard, like scar tissue. I am massaging, but my surgeon didn't show me how. I'm just using a balm and rubbing in circles with moderate pressure. I am using Mederma, and the right side scar is thicker at some times than others, i don't know why. How long will that much scar tissue take to go away? And will the right side return to normal? Thanks!

How tissues evolve depend on the original problem, what was done, after surgery care, scar care, compression therapy, and many other factors.

My practice philosophy has been that patient education is key to surgical success. I prefer to individualize the scar care techniques for each of my patients. However, each surgeon has his / her own preferences and methods to get to the results they have. That is why asking your own doctor can be so important. In addition a doctor offering specific advice on a forum such as this is can be taking on patient care responsibilities and obligations without the proper foundations of the problem, what was done, and other key factors necessary before giving such advice.

Hope this helps,

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