Gynecomastia Op - Help

[ian.007]

Hi guys
I have been suffering from Gynecomastia since I was a kid and I've learned to cover it up and live with it for so long. However I just had enough of it and decided to take the plunge and get surgery done. I had my surgery last week and now I am 4 days post op.
I was just looking at myself this morning in the mirror, and comparing before and after photos, and feel that the surgery hasnt been a complete success. I was expecting a completely flat chest with no fat and gland as my procedure involved gland excision and liposuction.When I do the pinch test (even though it feels sore) i can still feel a significant amount of mass in my chest area, but I dont know whether this is just swelling/fluid or leftover fat/gland. I have one last appointment with my surgeon tomorrow before i head back home and i want to get your advice before I express my concerns to him and possibly look at revision surgery. I have been busting my ass in the gym and eating clean to lose weight and i just want a flat manly squarish chest with just skin over the pec muscles if possible. Please advise guys.. quicker the better as I have an appointment tomorrow..
Please see my before and after pics.
thanks again
Ian

[ian.007]

POST Op pics

[George Pope, M.D.]

Ian,
I'd like to make a few points:
1)      You are only 4 to 5 days postop, and it's WAY too early to judge your result.  You have to anticipate soft tissue swelling, even with a compression vest in place.  It will be at least 2 to 3 months before you will see your final result. 
2)   You do not want skin on muscle, as you stated you hoped to have postop.  That would be a pretty deformed look.  We all have a layer of fat between the skin and muscle, some more fat than others of course, but skin on muscle is not the surgical goal.
3)  You are carrying a little extra weight on your trunk.  Surgeons have to take this into account so that your entire trunk is in proportion after the procedure.  I like to liposuction out as much fat as I can, but in men who are overweight, you have to take that into account.
4) Patience is a virtue here in plastic surgery world.  As hard as it will be to do, try not to stare at your chest in a mirror at all angles and judge your result.
Your surgeon should be able to alleviate your anxiety at tomorrow's visit.  Be sure to follow all of his/her instructions to the letter.  On occasion revision surgery is needed, but it will be a few months before that is evident.
Dr. Pope, MD

[Paa_Paw]

I am more cautious even than Dr. Pope , who I happen to admire by the way,  I would encourage you to wait closer to 6 months before trying to evaluate the result.
Like most men, I have had the condition since I was about 12. When I was young enough for it to be a significant concern, the surgical methods were no where near as good and effective as they are now so I have not had surgery nor do I intend to. I was 12 years old in 1949 so you have a frame of reference. 
I do have a question though.  You said you had been "suffering" with Gynecomastia. As a person who has had the condition for some time, I have no idea how it would cause a person to suffer.  There have been times when it caused embarrassment, but never anything that I would call suffering.  Please explain. 

[ian.007]

[quote author=Dr. Pope link=topic=31367.msg201043#msg201043 date=1449406093]
Ian,
I'd like to make a few points:
1)      You are only 4 to 5 days postop, and it's WAY too early to judge your result.  You have to anticipate soft tissue swelling, even with a compression vest in place.  It will be at least 2 to 3 months before you will see your final result.
2)   You do not want skin on muscle, as you stated you hoped to have postop.  That would be a pretty deformed look.  We all have a layer of fat between the skin and muscle, some more fat than others of course, but skin on muscle is not the surgical goal.
3)  You are carrying a little extra weight on your trunk.  Surgeons have to take this into account so that your entire trunk is in proportion after the procedure.  I like to liposuction out as much fat as I can, but in men who are overweight, you have to take that into account.
4) Patience is a virtue here in plastic surgery world.  As hard as it will be to do, try not to stare at your chest in a mirror at all angles and judge your result.
Your surgeon should be able to alleviate your anxiety at tomorrow's visit.  Be sure to follow all of his/her instructions to the letter.  On occasion revision surgery is needed, but it will be a few months before that is evident.
Dr. Pope, MD
[/quote]

Thank you for the information Dr. Pope. I spoke to my surgeon today and he seemed confident that he removed all the gland and also removed a safe amount of fat as well. I just have to wait and see in a few months when the swelling goes down whether it was all worthwhile.
thanks again.
I

[ian.007]

I am more cautious even than Dr. Pope , who I happen to admire by the way,  I would encourage you to wait closer to 6 months before trying to evaluate the result.
Like most men, I have had the condition since I was about 12. When I was young enough for it to be a significant concern, the surgical methods were no where near as good and effective as they are now so I have not had surgery nor do I intend to. I was 12 years old in 1949 so you have a frame of reference.  
I do have a question though.  You said you had been "suffering" with Gynecomastia. As a person who has had the condition for some time, I have no idea how it would cause a person to suffer.  There have been times when it caused embarrassment, but never anything that I would call suffering.  Please explain.

Hi there,
I have also had this condition since I was a very small kid. At the time i was quite a chubby kid so I thought it was just fat. However as I grew up and shed some weight I realised that this is something a bit more serious. I have always been self conscious about this condition, and this has prevented me from partaking in numerous activities like beach holidays, days out in the pool, etc. I have been wearing compression garments and thick shirts since I was a teenager and im in my 30s now. I never wear t-shirts or any white/light colours. Unfortunately the generation that I grew up in werent as forgiving towards boys/or men with this physical abnormality. So as you can see this has impacted my life in certain ways..
I didnt know until i was in my twenties, that this could be fixed surgically, and only now am i able to afford spending a rather big chunk of money on this surgical procedure.
At the end of the day, if it fixes my problem and gives me a bit more self confidence, then it would be money well spent.
regards
I

[Paa_Paw]

I do not wish to seem rude, but I was looking for physical suffering and you mentioned emotional stress. 
You referred to gynecomastia as a physical abnormality.  A condition that is present in 1/3 of the male population is not a deformity, but  within the range or normal.  Actually more normal than blue eyes.
I understand the stress and the embarrassment,  I have been there too, but I know the difference between emotional stress and suffering.
I fully support anyone who has surgery, Surgery is now safe and reliable when performed by a qualified surgeon.  I also understand a person wanting to look their best.  I do not understand your use of the word "Suffering."

[TigerPaws]

I am going to have to agree with Paw_Paw.... Suffering?

Gynecomastia is not something that a man suffers from, it is the psychological effects caused by a mans inability to deal with a non-life threatening condition. No one ever dies from Gynecomastia. Embarrassment is not a life threatening problem.

What about the men (and sadly women) who have arms, legs and other pieces blown off their bodies as a result of battle injuries?

Who is worse off, a man who has developed breasts or these fine young men and women who have lost limbs?

What you do with your time and money is your business, but to suggest that you are suffering is to diminish those who have real disabilities.