Gynecomastia surgery in Medellín

Gynecomastia is the medical name for enlarged breasts in a man. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), it can appear at any age, on one side or both, and it can be made up of excess fat, glandular tissue or both, sometimes with extra skin. It can come from hormonal changes, heredity, obesity, or the use of certain medications or drugs. People also search for this surgery as male breast reduction, male chest reduction or, among people who lift, “gyno.”

It depends on what's in your chest. According to the ASPS, when the volume is mostly fat, liposuction may be enough. When there's glandular tissue or extra skin, the recommendation is to remove it by excision, meaning cutting it out, and the same technique is needed if the areola has to be made smaller or the nipple repositioned. Sometimes the two are combined. The surgery is usually done through small incisions at the edge of the areola, and their shape varies from case to case. Your surgeon decides what you need when they examine you.

Surgery isn't always the answer.

• If the volume is mostly fat, the ASPS explains that losing weight can resolve it without surgery. If you need it, we can support you with medical weight loss and nutrition.
• If it's glandular tissue, neither strict dieting nor intense exercise will reduce it, according to the ASPS.
• If it's caused by a medication, a supplement or another substance, you need to stop it before surgery. Don't change a prescribed medication without talking to your doctor.

At your consultation, we'll tell you what makes sense in your case.

According to the ASPS, a good candidate is healthy, at a relatively normal weight, doesn't smoke, doesn't use drugs and has realistic expectations. That's why it's better to wait or consider another option if:

• Your chest is still changing. In teenagers, surgery can help, but if the chest keeps developing, another procedure may be needed.
• You smoke or use drugs. You would need to stop before surgery.
• You have a serious illness or a condition that affects healing.
• The cause can be corrected with another medical treatment.

Every surgery has risks, and this one does too. The ASPS lists, among others:

• Anesthesia risks.
• Bleeding (hematoma), fluid buildup (seroma) or infection.
• Asymmetry or irregularities in the shape of the chest.
• Changes in nipple or chest sensation, temporary or permanent.
• Damage to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles or lungs, temporary or permanent.
• Blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, and heart or lung complications.
• Poor healing or unfavorable scarring.
• Persistent pain.
• The possibility of needing revision surgery.

Before you decide, we go over each one with you, and you sign an informed consent form.

Before surgery, in general:

• You get your pre-op tests.
• You stop smoking.
• You go over everything you take with your specialist: according to the ASPS, aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements can increase bleeding. We tell you what to stop.
• You arrange for an adult to take you home and stay with you the first night.

Afterward, you wear a compression vest, which helps reduce swelling, and sometimes a thin temporary drain. You get instructions for caring for the incision and the drain, and you come in for your follow-up visits. If you feel short of breath, have chest pain or an irregular heartbeat, get medical care right away.