Gynecomastia (Male Breast Reduction) Post-Operative

Instructions

• Have someone drive you home after surgery and help you at home for 1-2 days.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Follow balanced diet.
• Decreased activity may promote constipation, so you may want to add more raw fruit to your diet, and be sure to increase fluid intake.
• Take pain medication as prescribed. Do not take aspirin or any products containing aspirin.
• Do not drink alcohol when taking pain medications.
• Even when not taking pain medications, no alcohol for 3 weeks as it causes fluid retention.
• If you are taking vitamins with iron, resume these as tolerated.
• Do not smoke, as smoking delays healing and increases the risk of complications.

Activities

• Start walking as soon as possible, this helps to reduce swelling and lowers the chance of blood clots.
• Do not drive until you are no longer taking any pain medications (narcotics).
• Do not drive until you have full range of motion with your arms.
• No heavy lifting.
• Return to work when you feel well enough - Could be 1 or 2 days after surgery or 2 weeks, depending on type of job. Stay away from any job or sport that risks a blow to your chest for at least 4 weeks.
• Avoid sexual activity for 1-2 weeks and strenuous activity for 3-4 weeks.
• Full social activities can be resumed in 10-14 days.

Incision Care

• You may shower 48 hours after removal of the drainage tubes.
• Avoid exposing scars to sun for at least 12 months.
• Always use a strong sunblock, if sun exposure is unavoidable (SPF 30 or greater).
• Keep steri-strips on; replace if they come off.
• Keep incisions clean and inspect daily for signs of infection.
• No tub soaking while sutures or drains are in place.
• Wear your pressure garment continuously for 2-4 weeks, and a few weeks more at night, or as advised by your doctor.

What To Expect

• Minimal postoperative pain.
• Discomfort for a few days.
• Temporary bruising, swelling, soreness, burning sensation.
• The worst of your swelling will dissipate in a few weeks.
• All swelling and bruising should be gone in 3-6 months.
• Temporary loss of breast sensation or numbness, which may last up to a year.
• In about 1 month, you will be back to all of your normal activities.

Appearance

• Flatter, firmer, more masculine chest contour.
• Three or more months before final results are apparent.

Follow-Up Care

• Drainage tubes are removed when less than 30 ml for 24 hours.
• External sutures are removed 7-14 days after surgery.

When To Call

• If you have increased swelling or bruising.
• If swelling and redness persist after a few days.
• If you have increased redness along the incision.
• If you have severe or increased pain not relieved by medication.
• If you have any side effects to medications; such as, rash, nausea, headache, vomiting.
• If you have an oral temperature over 100.4 degrees.
• If you have any yellowish or greenish drainage from the incisions or notice a foul odor.
• If you have bleeding from the incisions that is difficult to control with light pressure.
• If you have loss of feeling or motion.

For medical questions, please call:

• (734) 998-6022, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. on call.