Amicus Clinic
Gynecomastia, or male breast enlargement, is a common condition that affects men of all ages. For many it is a quiet source of discomfort — enough that they begin to avoid the gym, the swimming pool, or places of worship where the chest is harder to conceal. If you have decided on surgery, or are simply trying to understand what the days after the operation actually involve, this page walks you through it plainly.
The correction itself is a short-stay procedure, and the improvement is definitive and long-lasting. Because the enlargement is made up of both fat and gland, the two are addressed separately during surgery.
The operation, in brief:
On the day of surgery you come in with someone accompanying you — a friend or a family member. After the markings are made, the procedure is carried out, in most cases under local anaesthesia with sedation. General anaesthesia is reserved for the situations that genuinely call for it — where skin needs to be excised, or where anxiety would make staying awake uncomfortable. Liposuction removes the fatty part of the breast tissue through small instruments, and the remaining gland is removed directly through a small incision near the nipple. Dressings are placed over the sutures and held with paper tape, and a compression garment is fitted to settle the swelling. Sometimes a small drain is left in place to clear any fluid that collects at the site.
The first week after the operationYou are discharged after an overnight stay. The drain, if one was used, is removed the next day, and you can shower after that. Once you are home you can resume light activities, and most men are back to light work by the end of the first week.
The weeks that followThe sutures are removed at two weeks, and by that point most men are comfortable driving themselves again. The compression garment is worn for about a month. Most of the swelling has already settled by the end of the first week, though it is common to feel some altered or unusual sensation around the scar for a while — this resolves on its own over a few weeks and needs no treatment. By one month there are no restrictions at all, including sports.
Pain after the procedureGynecomastia correction is usually not a painful recovery, largely because the local anaesthetic used during liposuction continues to work afterwards. When there is discomfort, it is generally well controlled with oral medication.
ScarsBecause the incisions are very small, the scars that result are small and not easily noticed. The incision placed within the pigmented skin around the nipple settles particularly well and becomes nearly invisible over time.
What is normal, and when to get in touch
Some swelling, bruising, mild discomfort and odd sensation near the scar are all an expected part of healing in the first weeks. They settle with time. It is worth contacting us if you notice swelling that is increasing rather than reducing, redness spreading around the wound, fever, or bleeding that soaks through the dressing — these are uncommon, but we would always rather hear from you and reassure you than have you sit with a worry. We are a small team and may be in a procedure when you call, but we will get back to you.
Most men are simply relieved once the excess tissue is gone, and feel noticeably more at ease afterwards. If anything here raises a question for you, we would be glad to answer it.
Medical content reviewed by Dr. Unnikrishnan S, MCh (Plastic Surgery).