In a major cosmetic surgery procedure such as gynecomastia, recovery is an important part of the surgical process.

The surgeon will inform the patient on all facets of the procedure and explain the amount of time it will take for him to resume routine activities and a normal level of work.

On his part, the patient should commit to meticulously following the surgeon’s instructions to accomplish safe and desirable outcomes. Committed board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Bram Kaufman provides gynecomastia surgery to patients in Beachwood, Pepper Pike, Cleveland, OH, and surrounding communities across the horizon.

 

Guidelines for Post-Operative Care

After the procedure, the patient and his attendant will be given in-depth guidelines about the post-op care. These instructions will include the following information:

• Managing the temporary drains, in case the surgeon has placed such drains.
• Expected symptoms that the patient will experience following the male breast reduction surgery.
• Any telling signs of complications signaling the patient to contact the surgeon’s office.
• Restrictions on taking specific medications and blood thinners as well as smoking.
• Wearing a compression garment all the time for a specified period.
• Scheduled follow-up post-op appointments at the surgeon’s office.

 

Immediate Post-Op Stage

The patient must be extra careful during the initial three to four days after the gynecomastia plastic surgery. He should remain at home and get sufficient rest. But he can undertake brief walks or mild activities after the initial 24 hours to enhance the blood flow in the incision areas.

The patient should avoid aggressive shoulder movements in the initial few days and should not lift his arms vertically.

There may be mild pain and discomfort in the initial three to four days. However, if the patient experiences severe or persistent pain, he should reach out to the surgeon. Furthermore, there will likely be mild bruising and inflammation in the initial days. The patient can use cold compresses to reduce the swelling in the first two days. However, the inflammation will slowly resolve over the next several weeks.

 

Subsequent Recovery Process

The recovery duration depends on the extent of the gynecomastia surgery and whether the procedure involved glandular tissue removal or fat tissue lipo or both. On an average, patients need around a week of convalescing at home prior to resuming their routine activities and returning to the workplace.  

The patient can often expedite the recovery process by taking prescription pain meds and antibiotics (if prescribed), wearing a compression garment, maintaining the drains, and preventing any strain on the incisions during the initial week after the reduction procedure.

A majority of patients will visit the surgeon a week after the gynecomastia surgery for a follow-up appointment. The drains and sutures will typically be taken out during this appointment.

The patient can undertake low impact exercise in around two to three weeks after the procedure, but he should avoid extremity progressive resistance exercises for three to four weeks. He should also avoid sun exposure for nearly two months.

The bruising and swelling would have subsided by that time. Some patients may experience scarring and reduced skin elasticity, but this will resolve over a period.

Accomplished plastic surgeon Dr. Bram Kaufman receives patients from Beachwood, Pepper Pike, Cleveland, OH, and nearby areas in The Birthplace of Aviation for gynecomastia surgery.

To learn more about cosmetic treatment and procedures or to schedule a consultation by Cleveland Ohio area plastic surgeon, Dr. Bram Kaufman, please contact us at 1-216-778-2245 or click here.