Gynecomastia is major cosmetic surgery procedure, and the recovery is a critical component in it. The surgeon will discuss various facets of male breast reduction surgery with the patient during the pre-op consultation process.

They will also explain the estimated recovery time following this procedure.  

The patient should follow the surgeon’s recovery instructions diligently to achieve predictable and safe outcomes and possibly reduce their recovery time.

Astute board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Bram Kaufman provides surgery for enlarged male breasts to patients in Beachwood, Pepper Pike, Cleveland, OH, and other suburbs and neighborhoods in this region of the Midwest.

Guidelines for Post-operative Care

The patient and his caregiver will be given detailed post-op care instructions for the gynecomastia surgery recovery phase. These guidelines will encompass information on:

• Managing the temporary surgical drains, in case these drains have been inserted.
• Normal side-effects that a patient may experience following the male breast reduction procedure.
• Any potential indications of complications signaling the patient to contact the surgeon’s office.  
• Avoiding smoking, taking blood thinners or other medications.
• Wearing a compression garment all the time for a specific period.  
• Visiting the surgeon’s practice for the initial follow-up appointment after the surgery.

Immediate Post-Op Phase

After the gynecomastia cosmetic surgery, the patient will need to take extra precautions during the first few days. The patient should remain at home and take adequate rest in the first week.

But he can undertake short walks around the home or light activities after a day to enhance the flow of blood in the treated areas. He should avoid aggressive shoulder movements in the initial days after the procedure. The patient should also not lift their arms vertically.

The patient may experience mild pain and discomfort during the initial three or four days following the surgery. However, if the pain is severe and persistent, he should contact the surgeon. Initially, there will be mild bruising and inflammation.

The use of ice therapy can alleviate this inflammation in the initial two days. However, the entire inflammation will only subside slowly over several weeks.

Overall Recovery Period

The recovery duration will differ depending on the extent of the breast tissue excised as well as if the surgery included breast gland tissue removal or fatty tissue liposuction or both. On an average, patients will need to remain at home for around a week before they can resume their routine or resume work.

The recovery can be quicker if the patient takes the pain meds and antibiotics (if prescribed), wears compression garments, maintains the drains, and avoids any strain on the incision in the initial week following the procedure.

A majority of patients will have their first post-operative appointment with the surgeon in around one week. During this visit, the sutures and drains are typically removed.

The patient can start low impact exercise in around two to three weeks. However, he should avoid upper extremity progressive resistance exercises for three to four weeks after the surgery.

Committed plastic surgeon Dr. Bram Kaufman receives patients from Beachwood, Pepper Pike, Cleveland, OH, and nearby areas in The Heart of it All for male breast reduction.

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.