Male Breast Reduction Surgery: Let’s Talk About Scars

You’re tired of your "man boobs" (gynecomastia) and you’re thinking about getting a male breast reduction surgery. But you have one little nagging fear: the scars. Will they be noticeable? How can you minimize them? Let’s dig into the reality about scarring after a gynecomastia surgery.

Let’s start with one basic reality: any surgery will leave some scarring in its wake. Skin must be cut to remove the excess breast tissue and skin. However, with male breast reduction, the scars are miniscule and they are easy for a skilled cosmetic surgeon to hide.

Where The Incisions Will Be

For a crash course on the basics, check out this post about understanding the Gynecomastia surgery procedure. But for brevity’s sake, incisions are typically made at the edge of the areola (the dark skin around the nipple). In procedures where significant excess skin must be removed, a surgeon often will make a second incision in the natural crease below the breast.
Both of the incision sites mentioned above follow the body’s natural contouring. This means that they tend to be very well hidden within the shape and lines of your body. And if you have a hairy chest, the likelihood of anyone noticing your scars drops even lower. As time passes, these scars will fade to thin, white lines until they are eventually absorbed by your body’s surrounding skin tone.
Patients with extremely large male breasts can require larger incisions. These cases usually do leave behind more visible scarring. But the vast majority of gynecomastia patients do not require large cuts.

Male Breast Reduction Through Liposuction

Many patients opt to have liposuction fat transfer performed along with the removal of the excess breast tissue. These procedures require a few additional incisions on the chest and sides. Fortunately, the incisions used for liposuction and fat transfer are tiny. The sites are just large opened enough for the insertion of a cannula. These scars are even less noticeable than the classic gynecomastia scars left around the areolas. They ultimately leave behind small white dots that most people wouldn't notice.

Ultimately the degree of scarring in male breast reduction procedures is minimal, even compared to other categories of cosmetic surgery, such as abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) or Coolsculpting. The size of the incisions and the natural bodyscape of the targeted area means that most of the light scarring is extraordinarily well hidden. Once the scarring has lightened after 6-12 months, most patients barely notice them at all. And the results of the male breast reduction with liposuction will improve your body contouring, and significantly enhance your confidence.

Factors That Influence The Size Of Your Scars

With the knowledge that the scarring in gynecomastia surgery is relatively insignificant in mind, there are still factors that will determine your specific degree of scarring.

1. Surgeon's Skill & Technique

A talented gynecomastia surgeon will use their skill to minimize the size and optimize the placement of your incisions. Surgical skill goes a long way in determining the size and visibility of your scars.

2. Genetics

Some people are more genetically prone to scarring than others. The same cut will produce thin white lines on some people, and raised, thickened scars on others. Your healing characteristics should be part of your discussion with your cosmetic surgeon.

3. Post-Op Care

Following a good post-operative care plan is critical for healing and minimizing scarring. Keep your incisions clean. Avoiding sun exposure. Using silicone scar sheets. Massage your scars. And most importantly, listen to all of your doctor’s aftercare instructions to help achieve the best possible results from your procedure.

Recovery Timeline

Immediately after your male breast reduction surgery, your scars will be raised, red and generally a little bumpy. This is normal, and it is not going to be that way forever. As time passes, the scars will become thinner, lighter, and smoother as you progress through your body’s natural healing process.

Here's a general timeline of how your scars will mature after a liposuction male breast reduction:

1-2 Weeks - Immediately after your gynecomastia liposuction surgery, the incisions will be dark and swollen. Sutures or skin adhesives hold the cuts together.

4 Weeks - Any sutures left behind have either dissolved or been removed. Your scars may appear raised and darker than the surrounding area.

3 Months - Your scars begin to flatten out. They may still appear red or darker in color.

6 Months - Most scars will be flat and pale at this point, and will blend in well. The scars will continue to fade to faint white lines that are difficult to see unless someone looks very closely.

How To Minimize Scars

To get the smallest scars possible, you should:

Diligently follow your surgeon’s post-op instructions
Keep your incisions clean and covered while healing
Do not expose your incisions to the sun for 6 months
Use silicone scar sheets or gels once the incisions are sealed
Massage scars regularly to break up scar tissue
Be patient! It can take 6-12 months for scars to fully heal

Following these steps will help ensure that you have the least post-operative scarring you could possibly have. Regardless, patients who undergo gynecomastia surgery typically express that any concerns they have about their scarring are insignificant compared to the life-changing confidence and comfort they gain by saying goodbye to their man boobs.

Let Us Answer Your Questions

If you're curious about what kind of scarring you can expect from a male breast reduction in Los Angeles, book a consultation with an experienced cosmetic surgeon who specializes in gynecomastia surgery. Aesthetic and Cosmetic Surgeons in Los Angeles has a long history of helping men with excess breast tissue in achieve the chiseled chest appearance of their dreams with minimal scarring. Our expert cosmetic surgeon in Los Angeles will examine your chest, talk with you about any concerns you may have, and help you set achievable goals and expectations. At Aesthetic and Cosmetic Surgeon LA we use the most advanced, least invasive techniques to remove excess breast tissue and contour your chest. Book a consultation today to start your journey to a sculpted, sexy chest.