After Gynecomastia Surgery: Compression Garments
A part of male breast reduction surgery — as essential as anesthesia or the surgeon’s scalpel — takes place for three to four weeks after the procedure.
Some patients have heard about this item in passing but became really well acquantainted with it immediately after the operation…..by living with it 24/7!
It’s the compression garment. I include them in the surgical fee because the garment is actually a medical grade piece of clothing. Moreover, it’s absolutely essential for a good outcome of the surgery.
Although the incisions in your skin for routine gynecomastia surgery are tiny, a lot of injury takes place under the skin.
Thus, the body’s reaction to an operation is swelling, oozing blood and bruising.
Plastic surgeons discovered long ago that many operations besides male breast reduction require a compression garment.
For most men, I used a double strap binder (pictured) that covers the body from above your navel to the level of your armpits. The garment puts constant pressure on the surgically treated area, reducing the swelling and bruising while making it heal better and faster.
If you’ve played sports, it’s the same concept as tightly wrapping a sprained ankle in an Ace bandage.
For guys who are at, or near, their ideal weights, the double strap binder fastens with Velcro and can be changed to accommodate many patients.
But there is a slight downside: the binder is purposely tight and, frankly, a pain in the neck to wear for up to four weeks. But it’s necessary for optimum healing and the outcome of your chest’s new appearance. (However, it can’t be spotted under your clothing.)
I’ve found that virtually all gynecomastia patients will gladly suffer the compression band in return for a flatter chest!
If I operate on a gentleman who has a barrel chest or is over his ideal weight, I put him in a vest compression garment. That fastens down the front with hooks and eyes plus a zipper. This approach has a small downside, too.
While it’s more comfortable, slightly more swelling takes place because the vest doesn’t apply as much pressure.
So the tradeoffs are: the vest is more comfortable but the binder does its work better.
Torsoplasty patients are put into a one-piece body suit compression garments which also closes with hooks, eyes and zippers.
I’ll blog about Torsoplasty later!