Gynecomastia Surgery and Confidence
You often hear that any cosmetic plastic surgery increases the patient’s confidence. But after gynecomastia surgery, you can see a guy’s confidence in action.
Some patients often ask me, “Doctor, how will I be able to build my confidence back, now that I have a flatter chest?”
Actually, it’s easy. Just sit back, relax and let it come automatically and naturally. Assuming the surgery went well and everything is healing normally, I usually see huge changes in guys within only a week’s time.
For one, they stand taller. It seems like many gynecomastia sufferers hunch over to try and hide their too ample chests. But once male breast reduction has taken place, they are feeling more masculine and consequently stand taller.
I also notice a change in clothing. Whereas the usual mode of dress is usually something baggy to help hide a bulging chest, I usually see a sudden switch to tighter golf shirts or tee shirts.
When dressing professionally, I often hear men saying their suit or sports jackets are fitting better and lying flatter below the collar bone.
Many teens, 20-and-30-somethings drop the other more extreme measures used to hide an overly fleshy chest. Some boys and men wrap long lengths of ace bandages around their chests to hold their breasts down. Some use tape while yet others have discovered compression garments — used after surgery – to mask their condition.
(Read more in our previous post about how gynecomastia patients often conceal their condition.)
But once I release them, none of that is necessary. Many tell me they feel comfortable going shirtless for the first time ever in their lives.
After one young dad’s gynecomastia surgery, he said he was able to drop the flimsy excuses he used to make. For instance, his kids wanted him to come in the water and play. But, before his surgery, he declined, saying he had a cold or that the water was too chilly.
Speaking of releasing patients: I try and keep their before and after gynecomastia surgery pictures handy for their last appointment. Why? After just a few months, some will quickly get used to having a flat chest and forget what their chests used to look like.
So they are often amazed at their before pictures!