When people talk about body image and self-esteem, it's mostly concerning women. Though, wanting to feel confident in your body applies to every gender, as men know all too well. 

Some men become embarrassed about the excess tissue in their chest. Which often leads them to consider getting a cosmetic procedure done. 

Excessive breast tissue in men is called gynecomastia, a common but disheartening condition. The good news is that there is a good track of success records for surgery on these patients.
 
In fact, surgeons in the US performed over 26,000 male breast reductions last year alone.

Of course, you need to make sure you meet the qualifications for any surgery before hopping onto an operating table. If you are unsure of what you need to do, you have come to the right place.

In this article, we give you a few key questions you will want to ask your surgeon before your gynecomastia surgery in Miami.

Questions to Ask Before Gynecomastia Surgery in Miami

Some patients think the surgeon is the only one responsible for the surgery; the patient lays back and lets them work their magic.

While that's true during the procedure itself, your aftercare and recovery process is completely up to you. If you want to make your surgical process more successful from start to finish, here's some information you'll need to know from your surgeon:

1. What Approach Will You Take to My Surgery?

The reason plastic surgery drives successful results is due to the customization of the procedure for each patient. That applies to gynecomastia as well.

It's important to distinguish between two types of excess tissue in a man's chest: breast tissue and fat. True gynecomastia causes a man to have more breast tissue than usual.

In other men, their enlarged chest is caused by excess fat instead. This is sometimes called pseudogynecomastia.

If fat alone is the problem, your surgeon may be able to treat you with liposuction. Although in some cases, you may need skin removed to create a firm, masculine look once the fat is out.

Gynecomastia, on the other hand, requires the surgeon to extract breast tissue. Breast tissue is more dense than fat, so it can't be suctioned out like fat can.

Even within these two categories, there are multiple ways to approach your surgery. Talk to your surgeon about their surgical plan and understand what's involved.

2. What Type of Anesthesia Will Be Used?

Depending on your surgical plan, the surgeon will use either general or local anesthesia. With general anesthesia, you'll be "asleep" during the surgery. With local anesthesia, you'll be awake but the area will be numb so you won't feel pain.

In most cases, general anesthesia is the only safe option. If both choices are available to you, however, your surgeon may discuss the pros and cons and let you choose. Regardless, be sure you know what to expect.

3. What Scarring Can I Expect After My Surgery?

Scarring is an understandable concern, and you will want to prepare yourself. Your scars will depend on the approach your surgeon takes. In some cases, you may only need an incision around your areola, which makes scars hard to see.

For other patients, especially those who need skin removed, there will be a scar across each side of the chest. We place this in line with the creases of the pectoral muscle so it's discrete as possible.

Your scars will depend on your surgical approach as well as your body's healing tendencies. Talk to your surgeon about your past scarring experiences and what you can expect from the surgery. Looking at Before and after photos from your surgeon's patients can help as well.

4. How Long Will My Surgery Take?

Your surgical time will depend on the surgical approach and how much correction you need. However, it's important to know so you can coordinate your ride home after the surgery.

For most patients, male breast reduction takes about two hours to complete. Talk to your surgeon about the expected time for your surgery and what could cause it to take longer.

5. How Much Time Should I Take Off Work?

As important as your surgery is, let's not pretend you don't have a life outside of it. Still, it's important to take off enough time where you won't try to rush your recovery. Pushing your body too soon can lead to complications.

Most gynecomastia surgery patients can go back to work about a week after their procedure. Of course, this depends on your surgical details, your body's healing speed, your job's exertion level, and more.

6. What Should I Do Before Surgery to Prepare?

The surgical process starts long before you head to the operating room. You'll need to have some medical tests to make sure you're healthy enough for the surgery. You may also have prescriptions to fill and you should prepare your recovery environment for easy access.

Your surgeon will give you these and other specific instructions. For instance, you may need to stop taking certain medications before surgery. These guidelines exist for your safety, so follow them in detail.

7. What Can I Expect During My Recovery?

As you heal after surgery, you'll see a variety of effects from swelling to bruising and more. How do you know what's normal and what's a sign of a complication?

Your surgeon will go through the typical stages you can expect. They'll discuss pain levels, follow-up appointments, and more.

8. When Can I See My Full Results After Surgery?

Your healing process doesn't only affect the way you feel. It also affects the way your results look. In the days and weeks after surgery, swelling and other factors will impact your results.

A common problem is that patients panic and think they won't get good results. Discuss with your surgeon when your final results will be visible.

9. How Can I Maintain My Results After Surgery?

After you achieve those perfect results, it's also important that you maintain them. Weight gain, using certain substances or medications, and more factors can cause male breasts to return.

To avoid this, talk to your surgeon about the causes of gynecomastia and how you can keep your results looking their best.

Preparing for Your Male Breast Reduction

Gynecomastia surgery in Miami can be the best way to get your confidence back. 
However, it's not a simple one-step process and it's important to treat it like the true medical procedure that it is. The questions above can help you prepare for your surgery. 

If you're ready to take the next step, schedule a consultation with our plastic surgeon today.