HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury
Before & after gynaecomastia surgery
This page tells you about what you can expect before and after your gynaecomastia surgery and after you've gone home.
Before surgery
You'll be seen in the plastic surgery clinic. Your surgeon will discuss the surgical techniques, the desired outcomes, the risks of the surgery and your recovery. Please raise any questions or concerns with your surgeon.
After that you may be seen at a pre-admission clinic. Bring along any prescribed or over-the-counter medications you're taking. Before surgery you'll talk with your anaesthetist, who will review your health and medication details.
People with nicotine in their bodies have more complications from breast reconstruction surgery. Unless you've been nicotine free for at least three months before surgery, it's unlikely you'll be offered surgery.
Nicotine free means not smoking, not using nicotine replacement therapy and not vaping products that contain nicotine.
Being nicotine free helps you to heal better after the operation. It also reduces the risks that go with having an anaesthetic. If you need help to quit smoking, use the resources on How to become smokefree.
When you come in to hospital for your operation:
- remove any bulky or sharp jewellery. You can cover any rings and earrings you would prefer not to remove with adhesive tape
- bring along your prescribed or over-the-counter medications.
After surgery
If you've had a general anaesthetic, you'll wake up in the recovery room after your operation. You can read about what to expect when you wake up from an anaesthetic.
You may be able to go home that day, or you may need a short stay in hospital – it will depend on the type of surgery you had. You'll need someone to drive you home, please arrange this in advance.
At first, your breasts will be swollen, sore and bruised. The swelling will be treated with an elastic dressing. Most of the swelling will go in a few weeks, but it can take three months to see the final shape of your breasts.
You may have a plastic tube to drain excess fluid out of your breasts and you may have a drip giving you fluids until you're drinking normally.
To prevent blood clots, you'll be fitted with compression (TED) stockings, which you'll wear until you're active at home. If you're at a higher risk of blood clots, you'll also get a daily injection.
At home
If you want telephone advice after you have left the hospital:
- From 8 am to 4.30 pm (Monday to Saturday, including public holidays), call the Plastic Surgery Outpatients at Christchurch Hospital on (03) 364‑0471.
- For urgent advice outside these hours, call Ward 20, Christchurch Hospital on (03) 378‑6679 and ask to speak to the nurse in charge.
Important
See your GP, after-hours GP, or go to the Emergency Department as soon as possible if you have:
- a fever with a temperature higher than 38°C, or chills
- increasing pain or redness
- heavy bleeding
- leaking fluid, pus or blood
- concerns about your surgery.
Wound care
Your stitches will dissolve by themselves – see your GP if they're causing irritation. The wounds are covered with adhesive strips in the operating theatre. You can leave these until they fall off. Then replace them with 1 cm- to 2 cm-wide paper tape from a pharmacy. The tape keeps the scar line covered, which reduces the risk of lumpy, itchy or wide scars. Continue with the tape for three to six months or until the scars fade from red to white.
It's safe to shower on the third day, but do not soak the wounds in the bath or a swimming pool until they're completely healed over (usually after two weeks).
Pain relief
Take the pain relief pills prescribed by the hospital. As you become more comfortable, continue with paracetamol (two pills, four times a day) but take less of the other pills. When you're comfortable only taking paracetamol, start taking it just when you need it.
An ice pack may also help reduce the swelling and pain.
Follow-up appointment
You'll get an appointment at the plastic surgery outpatients clinic to review the operation result.
Activities and work
You can drive once you're comfortable, which can be after one day or one week. It could be a few days or a few weeks until you're comfortable enough to work. Avoid heavy exercise for around three weeks or as advised. Avoid contact sports for six weeks. Avoid sun exposure by covering up or using sunscreen (at least SPF 30), as this will affect the scar pigmentation.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Endorsed by Canterbury DHB Plastic Surgery Department. Last reviewed April 2021.
Sources
Review key: HIGYA-125080
