If you are a man who struggles with enlarged breast tissue, gynecomastia surgery offers an effective way to sculpt your chest and achieve results that may have eluded you in the gym. It has a very tolerable recovery process marked by some mild discomfort and temporary swelling.
Don’t be alarmed if your chest doesn’t look as flat or even as you expected right away. It can take several months for swelling to resolve. These simple steps may help speed up the process.
Apply Ice Packs or Gel Packs
A cold compress or ice pack can help decrease inflammation when applied after surgery. It narrows the blood vessels and prevents some blood cells from reaching the treated area.
It’s important to follow certain protocols when applying ice after gynecomastia surgery. For example, you should never put ice or frozen plastic directly on your skin, nor should you ice for longer than 10 minutes at a time. Always have a thin layer of cloth between the ice pack and your skin. This is because your skin will be numb after surgery and you could get a frostbite burn.
Wear a Compression Garment
A compression garment is a tight piece of clothing that applies pressure to a specific area. It’s often used after surgical procedures to control swelling and help the skin shrink down quickly.
You can expect to wear a compression vest beneath your clothes for three weeks after gynecomastia surgery. It will comfortably support your chest during the recovery period.
Give Your Body Time to Rest
Your body will do most of the work for you — as long as you give it the tools it needs. That means limiting physical activity and not pushing yourself to do anything that feels uncomfortable. You must remain “quiet” for the first two weeks. No lifting, pushing, pulling, home projects, exercise, or anything else that causes exertion. After two weeks you can usually resume cardio but first check with Dr. Schuster for your specific recovery schedule.
Paying attention to what your body needs to recover also means getting plenty of sleep. Quality sleep goes a long way to speed up healing. And if you sleep in a reclined position, it will have a beneficial impact on swelling. Try propping your upper body up on a few extra pillows at night.
Schedule a Consultation Today
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ronald Schuster takes a unique approach to gynecomastia surgery that produces a natural and masculine appearance with the least amount of noticeable scarring. Because of this, men travel from across the country to have their procedures here. Call 410-902-9800 today to schedule your male breast reduction consultation. We are located in Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland.
