Followinggynecomastia surgery, a compression vest may be part of your post-surgery recovery. Compression vests are specially designed garments that compress and support the chest area following a surgical procedure in order to reduce swelling and support the new body contour. Read on to learn more about the importance of compression vests and what role they play in the healing process.
The Importance of the Compression Vest
Not all surgeons require a compression vest after surgery, and some for only a short time. Dr. Delgado has hisgynecomastia patients wear a compression vest 24/7 for 6 weeks after surgery. Two vests are provided, one at the time of surgery, which is heavier with an elastic-velcro strap to reduce bleeding. The second is applied after the drains are out and is lighter, shorter, and easy to camouflage under a shirt. The vests may be a little uncomfortable but is necessary for the healing process. They should be worn snugly, but not tight.
Dr. Miguel Delgado recommends the vest be worn 24/7 for 4 to 6 weeks, depending on how the patient is healing. The vest should only be removed when showering.
The purpose of the vest is to aid the skin to contract. The vest helps increase the flow of blood and prevent the collection of excessfluid. Additionally, the compression vest controls the amount of swelling and aids in binding the chest tissues, all while decreasing post-op pain.
After initial healing, Dr. Delgado has his patients graduate to a second vest that is thinner and has a lining of soft T-shirt material with compression in the chest area only. Men who wear dress shirts state that these vests are not visible and more comfortable.
Schedule a Gynecomastia Surgery Consultation
Patients in San Francisco and the Bay Area who are seeking a permanent solution to their gynecomastia can trustDr. Delgado to provide natural-looking and optimal results. If you are interested in learning more about gynecomastia, male breast reduction, what to expect post-surgery regarding male compression vests, and more, pleasecontact Dr. Delgado today to schedule a consultation appointment in Novato or San Francisco, CA.
Compression Vest FAQs
How tight should the compression vest be after gynecomastia surgery?
The garment should fit snugly but not so tight that you have trouble breathing or you develop wounds or blisters from the compression.
What happens if I don’t wear a compression vest after gynecomastia surgery?
Wearing a compression vest after surgery is recommended to minimize swelling and bruising, which can result in a shorterwound healing time. Compression vests also help to prevent hematomas.
Can I take my compression vest off for a few hours?
While you are free to take your compression vest off to bathe or wash, it is essential that you wear it as directed by Dr. Delgado. For questions regarding compression vests, please contact our office today.
What will happen if I stop wearing my compression garment?
Not wearing your compression garment can greatly increase the risk of noticeable scarring, prolonged swelling, and bruising.
Avoiding complications after gynecomastia surgery is a goal of all surgeons. With careful planning, most complications can be minimized or avoided altogether. Most gynecomastia surgeons believe in the use of drains and the wearing of a compression vest after surgery.
Drains are an effective measure against the accumulation of fluid in the “dead space” left from the excision of breast tissue. The accumulation of clear serous fluid is referred to as a seroma. If left untreated, a seroma can interfere with healing and possibly lead to an infection with swelling and can be painful. Drains collapse the “dead space,” evacuate the fluids and create a negative pressure to the cavity encouraging it to close down.
The drains have tubes that carry the fluids from the surgical site through a tiny incision in the armpit and empty into a small plastic bulb by negative pressure. Then dressings are applied and the placement of a compression vest. Usually within 2 to 3 days will be the first post-operative visit and at that time the drains most likely will be removed. The compression vest is only to be removed when the patient takes a shower and is to be kept in place for 6 weeks. The use of drains reduces the chances of a seroma greatly by removing fluids as they collect.
If drains are not used, needle aspiration will need to be done every few days until the cavity is collapsed, but the healing will be prolonged and is very inconvenient for the patient. Dr. Miguel Delgado has been using drains for his gynecomastia patients for over 25 years with minimal incidence of complications. Dr. Delgado has designed a compression vest that has built-in pockets for the bulbs to rest in, instead of being attached with safety pins.
A condition little talked about but widely apparent is Gynecomastia, the overdevelopment of a male breast. A reaction to too much estrogen or too little testosterone, gynecomastia can occur in newborns, teenagers, and adult men.
In babies, preteen, teenage boys, and young adult men. gynecomastia is a reaction to estrogen from the mother or changes in hormones caused by puberty. It usually resolves within 18 months and is not a cause for concern. In older adult males, however, gynecomastia is usually caused by the natural decline in testosterone production or being overweight provides more fat cells which convert testosterone to estrogen. Of course, screening for much less common conditions such as liver or lung cancer, thyroid or hormone problems, or drug use can cause gynecomastia as well as certain medicines.
• Steroids
• Medicines to treat ulcers or epilepsy
• Digitalis and other heart medicines
• Chemotherapy drugs, especially alkylating agents
• Antriandrogen drugs (such as flutamide, cyproterone, and spironolactone)
• Antianxiety and antidepressant medicines
• Products containing tea tree or lavender oil
Luckily, gynecomastia is not harmful and easily treated. If caused by hormonal imbalances, it will usually go away on its own. If caused by a medicine or disease, discontinuation of the medicine or treatment of the disease will usually cure gynecomastia. If you find a one-sided breast lump, it is extremely important to consult a physician, particularly if you have had any close relatives that have had breast cancer. A Doctor can check the lump with a biopsy or surgery.
In extreme cases, surgery may be necessary. This surgery is similar to a breast reduction. The average cost of gynecomastia surgery is $3,500.00 – $4,000.00, not including anesthesia or other related. After surgery, patients usually notice some discomfort and pain which can be alleviated with prescribed medication. Typically a week recovery period is recommended. The patient will wear a compression vest beneath clothes for two or three weeks to control swelling and help shrink the skin. Patients should refrain from physical activity for two weeks. They may notice some slight scarring, but results will be visible within the first two weeks after the swelling goes down, with continued improvements for six months.
Gynecomastia can cause some men to feel insecure. If you notice an enlargement of your breast, and diet, exercise, and discontinuation of medicines have failed to produce results, male breast reduction surgery can give you a flatter, firmer, and more masculine chest and profile.
Deciding to proceed with male breast reduction surgery is an exciting time(Season For Gynecomastia Surgery). It also presents with many arrangements that you will need to make; such as, having someone care for you for at least the first 24 hours, transportation home after surgery, getting lab tests done, filling prescriptions, getting time off work…and when will you have the surgery?
After surgery, you will most likely be wearing a compression garment for 6 weeks. Wintertime is more comfortable for the additional layer of clothing as you can wear thicker shirts and jackets.
By having your surgery in the wintertime allows your recovery to be complete before summer when most people want to enjoy the outdoors. However, be aware that you still need to protect your young scars from the sun to prevent hyperpigmentation (turning dark brown). As long as your incisions remain pink in color, you need to be very careful of the sun, use a sunblock of at least 30 SPF, complete healing can take several months.
It is important to note that you will need to refrain from any type of formal exercise for about 4 to 6 weeks. Outdoor activities such as jogging, bike riding, volleyball, basketball, etc. may be easier to give up when there is inclement weather, than a beautiful sunny day.
With all this being said, if your schedule doesn’t allow you to plan your surgery during the winter months, anytime you can schedule is the right time. Remember it is only a short time to be inconvenienced compared to a lifetime of freedom from your man boobs.
Gynecomastia Affects Posture, Many men attempting to hide their gynecomastia breasts may roll their shoulders and even tip their spinal cord forward. Ultimately, this poor posture may have many detrimental effects such as; back and neck pain, and misalignment of their skeleton, and even digestive and breathing problems.
Slouching shows a lack of self-confidence, insecurity, and weakness which may affect personal relationships and job prospects. With continued slouching, the joints, ligaments, and cartilage may become inflamed and then the body will react to the stress by producing cortisol. When there is excess cortisol produced in the body, the production of testosterone will be reduced, resulting in additional complications.
Standing straight counteracts the pull of gravity. Bad posture will affect energy expenditure and as mentioned hormone production.
It is challenging to correct bad posture, but men who have male breast reduction surgery have new found confidence that encourages them to stand tall and proud.
