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4 Tips to Prepare for Gynecomastia Surgery

Whether you’re changing clothes in a public locker room or taking off your shirt at the beach, excess breast tissue can be an embarrassing condition to live with. Gynecomastia is a more common phenomenon than you might think. It happens to up to half of men at some point in their lives due to factors like weight fluctuations, hormones, genetics, or the use of specific medications. While this issue is medically harmless, it often causes people significant emotional distress.

Male breast reduction surgery can improve your life by giving you a more defined, masculine chest contour. The procedure involves excising fat, removing unwanted skin, and lifting and tightening the remaining tissue. If you are considering gynecomastia surgery, here are some steps you can take to get ahead of the game.

Exercise and Eat a Balanced Diet

You are likely already taking steps to lead a healthy lifestyle. Still, it can be frustrating to put in hours doing chest-specific exercises like push-ups and presses without achieving your desired results. The good news is that you may have been more successful than you realize, but your toned chest muscles are hiding behind a layer of unwanted fat! If you stay dedicated to your nutrition and fitness regimen before undergoing surgery, you can reduce the amount of fat Dr. Desman needs to remove. Your gynecomastia procedure will also help inspire your future motivation to diet and exercise by finally revealing the results of your efforts.

Stop Smoking

If you smoke, kicking the habit is one of the best things you can do for your overall health. Cigarettes contain thousands of toxic chemicals that damage your organs, slow your circulation, and hinder your immune system, considerably increasing your risk of post-surgical complications such as infection. According to one study led by the World Health Organization, smoking only one cigarette impairs your body’s ability to deliver essential nutrients for recovering from surgery.

Get Ready for a Successful Recovery

In many ways, the steps you take to heal from gynecomastia surgery are as critical as the procedure itself. First, you’ll need to take time off work to give your body a chance to fully focus on healing and resting. If you have any pressing household chores or responsibilities, do yourself a favor and complete those ahead of time to have less stress while you recover. We recommend arranging for a trusted friend or family member to drive you home from the hospital and stay with you for at least 24 hours after surgery. Make sure you understand all your post-surgical instructions and follow them to the letter.

Schedule Your Gynecomastia Consultation With a Qualified Surgeon

The final step in preparing for gynecomastia surgery is to sit down for a face-to-face conversation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. This consultation is your opportunity to get answers to all your questions about what you can anticipate before, during, and after your procedure to give you realistic expectations for your results.

If you live in Northern Virginia, Maryland, or the greater Washington, D.C., area and would like to learn more about the life-changing self-esteem boost Dr. Desman can help you achieve with gynecomastia surgery, we invite you to contact us today.