A patient undergoing gynecomastia surgery is at risk for a number of complications following the procedure.
Complications of surgery to reduce gynecomastia includes:
(1) dermal scar, especially if there is hypertrophy or keloid formation
(2) hyperpigmentation of the scar
(3) irregularities in the contour of the skin surface, including skin redundancy
(4) deformity of the nipple-areaola complex
(5) surgical site infection
(6) bleeding, including hematoma
(7) other cosmetic defects such as lack of bilateral symmetry
Risk factors for complications:
(1) excessive resection of tissue for the level of gynecomastia
(2) resection of a large amount of tissue
(3) asymmetry in the gynecomastia
Methods to reduce complications:
(1) lipofilling in the resection area
(2) avoiding an incision into the areolar complex
(3) use of a small skin incision
(4) direct control of bleeding with hemostasis
(5) use of the pull-through technique
