Synopsis
Understanding the gynecomastia surgery process removes uncertainty and helps you make informed decisions. At Elite Plastic Surgery in Chandler, board-certified surgeons Dr. Rozbeh and Dr. Radbeh Torabi perform male breast reduction using proven techniques tailored to each patient. We outline what actually happens during the procedure, from the moment you arrive on surgery day through the completion of your operation, so you know exactly what to expect.
Living with enlarged male breast tissue affects your confidence and comfort. If diet and exercise haven’t resolved your concerns, gynecomastia surgery offers a permanent solution. The procedure removes excess glandular tissue and fat to create a flatter, more masculine chest contour.
Many men hesitate to pursue treatment because they don’t understand what the surgery involves. We explain each step of the gynecomastia operation we perform at Elite Plastic Surgery Chandler AZ, helping you approach the procedure with confidence and realistic expectations.
When Surgery Becomes Necessary
Gynecomastia develops when male breast tissue enlarges beyond typical proportions. Research shows this condition affects 60-90% of children, 50-60% of adolescents, and up to 70% of men aged 50-69. While many adolescent cases resolve naturally, approximately 40% persist into adulthood and require surgical intervention.
Several factors can cause gynecomastia:
- Hormonal Imbalance: The most common trigger occurs when estrogen levels increase relative to testosterone, causing breast tissue development.
- Steroid and Drug Use: Anabolic steroids, certain medications, and recreational drugs can trigger breast tissue growth.
- Lifestyle Factors: Excessive alcohol consumption and obesity contribute to hormonal changes that promote tissue development.
- Congenital Factors: Some men have a genetic predisposition to develop breast tissue during puberty or later in life.
True gynecomastia involves firm, glandular breast tissue beneath the nipple that cannot be eliminated through diet or exercise. Surgery becomes necessary when this tissue causes physical discomfort, emotional distress, or doesn’t respond to non-surgical treatments.
Pre-Operative Consultation: Planning Your Procedure
Your journey toward a more confident appearance begins with a detailed consultation at our Chandler office. During this visit, Dr. Rozbeh or Dr. Radbeh Torabi personally examines your chest and discusses your goals in depth. This isn’t a rushed appointment—we take time to understand your concerns and answer every question you have.
What Happens During Your Consultation
Physical Examination: We carefully evaluate your chest to determine whether you have glandular tissue, excess fat, or both. We also assess skin elasticity, degree of enlargement, gynecomastia stage, and any asymmetry. This hands-on assessment reveals exactly which surgical technique will achieve your desired results.
Medical History Review: We discuss your overall health, current medications, previous surgeries, and lifestyle factors that might affect your procedure or healing. Be candid about steroid use, supplements, and any medical conditions. This information helps us plan your safest treatment.
Goal Discussion: We listen to what you want to achieve. Whether you’re seeking relief from physical discomfort, want to feel comfortable removing your shirt, or simply desire a more masculine chest contour, understanding your specific goals shapes your treatment plan.
Personalized Treatment Planning: Based on our examination and your goals, we explain which approach will work best: liposuction alone for fatty tissue, excision for glandular tissue, or our combined procedure that addresses both. Every treatment plan is customized to your unique anatomy and objectives.
Wellness Options: We also discuss our advanced wellness techniques, including hormone evaluation and weight optimization options when appropriate, ensuring we address any underlying factors.
Determining Your Candidacy
You may be an ideal candidate if you have:
- Overall good health without conditions that impair healing
- Medically proven gynecomastia confirmed through examination
- Enlarged breasts causing physical discomfort or emotional distress
- Over-developed breasts that haven’t responded to diet and exercise
- Stable body weight maintained for at least six months
- Realistic expectations about surgical outcomes
- Willingness to follow pre- and post-operative instructions
Preparing for Surgery
About two weeks before your gynecomastia operation, you’ll receive detailed preparation guidelines:
Medication Adjustments:
- Stop aspirin, ibuprofen, and other blood-thinning medications 10 days before surgery
- Discontinue fish oil, Vitamin E, and certain herbal supplements
- Continue prescribed medications unless specifically instructed otherwise
Lifestyle Requirements:
- Quit smoking at least two weeks before surgery (nicotine severely impairs healing)
- Avoid alcohol for one week prior to your procedure
- Maintain good nutrition with adequate protein intake
Practical Arrangements:
- Arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours
- Purchase button-front shirts or zip-up hoodies for easier dressing during recovery
- Prepare your recovery space with pillows for elevation and easy-to-reach necessities
We provide a pre-operative packet covering every preparation detail and answer any questions as your surgery date approaches.
Surgery Day: Arrival and Preparation
When you arrive at our accredited surgical facility in Chandler, our team welcomes you and guides you through every step before your gynecomastia operation begins. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that buttons or zips in front to make dressing easier after surgery.
Pre-Operative Steps
Before entering the operating room, we take several key steps to ensure your comfort and safety:
- Check-In and Preparation: You’ll complete final paperwork, change into a surgical gown, and meet your care team.
- Anesthesia Review: Our anesthesiologist confirms your medical history and explains the anesthesia plan. We typically use general anesthesia so you remain completely relaxed and comfortable throughout the procedure.
- Final Consultation: Dr. Rozbeh or Dr. Radbeh Torabi meets with you briefly to review your plan and answer any last-minute questions.
- Surgical Markings: While standing, your surgeon marks the chest area to guide incision placement and ensure symmetry.
- IV Setup: A nurse inserts an intravenous line for anesthesia, fluids, and medications during surgery.
After these steps, anesthesia takes effect, and your procedure begins. The surgery generally lasts one to two hours, depending on the amount of tissue being removed and whether one or both sides of the chest are treated.
The Surgical Procedure: Step-by-Step
Once you’re comfortably under anesthesia, your surgery begins. The procedure typically takes one to two hours, depending on the amount of tissue being removed and whether we’re treating one or both sides of your chest.
Step 1: Strategic Incision Placement
We create incisions that will be carefully hidden after healing. The pattern depends on your specific surgical plan:
For Liposuction: Small incisions around the areola border or in discreet locations allow insertion of the thin cannula.
For Tissue Excision: A semicircular incision along the lower areola border provides access to remove glandular tissue. This placement follows the natural color transition between the areola and skin, making scars far less noticeable as they heal.
For Excess Skin Removal: Additional incisions may be necessary in cases with significant loose skin. We discuss these patterns thoroughly during your consultation.
Step 2: Liposuction (When Applicable)
For patients with excess fatty tissue, we begin with liposuction, also known as liposculpture:
Tumescent Solution: We inject fluid containing saline, local anesthetic, and epinephrine into the treatment area. This numbs the tissue, controls bleeding, and makes fat removal easier and more precise.
Fat Removal: A small, flexible tube (cannula) is inserted through the incisions. We move it in controlled, systematic patterns to suction out unwanted fat while sculpting masculine chest contours.
This technique removes soft fatty tissue while minimizing trauma to surrounding structures and preserving healthy tissue.
Step 3: Glandular Tissue Excision
When glandular breast tissue is present, the hallmark of true gynecomastia, we perform direct excision:
Tissue Access: Through the periareolar incision, we carefully separate the firm glandular tissue from surrounding structures.
Precise Removal: The breast tissue beneath the nipple is surgically excised. This step requires precision and surgical expertise to achieve a flat contour while preserving blood supply and maintaining nipple sensation.
Careful Preservation: We protect blood vessels and nerves supplying the nipple and areola. A thin layer of tissue remains beneath the areola to prevent a sunken or crater-like appearance, ensuring natural-looking results.
Step 4: Fat Flap Sculpture (When Needed)
When significant tissue removal might create contour irregularities or depressions, we perform fat flap sculpture. This advanced technique uses remaining healthy fat to fill any potential depressions and create smooth, even transitions between treated and untreated areas. This prevents crater formation and ensures your chest looks naturally contoured.
Step 5: Combined Procedure
Most gynecomastia cases require both liposuction and excision. This combined approach addresses both fatty tissue and glandular tissue simultaneously, achieving comprehensive correction in a single operation. This is one of the most common techniques we use at Elite Plastic Surgery.
Step 6: Meticulous Closure and Dressing
Once we achieve your desired masculine chest contour:
Suturing: We close the incisions with fine sutures.Stitches are removed after 10 to 14 days at a follow-up appointment.
Drain Placement: Small drainage tubes may be placed under your skin to prevent fluid accumulation during initial healing. The dressing remains for two days before it is removed along with drains.
Compression Garment Application: We fit you with a compression garment or strong support. This minimizes swelling, supports your healing tissues, and helps your skin conform to your new chest contours. Wear this as suggested by your plastic surgeon to provide support to the healing breast tissues.
Protective Bandaging: Sterile dressings protect your incisions and must be kept dry and clean.
Follow-Up Visit: Schedule a follow-up visit for one week after surgery to monitor your healing progress.
What to Expect: Pain and Discomfort
Most men experience less pain than anticipated. During surgery, you feel nothing due to general anesthesia. Afterward, your chest feels sore and tight, similar to muscle soreness after intense exercise.
We provide prescription pain medication for the first 48-72 hours. Most patients transition to over-the-counter pain relievers after the initial recovery period. The compression garment provides support that reduces discomfort throughout healing.
Recovery Timeline
| Phase | Duration | Key Milestones |
| Immediate | Days 1-3 | Complete rest, compression garment continuously |
| Early | Days 4-7 | Drain removal, return to light activities |
| Intermediate | Weeks 2-3 | Return to work, low-impact exercise |
| Active | Weeks 4-6 | Resume most activities, gradual exercise increase |
| Final | Months 3-6 | Complete swelling resolution, final results visible |
First 48 Hours
Complete rest is suggested for two to three days. Avoid showering for 48 hours to allow incisions to seal properly. Keep the bandaged area dry and clean.
First Week
The dressing remains for two days before removal along with drains. Schedule a follow-up visit for one week after surgery. You can start low-impact exercises after a week, but avoid strenuous activity.
Weeks 2-4
Stitches are removed after 10-14 days during a follow-up appointment. Wear your compression garment or strong support as suggested by your plastic surgeon to provide support to the healing breast tissues and help overcome any discomfort. Avoid stressful work or exercise for three weeks.
Weeks 4-6
Gradually resume normal activities and exercise. Most patients return to full gym routines, including chest exercises, by six weeks.
Long-Term Care
Avoid deep baths for a week post-surgery. Avoid direct sun exposure and tanning for six weeks to prevent scar darkening. Gynecomastia surgery recovery time depends on the severity of the surgery and your body’s ability to heal. Results are permanent when you maintain stable weight and avoid substances that trigger tissue regrowth.
Why Choose Elite Plastic Surgery for Gynecomastia Treatment
Dr. Rozbeh and Dr. Radbeh Torabi are board-certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of General Surgery. Their specialized training includes microsurgical techniques that deliver precision during tissue removal and preservation of sensation.
Our Advantages
24/7 Surgeon Availability: We maintain an answering service that connects you directly to your surgeon any time, including weekends and holidays. Dr. Rozbeh and Dr. Radbeh Torabi have come in after hours to see patients, demonstrating a commitment to your care.
Hospital Privileges: Both surgeons hold privileges at HonorHealth and Abrazo hospital systems, ensuring you have access to comprehensive care if needed.
Family Practice Approach: As brothers operating a true family practice, we treat patients like extended family. This philosophy shapes every interaction from consultation through final follow-up.
Customized Techniques: Whether you need liposuction alone, excision, combined procedures, or fat flap sculpture, we employ the most appropriate technique for your anatomy and goals.
Academic Excellence: As published researchers and clinical professors, our surgeons stay current with the latest evidence-based approaches to gynecomastia treatment.
Restore Confidence with Gynecomastia Surgery at Elite Plastic Surgery in Chandler
Understanding what happens during gynecomastia surgery helps you approach treatment with confidence. The procedure removes excess breast tissue that won’t respond to diet or exercise, creating permanent results when performed by experienced board-certified surgeons.
Elite Plastic Surgery’s Dr. Rozbeh and Dr. Radbeh Torabi combine surgical precision with compassionate care. Our approach includes advanced post-operative therapies that support comfortable healing and optimal outcomes.
Ready to learn more? Contact us at (480) 291-6895 or [email protected] to schedule your consultation. Visit our Chandler office to discuss your goals and discover how we can help you achieve the masculine chest contour you deserve.