Find out what you need to know before deciding to have gynaecomastia surgery, what to expect and what post-operative care is required. Find out more with Enhance Surgical and talk to us today.

1. The Ultimate Gynae Guide
to Gynaecomastia Surgery
Dr Ian Mitchell | Enhance Surgical

2. Gynaecomastia
Surgery
Deciding if it’s right for you
Dr Ian Mitchell | Enhance Surgical
1

3. Gynaecomastia
Gynaecomastia usually presents as
pointy breasts with a lump you can feel
behind the nipple.

4. Male chest anatomy

5. Gynaecomastia is caused by
enlarged mammary glands
Tip
All mammals have
mammary glands
including men.

6. Breasts are usually stimulated to
grow by the hormone oestrogen.
Males convert some of their male
hormone testosterone into oestrogen.

7. Anabolic steroids (like
TESTOSTERONE), or
the testosterone surge
experienced in puberty,
can both lead to high
levels of circulating
oestrogen.
Did you know?
Many of our patients are
tradies or gym - goers
who have had issues
with cycling off steroids.

8. High levels of
oestrogen can cause
male mammary
glands to grow.
This is usually what
causes
gynaecomastia.

9. Prolactin.
Another hormone, prolactin, can also
cause gynaecomastia.
High prolactin levels can occur as a
side effect of some medications or
could be caused by a benign pituitary
gland tumour.
Tip
Commonly known as
‘Gynae’ surgery or ‘fixing
the man boobs,
Gynaecomastia surgery
is discreet and
affordable.’

10. Lumps.
Many patients present with
gynaecomastia with a scan which does
not show enlarged breast tissue.
If a distinct lump can be felt behind the
areola then this is almost always
gynaecomastia (even with a negative
scan) and may benefit from surgery

11. Gynaecomastia usually affects
both sides but one side is
usually bigger than the other.
Sometimes gynaecomastia
only affects one breast.

12. Gynaecomastia
Surgery
What to expect
Dr Ian Mitchell | Enhance Surgical
2

13. Medication
You’ll be provided with antibiotics
prior to surgery and a strong sedative
table (Xanax) to relax you prior to your
procedure.
Ensure you arrive 30 mins prior to
your surgery for these, so the
medication has time to take effect.

14. Anaesthetic
➔ The operation is carried
out under local
anaesthetic.
➔ Anaesthetic is injected
around the breast tissue
and areola.
➔ This usually causes
minimal discomfort.

15. Surgery
An incision is made from
3 o’clock to 9 o’clock
position around the
bottom of the areola
You won’t feel any pain,
as the tissue will be
numb.

16. Surgery
The breast tissue is
surgically removed
through the incision,

17. Surgery
Once the gland is
removed the wound is
packed with cotton
gauze while the same
surgery is carried out on
the other breast.

18. Surgery
After the tissue has
been removed from
both breast, the packing
is removed from the first
breast and a drainage
tube is inserted and the
cut is stitched.

19. Surgery
The drainage tubes are
inserted into small
plastic expanding
reservoirs.

20. Surgery
Sterile dressings are
then applied to cover
the surgery.

21. Surgery
You’ll be fitted with a
compression vest which
supports the drains,
which will be taped to
your shoulders.
You can then be driven
home.

22. Gynaecomastia
Surgery
After care
Dr Ian Mitchell | Enhance Surgical
3

23. Surgery
Sterile dressings are
then applied to cover
the surgery.

24. Taking care of yourself
2 days 2 weeks
Surgery
No showers or baths for 2
days
Day 2
Return to the surgery to
remove your drains
Showering
You’ll be able to have quick
showers for the next weeks
Compression Vest
You’ll be required to wear the
vest for 2 weeks after the surgery
Stitches
2 weeks after surgery, the
stitches are removed.

25. After 2 weeks, you can
usually return to normal
activities.
➔ We recommend 1 week off
work.
➔ No heavy work in the second
week.
You can return to the gym and
normal work after the second
week.

26. Potential risks
These slides have detailed the considerations required prior to
consenting to Gynaecomastia Surgery, how the surgery will be
performed and your required aftercare.
In order to proceed with the surgery, you need to understand
how the operation is performed and MUST have the potential
risks explained to you.
Before agreeing to surgery, you must acknowledge you have
read these slides have and sign an informed consent form.

27. Explaining the risks
Dr Mitchell will explain these risks to you before your
surgery. The next slide details the Consent Form you
need to print and bring with you to your consultation.
You should not sign the consent form until you have had
the risks of surgery explained by Dr Mitchell.

28. Dr Ian Mitchell | Enhance Surgical
INFORMEDCONSENTFORBILATERALBREASTSURGERY
Patient…………………………………………………………………………………
PriortohavingsubcutaneousmastectomiesIhavereadthissheetandagreethat
Iampreparedtotaketherisksoftheadverseeventsoutlinedbelowaspotential
consequencesofthesurgery.IindemnifyDrIanMitchellagainstlegalactionin
theeventthatIexperienceanyofthefollowingcomplicationsofthissurgery.
IacknowledgethatDrMitchellhasexplainedtheprocedureinsufficientdepth
toallowmetomakeafullyinformeddecisiontomysatisfaction.Further,Ihave
hadtheopportunitytoaskanyquestionsandIamfullysatisfiedthatIam
preparedtoundergobilateralsubcutaneousmastectomysurgery.Iacknowledge
thatIhavetheopportunitytodeclinethissurgeryintheeventthatIdecidethatI
amnotpreparedtotaketheriskoftheseadverseeventsoccurring.
CommonAdverseEvents
•Bruising
•Strongpainfollowingsurgery
•Visiblescaroneachareola(thepigmentedcircularareaaroundthenipple),loss
ofnipplesensation
•Lumpbehindthenipplecausedbybloodcollection(haematoma)orscartissue
LesscommonAdverseEvents
•Woundbreakdownanduglyscarformation
•Woundinfectionwhichcouldpotentiallyrequirefurtherantibioticsand
delayedwoundhealing
•Nippleandareoladistortion(theareolamaychangeshapeandbecomefolded
andugly)
•Largebloodcollectionrequiringre-openingofthesurgicalcut(incision)
•Concavitybehindtheareola(adepressionbehindtheareola)
RareAdverseEvents
•Chronicinfectionwithdamagetolargerareasonthechest
•Bloodpoisoning
•Complicationsrequiringadmissiontohospital
•Retainedforeignbody(eggauzeleftinthewound)
•Lossofnippleandareola
IagreewiththestatementsatthetopofthispageandacknowledgethatIam
preparedtoriskthepossibleadverseoutcomeslistedabove.
Signed……………………………………………………………………….
Date……………………………………
Name…………………………………………………………………………
Witness(signature)…………………………………………………………………..
Date…………………………………….
Witnessname…………………………………………………………………………

29. Next steps
Contact our friendly team at
Enhance Surgical to book a
consultation with Dr Ian
Mitchell, to discuss your
Enhance Surgical
transformation.
Dr Ian Mitchell
Enhance Surgical