Truman Customer Story Column
The worries of those facing gynecomastia surgery fall broadly into two strands.
I Want to Wear Something That Isn't Oversized
One is fear of the surgery itself; the other is worry about the result. The patient whose story I borrow today belonged to the latter. His concern was that if the chest sank too far — becoming what people call a "cliff" — what then. He already understood that removing wrongly is more frightening than removing a lot.
Here I write the story of a patient who recently received gynecomastia surgery together with apocrine (body odor) gland treatment at our Gangnam clinic.
Not How Much You Remove, but How Much You Leave
Gynecomastia surgery is not a good surgery simply because a great deal is removed.
Taking away too much can create a sunken hollow in the chest, and that stands out no less than remaining gland tissue would. So I approach the surgery not as "removal" but as "sculpting." Using the natural thickness of a man's chest as the standard, I first decide how much to leave before I begin.
He, too, had worried before surgery that it might turn out like a cliff, but he said that once he saw the result, nothing of the sort happened. If the direction of a worry is an expectation of precision, answering that expectation is the surgeon's job.
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A Process You Only Have to Follow
His answer about the clinic was concise. The system was well organized, so all he had to do was follow the guidance.
We confirm the condition in consultation, and then, step by step — pre-surgery preparation, the procedures on the day, aftercare — we tell you in advance what needs to be done at each stage. From the patient's side, there should be no need to puzzle over what comes next. That puzzling is rightly ours to do instead.
"I want to wear something that isn't oversized."
When I asked what he most wanted to do after surgery, he answered this:
"I want to wear something that isn't oversized."
For those who have long carried gynecomastia, oversized clothing was not a taste but a defense. Choosing clothes that fit the body ceases to be an act that requires courage. What the surgery changes is the shape of the chest, but what actually changes is the time spent standing in front of the wardrobe.
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A Word for Those With the Same Concern
When I asked what he would say to others with the same concern, he left a short answer: "Come here."
I am grateful for the words, but this is, above all, a story that comes from his own experience. Whether surgery is needed, and which method is right, is something to decide after confirming your own condition through an examination. The promise we can make is that we will guide you toward that decision with accurate information, without exaggeration.
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Until the Day You Choose Clothes That Fit
A man who worried about turning into a "cliff" now talks about the clothes he wants to wear.
The starting point of that change is an accurate diagnosis and a precise plan. For those whose hesitation has stretched on, I recommend beginning by simply confirming your condition first.
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- Dr. Kim Seok-won, TRUEMAN Gangnam -
