Truman Customer Story Column
The Skin Was Stretched, and It Seems to Be Recovering Gradually Over Time
In the box asking what was different from what they expected during the surgery, someone who had gynecomastia surgery at the end of June wrote this: "I don't think the effect showed up right away. I expected it to be completely flat, but the skin was stretched, and it seems to be recovering gradually over time."
Not many people write this about their surgical result in a review. It is also exactly the point we put the most effort into explaining at consultation.
The Day You Come Off the Operating Table Is Not the EndGynecomastia surgery removes glandular tissue and fat. The skin stays as it is while the volume decreases. It takes time for skin that has been stretched for a long time to adhere to match the reduced volume, and in the meantime swelling and bruising are mixed in, so the contour does not appear all at once.
That is why we tell people not to judge the result by the shape right after surgery. The period of wearing the compression garment is a time that helps the skin settle into place, and even after that it gradually settles over several months. The speed differs from person to person depending on skin elasticity, age, and the amount of tissue removed.
Among their worries while considering surgery, this person put scars first. "I think my biggest concern was about scars. I was also very worried about the cost."
The incision goes in along the border of the areola. Because it is where the skin color naturally changes, it tends to blend into the border as it heals, but how much remains differs depending on constitution, the extent of excision, and care during recovery. The cost differs depending on whether national health insurance applies, and that is decided after the condition is confirmed through examination and tests. They also wrote that they were worried about the heat of the compression garment with summer surgery, and we advise preparing a spare and wearing them alternately.
Time Spent Looking at the Ultrasound TogetherFor how it felt on first coming to the clinic, they wrote: "It was good that they explained in detail with ultrasound, and I definitely felt like I was being cared for."
Ultrasound is both a test and a tool for explanation. When we look together on the screen at where the glandular tissue is and how much there is, and in what proportion it is mixed with fat, the conversation about the scope of surgery becomes much more concrete. They also added that there was almost no waiting time and the staff were all male, so it felt less burdensome.
As what they wanted to do after surgery, they wrote getting their weight in order and playing basketball and running again.
Returning to exercise is not a special achievement but one step in the expected course. You start with light activity and work your way up in stages, and the timing is decided together at follow-up by looking at the condition of the wound and swelling. It is not something to move up on your own judgment.
For this person, I hope the next season is one of running on the court.
