American Society of Plastic Surgeons
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ctadams1
2 years ago
Answered

Scar tissue or breast gland 10 months after surgery?

I got gynecomastia surgery last October. The results are great but I can feel a lump behind my left nipple whereas the right nipple has no lump and feels flat. It causes my left nipple to protrude ever so slightly. When I rub or feel for the lump it will feel sore/sensitive for a couple of days. Do you think this is remaining breast gland that is growing or simply scar tissue?

Procedure: Male Breast Reduction
Location: birmingham, AL

Replies 7

Claudio Nestor Saladino
ASPS Int. Surgeon

if the difference is minimal I´d left like that. maybe one can try with an corticosteroid injection

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Samir Shureih

Without an in person physical examination, it is not possible to make a diagnosis.

Best to see your plastic surgeon and possibly a sonogram will help give an idea of what you are dealing with

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Elliot Jacobs
ASPS Surgeon

Sometimes the gland is adequately removed and then scar tissue develops. The diagnosis is oftentimes made by the history of the development of the lump that you feel. If scar tissue is suspected, then a very careful and judicious injection of cortisone can reduce the lump. If indeed it is gland, then it would not respond to cortisone and then further surgery might be indicated. One cannot differentiate between residual gland or scar tissue merely by feel.

Elliot Jacobs MD New York City

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Chao-Chuan Wu
ASPS Int. Surgeon

It is the growing remaining breast gland!

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David Rapaport
ASPS Surgeon
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If there was a period of time following surgery without fullness, and this fullness developed later, then it is likely to be scar tissue.

If the fullness has been present since immediately after surgery, and if the doctor did not do open removal of breast tissue and only performed liposuction, then there is a higher possibility this is residual breast tissue. This is because this breast tissue does not get removed with liposuction. This is something that your surgeon should likely be aware of and should be able to treat now with a secondary procedure. Please ask your surgeon about his or her experience with this procedure.

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Nelson Castillo

Thank you for sharing your question. Assuming the lump has not been there previously after surgery, then it is likely scar tissue formation. If the mass was always present then it is likely retained gynecomastia tissue. If small likely best to leave alone to avoid worsened scarring or contour irregularities from a revision, but if large, then a revision may be required.

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Cedric Hunter
ASPS Surgeon

Without doing a physical exam it is hard to determine if scar or breast tissue, and even on exam they can feel similar. If the area was flat immediately after surgery and the lump developed over time, then it is either scar formation or growth of any remaining breast tissue.

If you think the results are great my general thoughts would be to leave things as they are and to massage the area so that it becomes less sensitive over time.

I would recommend that you follow up with the operating surgeon for an exam and additional recommendations. If there is residual/new breast tissue and it remains sensitive, you may need a revision procedure. However, if massage resolves the sensitivity and you are otherwise happy, then enjoy the great results!

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