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The risks of surgery for gynecomastia vary according to the technique. This is a list of some of the possible problems.

Bruising is common especially traditional liposuction . It lasts about two weeks but is sometimes seen up to a month or more after surgery. Swelling occurs after all surgery and lasts about 7-10 days. Sometimes a collection of serum may form in the area . This fluid collection is called a seroma. Drains may be used to reduce this risk. Bleeding is uncommon but can require urgent re-operation. If blood collects at the site of surgery it is called a hematoma and may need removal with a needle or by surgery. Drains may be used to reduce this risk. Infection is rare but can be a serious problem. For this reason many surgeons use antibiotics around the time of surgery. Numbness is due to the division of small skin nerves during surgery. It is inevitable but in most cases sensation will return but may take up to a year. In rare cases permanent loss of feeling to the skin may occur. In some cases this can be painful due to clumps of scar tissue collecting around the end of cut nerves, called neuromas.

Scars are present after all surgery. Liposuction and ultrasonic liposuction leave smaller scars than traditional surgery. In all cases scars can become thick and heavy.

Asymmetry occurs but is usually mild. It is difficult to remove exactly the same amount of tissue on each side and for this reason additional surgery may be needed.

Secondary surgery is sometimes needed to correct under correction or over correction at the original operation.

Wound separation may develop due to infection or poor healing due to many causes such as smoking or poor nutrition.

Irregular contour can occur with any technique but traditional surgery  (direct excision) or traditional liposuction seems to leave more noticeable indentation than ultrasonic liposuction .

Change in shape or position of the nipple is usually due to heavy scar tissue in the layer between the skin and the muscle. With time this may resolve as the scar relaxes but it may take a full year.

The satisfaction rate for gynecomastia seems lower than many other cosmetic surgery operations.  Some studies even suggest that only two out of three people get what they want from surgery(Ridha, 2009). This may in part be due to the higher need for re-operation.

Anesthesia and medication problems can be serious and are related to both local and general anesthetic.

It is important to remember that no surgeon can give a guarantee about the final outcome, including appearance, shape, size and so on.  You should have a realistic attitude about the outcome, and remember that all surgery has good and bad aspects. That there is no such thing as ‘perfect surgery’. The satisfaction rate for cosmetic surgery is around 90%  and although a satisfactory outcome is anticipated this means that 10% of people do not achieve the result that either the patient or the surgeon would like.  If things do not go well you may need revision or secondary surgery. Although many surgeons do not charge for this, there is often a charge for anesthesia and operating room costs.

This is an incomplete list, so check with your doctor and read all permit forms carefully.

Ridha, H., Colville, R. J. I., & Vesely, M. J. J. (2009). How happy are patients with their gynaecomastia reduction surgery? Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 62(11), 1473–1478. doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2008.04.042