During the consultation with A/Prof Marucci, he will take a full medical history from you, in particular any history of surgery, allergies, medications, smoking and alcohol intake and any family history of gynaecomastia or breast cancer. A/Prof Marucci will then perform a standard examination of your chest including the glands in the armpits, to make sure there are no suspicious masses that might need further investigation. A/Prof Marucci will then analyze the shape of your chest, the symmetry and the relative position of the nipple to the fold underneath the breast. A/Prof Marucci will discuss your goals for the procedure and the risks and benefits of gynaecomastia surgery. A/Prof Marucci will show you before and after photos of previous patients he has treated. Often two consultations are undertaken before surgery. After a thorough explanation of the potential risks and complications, A/Prof Marucci will take you through the consent form and a full written outline of the costs involved will be provided.

On the day of the surgery, A/Prof Marucci will first draw on you to make a plan for the surgery. You will be taken into the operating theatre and the anaesthetist will make you go to sleep by giving you medicine through a drip. A/Prof Marucci will then put local anaesthetic solution into the tissues of the chest. A 1.5 – 2.5 cm incision is then made in the armpit. Liposuction is performed through thin hollow tubes to remove fat. Through the same incision, the excess glandular tissue underneath the nipple is removed and sent to the lab for analysis. The incision is then closed with dissolving sutures. Dressings are placed on the wounds. A chest binder is then put on – this is like a stretchy corset that does up with Velcro in front of the chest. The chest binder applies gentle pressure to the chest area to prevent the build-up of fluid.

You will go home on the day of the surgery. Take it easy when you get home. Leave the dressings alone. You can remove the chest binder the day after the surgery and shower normally using soap and shampoo. The dressings on the wounds can get wet the day after surgery. Pat the dressings dry after your shower and then put the binder back on. The local anaesthetic will last for a few hours. You will be given painkillers to go home with. You need to wear the binder day and night for the first 3 weeks, and then just at night for another 3 weeks. If there is any bleeding from the wound, put firm pressure on the bleeding area for at least 10 minutes with clean tissues. This should stop 99% of all bleeding. Look at the clock and make sure it is a full 10 minutes. If the bleeding hasn’t stopped after 20 – 30 minutes of pressure, let the rooms or A/Prof Marucci know.