Will My Depressed Nipples After Gynecomastia Surgery Get Better?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had gynecomastia surgery one month ago. I have noticed that my nipples are depressed inward. Is this just a temporary look and will it go away and the nipples even out with more time? The tissue directly under my nipple is still hard and stiff. I know I may be panicking but I don’t want it to stay like this.

A: At only one month after surgery, it is too early to say that what you are seeing is the final result. However, a retracted nipple appearance this early after gynecomastia surgery is not a good sign. This indicates that either too much tissue has been removed directly underneath the nipple or the surrounding tissues beyond the nipple have not been adequately feathered to make for a smooth transition into the nipple area. I would much rather see a slightly puffy nipple at this point as all of the swelling from surgery has not yet gone away. Once it does the nipple will likely retract some more. The other reason is that too much residual nipple tissue is an easier problem to treat than when too much is removed. I would wait a full three months and even as long as six months to make your final assessment. This length of time is needed to not only allow the chest tissues to fully heal and relax but because revisional surgery would not be done before this time anyway. If the nipple retraction persists, this is going to fat grafting for correction.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana