There is no right or wrong age for surgery to be performed. All too often, teenagers with this problem are given a pat on the shoulder by their pediatrician and told to wait it out until it disappears by itself, often by the “magical” age of 18. Unfortunately, many teenagers spend their entire teenage years waiting in vain for this to occur and are subject to ridicule and embarrassment during this critical time in their lives. On the other hand, one should give adequate time for the condition to resolve by itself.
Pediatricians may also be concerned about the possibility of recurrence of gynecomastia if surgery is performed at too young an age. This has proven not to be the case. Not one of several hundred treated adolescents has ever had a recurrence!
If gynecomastia has been present for two or more years and is stable and has not increased in size, then surgery may be considered. The decision to operate is based not only on the diagnosis of gynecomastia but also on the maturity of the youngster and his capability of understanding the surgery as well as the ability to cope with the post-op pain and to follow the post-op care regimen. Surgery has been successfully performed on hundreds of young men from age 12 through 18. Obviously, this decision is made on an individual basis.
Older men suffering with this condition are also candidates for surgery, but must understand that the skin may not totally tighten after the surgery is performed since they may have lost some elasticity in their skin through the natural process of aging. If deemed necessary by your cosmetic surgeon, various alternative procedures will be discussed at the time of consultation. Again, decisions must be made on an individual basis.
