This is the page where you can review questions and stories from patients, view the opinions of lay persons, and see answers from Dr. Bermant and other physicians. Do you want to ask a question, post an answer, or make a comment? Information E-mailed to me will be considered for posting.
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Information posted in this section does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Dr. Bermant.
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Travel from Illinois for Internal Mastopexy Gynecomastia Male Chest Sculpture
Dear Doctor Bermant:
I wanted to express my gratitude for what you have done for my husband and his gynecomastia. I met my husband almost 7 years ago and after about 1 year into our relationship, I made an insensitive comment about his chest in a moment of jest and from that moment on, I have lived with his shame. One thing good that came from that comment I made was that we were able to have an open conversation about his body, of which he had never discussed with anybody. We researched the condition and we learned that, for an expense, it could be corrected. At the time, we were not in a financial position to consider surgery, by it was good to know that it was an option down the road. Although I have continually tried to comfort him and tell him that I loved him and his body no matter what, he never felt comfortable in his own (loose) skin. I hated that he covered himself as he walked shirtless, even in the privacy of our own bedroom. I resented that he wouldn’t join his family in the swimming pool. I was annoyed that he continually tugged on his shirts and sweaters. Believe me, although the condition is truly a burden on the "inflicted" it does affect the families as well.
Once my husband learned of the surgeon that was world-renowned at this corrective procedure, we decided that if he was ever going to have plastic surgery, we would make the journey from Illinois to Virginia. It was easy to put it off. There’s never enough money or time, you know. But our children were getting older and due to my husband’s uncomfortable feelings, we were truly missing out on parts of life – so we took out loans and we put in for vacation and just 2 weeks ago, we set off to see you.
For about 6 hours you worked on my husband. You tried a new procedure for the skin reduction and, from what I can see (and I haven’t even seen his chest without the gauze on it) you have managed to change our lives. For that, I can’t thank you enough. From day one, I have always loved my husband. That is why, with tears in my eyes, I thank you for making him a more happy and confident man.
You and your staff (Jane) have impressed both of us tremendously. As you work to perfect your technique, please don’t ever change your professionalism. Although I did not meet you personally, I am so glad to have been touched by your work and I am grateful that you took added care with my husband to ensure the success of the surgery.
In a society where most people don’t even realize that there is a word for the condition that my husband suffered silently from, I only hope that word gets out about procedures like this. I hope that the individuals (including my husband) investigating it do not feel shame and can one day openly discuss their surgery with others.
I respect that your time is very valuable, so I won’t continue on singing your praises, but I’ll simply say it again. Thank you.
Very truly yours,
I
p.s. feel free to use these comments in any way you find appropriate.
Dr. Bermant responds:
We are excited with this Short Scar Internal Male Mastopexy variation of my dynamic technique. Thank you very much for your kind words. Your thoughts mean a lot to my staff and myself. We look forward to hearing about your continued progress.
Surgeon Travels from Florida for Dr. Bermant's Gynecomastia Male Chest Sculpture
I’m very happy with the results.
The overall experience was wonderful from the first contact with the office right through surgery. Admittedly I am one of those people afraid of needles, but the whole experience has been painless right from the beginning. I only took one pain medication and that was one Tylenol, and that was all. I am dramatically improved from what I was before, and I am still trying to get use to the new chest.
The bruising and swelling were very minimal. I noticed a little bit of bruising and it was even hard to tell. You had to be just in the right light situation to see it at all. I am not sure I had any swelling at all.
The compression garment definitely helped even the first few days I noticed when I took it off to shower I was definitely more tender. I’m still wearing it at this point and find it very helpful.
The anesthesia sedation experience couldn’t have been any smoother from my point of view.
The anesthetist used a little bit of Lidocaine when she put in the IV so literally from the very beginning to the end of my surgery my only “painful” experience was a needle stick from getting a little Lidocaine. After that, I essentially had an IV put in that I didn’t even feel, and I went to sleep and then the surgery was over.
There was no nausea or vomiting, not at all. A few hours after surgery I felt like I hadn’t had anything done, I felt so good.
I’m extremely happy. It surpassed all my expectations. My perceived negatives, the pain issue, the recovery – all of those turned out to be much less than I had worried about. Obviously I think we accomplished our goal in the improvement of my appearance.
I think you and your office were extremely thorough. I think you have set a model here delivering all the information a patient would need. As a surgeon myself I can honestly say I learned a few lessons myself in how to take better care of my own patients and about all the information a patient would need.
Dr. Bermant responds:
Thank you for your kind words. We really appreciate such feedback especially from someone familiar with the inner workings of the operating room.
Travel From Florida For Dr. Bermant's Gynecomastia Male Breast Surgery - 2 Days Post-Op
Hi Dr. Bermant,
I simply wanted to take the time to thank you for performing gynecomastia surgery on me on -. I have extensively reviewed your website, so there is little to nothing new that I can tell you that you aren't already aware of. However, I'd still like to thank you because your surgery (on me) will correct years of psychological difficulties that have led to social complications, due to my inability to deal with or even explain gynecomastia to others because, well, it is a taboo subject in our society. The broaching of that topic in public drops jaws and gives people a "deer in headlights look," which is very disconcerting for the one with gynecomastia. It is simply impossible to explain to others.
I have no idea why I had such a large fatty build-up in my male breasts, while the rest of my body remained totally proportional, but the psychological scarring that resulted was far worse than any physical complications that could ever arise from having gynecomastia. The service that you are performing is far more valuable than what you may realize and that is what I wanted to point out to you.
Thank you so much and I am deeply indebted to your rare and esoteric service to men like me. It is far more valuable than what you know (yes, I repeated myself there). I can now live life, instead of forever hiding my former deep dark secret from the rest of the world, which was a burden that continually destroyed my life and my psychological health. It was a cross too heavy to bear.
Thank you.
E
Dr. Bermant responds:
Thank you for your kind words. I am glad I was able to help. Please keep us informed about your progress. We look forward to speaking with you.
Michael Bermant, MD
Travel From Florida For Dr. Bermant's Gynecomastia Male Breast Surgery - 15 Days Post-Op
Hi Dr. Bermant,
It's been 15 days since you performed gynecomastia surgery on me and I am healing nicely and rapidly. I am impressed with the lack of post-operative pain. I took no pain medication.
My second unexpected observation is a disappearance of lower back pain, now that I have had gynecomastia surgery. I have read of women who had a reduction or disappearance of back pain, due to breast reduction surgery, but it never crossed my mind in a million years that I would experience the same result. Yet that was the second significant observation that I noted after the surgery (the first observation being a lack of post-operative pain). I do not believe that it is psychosomatic because I am now able to stand for long periods without getting a backache, which I have never been able to do.
I am extremely grateful for your artistic skill -- and for your patience -- with men who were born with the gynecomastia deformity. I will write more in the future, but it may be a longer while.
Thanks again for your professional and artistic expertise.
E
Dr. Bermant responds:
Thank you for your kind words. We look forward to hearing about your continued progress.
Travel From Florida For Dr. Bermant's Gynecomastia Male Breast Surgery - 9 Weeks Post-Op
Hi Dr. Bermant,
I was not going to write you again until six months elapsed, but I change my mind. It has now been 9 weeks since you performed gynomastia surgery on me - or 63 days - but whose counting?
I did no exercise for the first three weeks, based on your instructions. After 3 weeks, I introduced 30 minutes of cardiovascular training by alternating stationary bicycling one day and elliptical training the next day. It did not hurt my chest, but in the begining, I definately felt a "presence" in or on my chest. It's hard to describe the sensation. It completely passed after about the 4th or 5th week and I was very careful not to jerk or shake my body because that would slow down the healing process.
I vowed not to do anything with my upperbody until after at least six weeks (42 days). After 53 days, I felt strong enough to trying doing something with my upper body, so I began by swimming an extremely slow mile without any pain (twice weekly). It's now been 63 days since surgery and I felt great today while swimming a slow and relaxing mile. From the outset, I have always let "comfort" be my guide because that was the word that you used. If I felt discomfort in any activity or motion, then I would either slow down or stop it altogether.
I sort of wish that you had removed a tad bit more fat from the undercarriage of my left gynocomastic breast. The left side of my body is a tad bit larger than the right side of my body, so that might explain why there was more fat in my left gynocomastic breast. Since you removed fat based upon specific weight measurements, the size difference was probably present prior to surgery. However, your masterful workmanship is supurb. The general contour of my chest is now masculine and I no longer feel compelled to spend useless/wasted hours in the gym, desperately trying to masculinize my former gynomastic breasts. It never worked, but it did keep me in good general shape, so at least something good came out of it.
Your medical aide said that the evolution (change) in my chest will continue and will probably be completed after about six months. With that in mind, I have been wearing a compression vest 24/7, except during bathing or indoor swimming activities. I paid good money to receive your masterful craftsmanship, so wearing a compression vest to aid in the final recovery is an easy thing to do.
I'll never forget what you said during the pre-operative consultation. You said that if you operate on me, then my chest will be completely "flat" -- and then you just stared at me, waiting for a responce. I got the impression from you that many men do not want a flat chest and that it could not be changed, thus it would be a permanent decision on my part. I thought to myself, "Wow!!!! That would be great!!!! Let's get to it!!!! What are we waiting for????" haaaaaaaaa...
Even after gynomastic surgery, my muscular portion of my chest is still very large, but now it has a male appearance. I have always had big pectorial muscles, but they were covered with feminine/fatty/pointy breasts. Now they are completely different because they are totally masculine.
Only men who have experienced gynocomastia can understand the shame and horror of:
- trying to undress in a mens' locker room or
- trying to go out to a swimming pool (which is common here in Florida) or
- trying to wear a plain polo shirt with feminine breasts poking through.
I have had men sexually reach out and pinch my former gynocomastic breasts and have had men make open comments about them. How does one reply to these sorts of gestures? It has been a very difficult life for me, indeed.
Thanks again for your masterful craftsmanship. I will keep you posted on future developments.
E
Dr. Bermant responds:
Thank you for keeping us updated on your progress.
Michael Bermant, MD
Travel From Florida For Dr. Bermant's Gynecomastia Male Breast Surgery - 15 Months Post-Op
Dr. Bermant,
My life is drastically different now. When getting dressed to go out into public, I no longer have a preoccupation with finding something to wear that will cover up my chest. It was a nightmare for so many years. Now with great ease I simply grab any shirt I want -- and put it on -- and go out into public without any fear of being noticed or stared at. The nightmare, which I never thought would end, has finally come to a close. It was a horrid chapter in my life. I simply can't believe how it consumed the quality of my life. In fact, I believe that I began to experience mental health issues in the last few years of my life, prior to corrective surgery e.g. when one hides from the rest of the world a deep dark terrible secret, it eventually begins to warp one's thinking. In my later life, I even had one women (that I was interested in) comment, "What are you hiding? It seems like you're hiding something" and, in fact, I was. She was quite perceptive, although I never disclosed to her my horrid secret. I was hiding a hideous deformity that I could never allow anyone to see or know about because no explanation could ever suffice.
Oops, sorry for the long tangent, but you can clearly see how the vestiges of that horrid chapter in my life are still appreciated. Thanks again for the cure!
E
Dr. Bermant responds:
That is so nice to hear. Thank you for the update and revisting your resolved gynecomastia nightmares.
Michael Bermant, MD
More Florida Gynecomastia Patient Experiences
Subj: Re: Gynecomastia surgery
Dr Bermant-
I recenty had surgery to correct a moderate case of gynecomastia. I went into the surgery with moderate expectations. I knew that I would not come out looking like a GQ model, but hoped that I would have a "normal" squared-off appearance to my pectorals/chest, rather than the rounded and full shape to the pectorals which I associate with women's breasts. While the surgery dramatically reduced the size of each breast, the shape continues to be rounded, not squared off on the sides and bottom.
My doctor seems pleased with the results due to the reduction in size (I look fine in clothes). However, I am no more likely to remove my shirt in public than prior to the surgery because I am still embarassed by the feminine look. I work out regularly, but am wondering whether there is anything else surgically that can be done. What additional questions should I be asking in order to understand whether there is still room for improvement?
Dr. Bermant responds:
This should not be construed as medical advice. I am a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.
Your problems are not an uncommon in plastic surgery:
expectations vs what can be done
what looks good to the surgeon vs what looks good to the patient
Why don't you ask the same questions, in the same manner to your operating surgeon.
Gynecomastia, the overgrowth of male breast can have besides the glandular component, skin and fat. There are many surgical procedures that handle the various components to different degrees. Sometimes one method may handle the problem enough to make some happy, but not enough for others. Perhaps another operation may reduce the tissue to what will make you happy. Perhaps the scars of that technique will not be acceptable to you. Without an examination and evaluation, I cannot say what options are available to you.
I hope this information proves of some use. If my office can be of further assistance, please let us know. We can be reached at: (804) 748-7737. My staff and I try to ensure the comfort of our out of town guests during their consultations and procedures.
Michael Bermant, MD
Subj: Re: Gynacomastia
Dear Doctor Bermant
My name is G and I am a male eighteen years of age. When I was sixteen I had surgery for gynacomastia. The surgery improved my condition, but I am Still unhappy. My chest still sags a little and my nipples are wrinkled. I haven't gained any weight since the surgery. I went back and he said he could cut the rest out but it would leave a scar. I wanted to know it there was an alternative to this. I lived in Jacksonville, NC but now I attend college at NCSU in Raleigh. If you could refer me to a plastic surgeon in the area, I would appreciate it very much. Any other information you could provide me with such as price ranges and such would also be helpful. Thank you.
Dr. Bermant responds:
This should not be construed as medical advice. I am a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.
Gynecomastia is a three dimensional problem. Reduction of the tissue can leave many different results depending on the problem the patient started with, how the healing progresses, and the particular surgery performed. Sometimes a revision is possible. Sometimes a patient may want more than what reasonable surgery can offer. Prices depend on the type surgery performed, the type of anesthesia, and where the surgery is performed. Without an examination and evaluation, I cannot comment on your case.
I am sorry the plasticsurgery4u website is an example of my commitment to patient education. We see patients from all over. My office staff and I must use our time to help our own patients and cannot provide a general referral service.
I hope this information proves of some use. If my office can be of further assistance, please let us know. We can be reached at: (804) 748-7737. My staff and I try to ensure the comfort of our out of town guests during their consultations and procedures.
Michael Bermant, MD
Subj: Re: male breast
Dr. Bermant,
I am an 36 year old male - 5'3 170 pounds. I have always had semi big breasts and have never been able to loose the fat. I've been in good shape all my life, but have had little self-esteem due to this problem. I could never have my shirt off in public because of this. Do many men have this type of treatment, and if so - how long would it be to where i could finally be in public with confidence after a surgery like this?
Thank you for the great web page and answers.
Sincerely.....
Dr. Bermant responds:
This should not be construed as medical advice. I am a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.
Thank you for your kind words.
Large breasts in men, gynecomastia can be troublesome. Tee Shirts and exposure of the upper body have been a common problem for those with such problems. For some this is a deformity of fat alone, for others it is a combination of breast tissue and fat. The breasts can be small to massive with some large enough to need brassieres for support. Correction depends on the deformity. For minimal to moderate problems liposuction and or excision from incisions around the areola will do. For massive breasts both the excess skin and underlying tissue need to be removed with incisions designed to remodel the 3 dimensional problem something similar to breast reduction in women. Anesthesia depends on the extent of surgery and can range from local to general. An in office consultation would help continue your education process to learn what would be possible for your problem
I hope this information proves of some use. If my office can be of further assistance, please let us know. We can be reached at: (804) 748-7737. My staff and I try to ensure the comfort of our out of town guests during their consultations and procedures.
Michael Bermant, MD
Subj: Re: male breast
Dear Dr. Mike,
I am writing in regards to my 14 year old son which doctors have said he has gynacamasty (I'm not sure if this is spelled right) but they have suggested lyposuction. It is very embarrasing for him to wear certain clothes and to have to take his shirt off in front of anyone. We are still in the process of appealing our insurance to pay for this. My husband grew up this way and does not want our son to go through his life not doing certain things because of the way he looks. He is not considered overweight but his breast are still very large. Is there any other way to cure this or a way that our insurance will cover it?
Thank you and if you could write back to me at ...
M
Morris, IL
Dr. Bermant responds:
This should not be construed as medical advice. I am a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.
Gynecomastia (male breasts) can be a very emotional problem. Light clothing distortion and exposure of the upper body have been a common concerns for those with such problems. The extent of the deformity varies greatly. For some an excision of the breast tissue button and liposuction to contour the remaining chest is an option. For those with larger breasts there may be too much skin that will not adequately reduce after removing the underlying material. In such cases breast reduction something similar to the choices seen on my breast ptosis small incision pages is necessary.
Insurance coverage varies from company to company.
For some this is a deformity of fat alone, for others it is a combination of breast tissue and fat. The breasts can be small to massive with some large enough to need brassieres for support. Correction depends on the deformity. For minimal to moderate problems liposuction and or excision from incisions around the areola will do. For massive breasts both the excess skin and underlying tissue need to be removed with incisions designed to remodel the 3 dimensional problem something similar to breast reduction in women. Anesthesia depends on the extent of surgery and can range from local to general. An in office consultation would help continue your education process to learn what would be possible for your problem
I hope this information proves of some use. If my office can be of further assistance, please let us know. We can be reached at: (804) 748-7737. My staff and I try to ensure the comfort of our out of town guests during their consultations and procedures.
Michael Bermant, MD
Subj: Re: male breast
Dear Dr. Bermant,
Thank you so much for your quick reply. It was greatly appreciated and
I will be discussing it further with my husband and child. Thank you
again!
M
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