Gynecomastia aftercare
A general guide to recovery after male breast reduction: what to expect week by week, and what to do. Your own instructions come with your discharge information and in the patient app.
Contents
Your recovery at a glance
- Off work
- Return to desk work: Week 2
- Driving
- No driving for first week or until off strong painkillers
- Showering
- Shower carefully – OK if outer dressings get wet
- Exercise
- Avoid upper body and chest exercise for 6 weeks
- Your garment
- Wear compression vest 24/7 for first 4 weeks
- First review
- Week 1 (End of Week 1)
- Full recovery
- 6 weeks initial recovery, 3–6 months for final results
This is a general guide for the average patient. Your own instructions come with your discharge information and in your recovery guide in the Waterfront patient app, and they come first.
Before you leave the hospital
- Painkillers: Make sure you have your painkillers before you leave, the nurse looking after you will go through them with you.
- Compression vest: Fitted and comfortable. Understand how to wear and care for it.
- Follow-up appointment: You will be given a card with details of your week 1 nurse appointment and contact details.
- Getting home safely: You must have someone to take you home and a responsible adult with you for the first night.
Week by week
Days 1–3 Early recovery
What is normal
- Chest pain and discomfort
- Swelling and tightness
- Bruising starting to appear
- Numbness around nipples (if gland removed)
- Some blood on dressings
- Mood changes
What to do
- Take painkillers regularly as prescribed
- Wear compression vest 24/7
- Sleep in whatever position is comfortable
- Walk around home every few hours
- Shower carefully (OK if outer dressings get wet)
Days 4–7 Bruising peaks
What is normal
- Bruising gets worse before better
- Swelling may increase
- One side may hurt more (normal)
What to do
- Continue compression vest day and night
- Increase walking gradually
- Light activities OK
Week 1 Nurse appointment
What is normal
- Ready for dressing and stitch removal
- Swelling still present but manageable
What to do
- Attend nurse appointment (end of week 1)
- Outer dressings removed
- Paper tape (steri-strips) removed
- Non-dissolvable stitches removed
- Chest examined
- Questions answered
Week 2 Getting back to normal
What is normal
- Some patients stop painkillers
- Bruising starting to fade
- Swelling reducing
- Feeling more energy
What to do
- Continue wearing compression vest
- Avoid heavy lifting
- Return to desk work possible
- Increase daily walking
- Light household tasks OK
Weeks 3–4 Progressive healing
What is normal
- 80-90% of swelling gone
- Shooting pains (nerves healing – normal)
- May feel firm lumps under nipples (will soften)
What to do
- Can start moisturising scars
- Begin scar massage (once wounds healed)
- Use bio-oil or plain moisturiser
- Firm circular motions, 5 minutes twice daily
- Transition compression: weeks 4–6 during day only
- Light exercise may be permitted
Weeks 4–6 Approaching normal
What is normal
- Most swelling resolved
- Bruising mostly faded
- Feeling confident with healing
- Returning to normal activities
What to do
- Light cardio (walking, stationary bike)
- Lower body exercises OK
- No chest/arm exercises yet
- Continue sun protection on scars (SPF 30+)
- Can resume most normal daily activities
- Follow-up appointment around weeks 4–6
Months 2–3 Final result
What is normal
- Chest contour visible and settling
- Scars significantly faded
- Feeling completely normal
- Full range of motion
What to do
- Gradually resume all exercises
- Start with light weights
- Full exercise with surgeon approval
- Continue sun protection on scars
- Listen to your body
Month 6 Final result
What is normal
- Final results visible
- Chest shape settled
- Scars well-healed and faded
- Complete return to all activities
- Confident with appearance
What to do
- All activities permitted
- Regular exercise including upper body
- Continue long-term care as advised
- Annual check-ups as recommended
Wound care and scars
- Keep dressings clean and dry for first 48 hours
- Shower carefully – OK if outer dressings get wet
- Outer dressings and paper tape removed at week 1 appointment
- Non-dissolvable stitches removed at week 1
- Gently clean incisions after first week
- Start scar massage after week 3 with bio-oil or moisturiser (micropore taping is not needed unless you had skin excision as part of your surgery, your team will tell you if so)
- Watch for signs of infection: increasing redness, yellow/green discharge, fever
Comfort and pain relief
- Take your painkillers as directed on their labels, every medicine you go home with is labelled with its dose and frequency, and your nurse will go through them with you before you leave. Paracetamol and ibuprofen can safely be taken together
- Take prescribed pain medication regularly as scheduled
- Compression vest helps reduce discomfort
- Some tightness and swelling is normal and expected
- Swelling peaks at days 3–5 then gradually improves
- Shooting pains (weeks 3–4) are normal – caused by nerve healing
Compression vest information
A well-fitting compression vest is essential for optimal healing and final chest contour.
Why it matters: Reduces swelling, supports healing tissues, improves final contour, and provides comfort.
First 4 weeks: Wear 24 hours a day
Weeks 4–6: During day only
After 6 weeks: As comfortable
Recommended vests: Macom Gynaefix Vest or Lipoelastic MTm Comfort. Use discount code: QUABA
Scar care
Week 3 Onwards
- 1. Daily Massage (once wounds healed)
- Use bio-oil or plain moisturiser
- Firm circular motions
- 5 minutes twice daily
- 2. Sun Protection
- SPF 30+ on scars
- Cover with clothing when possible
- Scar Timeline
- 1 month: Pink/red, may be raised
- 3 months: Starting to fade
- 6 months: Significantly faded
- 12 months: Final appearance
- Scar Locations
- Around lower edge of nipple (most common)
- Small incisions in armpit (if liposuction)
Activity, driving and work
- No lifting over 5kg for 4 weeks
- No driving for first week or until off strong painkillers
- Light walking from day 1 (within home)
- Avoid upper body and chest exercise for 6 weeks
- Return to desk work: Week 2
- Return to physical work: Weeks 2–3 (start gradually)
- Light cardio (walking, cycling): Week 4
- Upper body exercise: Week 6
- Swimming: Week 4 (when wounds healed)
- Contact sports: Week 8 (with chest protection initially)
- Flying under 3 hours: 1 week
- Flying long-haul: about 4 weeks (UK guidance after surgery), keep hydrated, move regularly, wear flight socks; flying sooner? discuss it with us first
Follow-up appointments
- Week 1 (End of Week 1): Nurse appointment to check healing and remove dressings and stitches. Outer dressings removed; Paper tape (steri-strips) removed; Non-dissolvable stitches removed; Chest examined; Questions answered
- Further nurse reviews, as needed: Some patients need further nurse reviews. If so, the nurses will arrange these with you and will discharge you from nurse-led care once they are happy your wounds have healed.
- Around 6 months: surgeon review (final follow-up): Your surgeon will usually see you at around 6 months to assess your final result. Your surgeon is always available to review you sooner if required, and in some circumstances may wish to see you before your final follow-up.
Common questions
Why does my chest look worse before it looks better?
Bruising and swelling peak at days 3–5. This is completely normal and will improve daily after that. You should see significant improvement by week 2.
When can I go to the gym?
Light cardio (walking, stationary bike) at 4 weeks. Full chest exercises and upper body work at 6 weeks. Always build up gradually and listen to your body.
Is it normal to feel lumps under my nipples?
Yes, these are healing tissues and will gradually soften over 3–6 months. Gentle massage with bio-oil or moisturiser from week 3 can help the tissue feel more supple, though the softening happens with time either way.
Can I sleep on my side?
Sleep in whatever position is comfortable, most men find their back most comfortable at first, and side sleeping is fine as soon as it feels OK (often within 1–2 weeks).
When will my chest look normal?
Most swelling resolves by 4 weeks. Final shape and appearance becomes apparent around 6 months when scars have faded and all tissues have settled.
Do I really need to wear the vest all the time?
Yes, the vest is an important part of your recovery. Wearing it consistently for the first 4 weeks helps control swelling and supports the skin as it settles to your new contour. After 4 weeks, daytime wear until week 6 is typical.
Your guide in the patient app
Your recovery guide in the Waterfront patient app is the personal, dated version of this page, with your own instructions, your appointments and the hospital’s contact details.
Download the printed leaflet (PDF)
Your discharge information and your recovery guide in the Waterfront patient app tell you who to contact and when. If you have any concerns about your recovery, contact the hospital using the details you were given.