Modified technique for correction of gynaecomastia

Abstract

Objective: To test a modification of the circumareolar incision for correction of a gynaecomastia from the points of view of complications and appearance of the scar. Design: Clinical study. Setting: Military and university hospitals, Turkey. Subjects: 32 patients with gynaecomastia operated on between 1992 and 2000. Interventions: Simon I patients were treated with an inferior semicircular periareolar incision (n = 12). Half of the Simon II patients had the same incision and the others were treated with a modified extended incision (n = 10 in each group). Main outcome measures: Haematoma, skin necrosis, nipple inversion, low-seated nipple, asymmetry, hypoaesthesia and hypertrophic scar. Results: Simon II patients treated with the unmodified incision had more haematomas and seromas than Simon I patients and worse cosmesis (p = 0.009 and p = 0.02). However, the complication rates did not differ significantly compared with the Simon II patients who had the modified incision. Conclusion: A modified extended circumareolar incision results in fewer complication and better cosmesis in grade II gynaecomastia than the standard incision.