Pre-Surgery Jitters: What to Do

It’s far more common than you might think for a man to be quite nervous before heading into the operating room for gynecomastia surgery. We even field the occasional panicked pre-op call from one of our male breast reduction patients.

We absolutely will postpone or even cancel surgery if anxiety levels are just running too high. But if you let us know up front that you may need reassurance, we can make suggestions that will help.

Basic Reminders

For mild cases of the jitters, we offer Boca Raton man boobs patients the following input:

• Feeling some anxiety is common. If you have had any type of surgery in the past, chances are you felt nervous then too. In fact, it is completely normal to feel anxious before any new experience where the outcome is not 100% assured. Perhaps you have felt jittery before a trip to a foreign country, your first day at a new job or an adventure like ziplining. Feeling nervous can be part of the excitement!
• The psychological relief and self-esteem impact you’re hoping for are very likely to happen. Some men wonder if their issues may be too deep seated and gynecomastia surgery will prove to be a band aid that only helps superficially. This is a topic we’ll cover in consultation, relating our experience with thousands of man boob patients that indicates almost everyone feels much more confident and positive about their quality of life after healing.
• The recovery process should go smoothly. Most gynecomastia patients we work with report little discomfort, a manageable inconvenience level and downtime that can actually be enjoyable. Some aspects of the post-op period can be mildly frustrating, such as waiting for swelling to subside, but we’ll advise you about what you can do to help.

Making Connections

A next step in the pre-op period that can be very useful is to connect with other guys who have had man boob surgery. Joining a community such as the one on gynecomastia.org can help tremendously. There, you can share questions and concerns with others like you.

If you would benefit from talking to someone live, we can put you in touch with one of our former man boob patients in Boca Raton or another location. You might also read one or more of our patient stories to hear from real people who are eager to share their experience.

Counseling Before Gynecomastia Surgery

Finally, the question about seeing a counselor comes up from time to time. Speaking very generally, we find that visiting a psychologist is not necessary for most guys. But there are exceptions.

The main group of patients we’d suggest consult a therapist are those who struggle profoundly with their condition. Some may have isolated themselves and need support rebuilding relationships with others and gaining a rewarding social life. In this case, a skilled therapist can be really helpful.

In South Florida culture, appearance is important. We do occasionally see guys with man boobs who are truly obsessed. These patients exhibit behaviors such as looking in the mirror many times daily, wearing layers of clothing and perhaps taping or binding their chest. They may be fidgety or otherwise display deep anxiety, and/or they may be quite depressed. These are patients who may never by satisfied after gynecomastia surgery, no matter how successful their outcome is.

Some of these men have a condition called body dysmorphic disorder, or BDD. This form of obsession with physical appearance can be evident in patients with mild or routine cases of enlarged breasts that are bothered in the extreme. BDD can manifest itself in nit picking about many different body parts, a guy declaring himself to be ugly or even repulsive, and frequent comparisons with others.

We refer guys we suspect may have BDD to a psychologist. Talk therapy can help before male breast reduction in some cases, and in a few, the perceived need for surgery may vanish with effective BDD treatment.

Contact Us to Figure it Out

If you’re a guy with man boobs in South Florida and you’re unsure which step to take next, we encourage you to get in touch with us. With three decades of gynecomastia specialization, we’re comfortable working with all kinds of patients. We can talk about strategies to combat anxiety from accessing plenty of information to biofeedback and meditation.

A conversation with us can help you make choices, and the decision to have surgery always rests with you. Contact us via email or give us a call at 561-367-9101 today.