[Evaluation of complications and long-term results after surgery for gynaecomastia]

In an attempt to evaluate ten years of surgical treatment of gynaecomastia, we analysed the incidence of complications and the quality of the results in a group of patients classified according to Simon. Over the decade 1992-2002, 107 patients with gynaecomastia aged from 17 to 79 years were treated. The prevalent surgical approach was subcutaneous mastectomy. In 71 patients the surgical approach was via a periareolar inferior incision, superior in 15, inferior with bilateral extensions in 10; using a complete circumareolar approach (according to Padron) in 8 patients and a subcutaneous transareolar mastectomy in 3. No immediate complications were observed. Ten patients presented a modest postoperative haematoma. Only in one diabetic patient with chronic bronchitis and grade III gynaecomastia did partial dehiscence of the surgical wound occur. Most patients achieved good results. We judged the results excellent in 94 patients, good in 11, and unsatisfactory in 2. On the basis of our experience and in agreement with the literature data, we can affirm that the best results were obtained by subcutaneous mastectomy with a periareolar incision.