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Schedule A ConsultationDr. Cruise prefers to not to perform the donut incision on his younger patients with mild saggy gynecomastia. They usually don’t need it, because their skin will tighten on its own. It is key that a patient commits to wearing a compression garment following surgery to ensure the best result possible. In most older patients, a donut lift may be optimal, but this will depend on the outcome the patient desires from surgery.
If the donut incision is recommended, the good news is that the incision is very small and typically does not leave a scar that can be detected. By performing the donut lift, the nipple and areola are moved back into the ideal position and the redundant skin is tightened. This creates a more youthful appearance of the chest. Even though Dr. Cruise will give his recommendation, ultimately the decision to have a donut lift is up to the patient. Being well informed of what the results will be with and without the donut lift is key to making the best decision possible.
Three types of Saggy Gynecomastia are determined by the position of the nipple/areola. In mild cases the nipples are typically located 2-3cm above the chest fold. In moderate cases the nipples are located between the chest fold and approximately 2 cm above it. And, with severe cases of saggy gynecomastia, the nipples hang below the chest fold. With moderate sagginess, a donut lift is usually recommend. This is in order to properly reposition the nipple/areola and to tighten the relaxed chest skin.
When a donut lift is a performed there is a “purse string” affect that takes place. Imagine the suture as a purse string. Now imagine you want to close or tighten the closure of your purse. You would see some rippling around the edges of where the purse closed up. This same thing takes place when the sutures are tightened/closed around the areola on the circle or donut shape. If rippling occurs, it will subside within a few months and flatten out in most cases, depending on what degree of sag was present. With mild sagginess, there could be a minimal amount of rippling, but it will go away quickly.
With moderate sagginess, there will usually be some degree of rippling, however it will resolve over time. Patience is key during this healing process. The incision placement of a donut lift falls within the margin of the darker colored areola, thus allowing them to be very well hidden.