Modified technique for correction of gynaecomastia.

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.