Gynecomastia Surgery-Impact on Life Quality: A Prospective Case-Control Study.

Abstract

To evaluate the results of surgical treatment of gynecomastia in the context of quality of life and satisfaction after the surgery. Fifty male patients (mean age, 25.1 years [SD = 8 years]) who underwent surgery for gynecomastia and completed both (preoperative and postoperative) stages of the study were included in the analysis. The quality-of-life evaluation instrument was The Short Form-36 Health Survey Questionnaire. Additionally, we used a short questionnaire including 2 questions about patient satisfaction with gynecomastia surgery. The overall change in life satisfaction after gynecomastia surgery was 1 point on Likert scale (sign test, P < 0.0001). Participants after gynecomastia surgery scored significantly higher than before the procedure in all Short Form-36 Health Survey Questionnaire domains as well as in 2 main scales Psychical and Physical Health. The changes were especially visible for the domain social functioning and a scale Psychical Health (P < 0.0001). Gynecomastia surgery significantly improved men's life quality in all aspects and especially in the social aspect and psychical health. This indicates that adult men with gynecomastia are a specific group of patients, in which surgery may result in life quality improvement even over the average scores.