Gynecomastia surgery is an issue at the heart of many Risperdal lawsuits.

Risperdal is a psychiatric drug, approved to treat schizophrenia and related disorders, as well as bipolar disorder and some symptoms of autism.

However, Risperdal lawsuits—hundreds of them—have alleged that the drug can alter prolactin levels, a hormone that can cause males to grow female-like breasts. This condition is called gynecomastia, and it may require gynecomastia surgery.

Risperdal Gynecomastia Surgery

Gynecomastia surgery
is a serious procedure. It is reconstructive surgery, technically called a reduction mammaplasty. The details of gynecomastia surgery vary depending on the severity of the patient’s male breast grown.

In smaller cases of gynecomastia, surgeons may be able to use liposuction to remove the tissue, those sometimes surgeons have to cut away larger amounts of tissue and excess skin in a process called excision. Surgeons may have to also alter the nipple to get it to look normal. Gynecomastia surgery also usually requires recontouring of the chest as well to reconstruct the chest.

However, gynecomastia surgery is not a procedure to be taken lightly. Like any surgery, there is always a risk of complications, including abnormal reactions to surgical equipment and anesthesia, as well infection. Scarring is a major concern.

Though reconstructive surgeons try to hide the incisions of gynecomastia surgery in the body’s natural curves and lines, noticeable scarring can result. Additionally, it may take more than one procedure to fully correct gynecomastia.

On top of this, gynecomastia surgery is not cheap. According to The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of gynecomastia surgery is typically around $3,300.00. However, this varies wildly, as more complicated cases are more technically challenging for surgeons. This means that gynecomastia surgery may cost much more than this.

On top of this, health insurance companies may argue that correction of gynecomastia is not eligible for coverage, even thought the American Society of Plastic Surgeons has published documents stating the gynecomastia is often reconstructive. As such, Risperdal lawsuits often seek to recoup the cost of gynecomastia surgery.

In addition to gynecomastia surgery risks and costs, patients suffering from gynecomastia face social stigma. Many of the alleged Risperdal gynecomastia patients have allegedly suffered from teasing and bullying from the condition.

On top of this, many patients on Risperdal gain weight, and Risperdal lawsuits allege that this may have cloaked cases of gynecomastia until the patients stopped taking the drug.

Risperdal Lawsuits

Risperdal lawsuits typically allege that drugmakers were aware—or reasonably should have been aware—of the risk of gynecomastia associated with their drug. Risperdal lawsuits further allege that not only were drugmakers aware of the alleged link between Risperdal and male breast growth, but that drugmakers continued to aggressively, allegedly illegally promoted Risperdal.

The makers of Risperdal have paid out fines and settlements over allegations of promoting Risperdal for unapproved purposes, a violation of US law. Risperdal lawsuits typically allege the patients were not aware that Risperdal could cause gynecomastia, and that they may have considered other treatment options had they been fully informed of the risks allegedly associated with the drug.