Gynecomastia is enlarged breasts in men or boys. It’s a surprisingly common condition that is said to affect between 40-60% of the male population. Though the causes of gynecomastia are mostly unknown, other influences can be the side effects of medications, complications of certain medical disorders and heredity.
It’s often seen in men who’ve lost a great deal of weight. Though exercise can help, often the skin sags to the point where male breast reduction surgery or gynecomastia surgery is recommended. When performed by our experienced plastic surgeons, this surgery can make a man’s chest flatter and firmer and more appropriately contoured.
Gynecomastia Surgery FAQs
Though age isn’t that much of a factor, a good candidate for male breast reduction surgery is a man who has notably enlarged breasts but is otherwise healthy, doesn’t smoke and has skin that’s supple and firm. Well before the procedure, our doctors will take a medical history of the patient. The physician will take note of any vitamins or supplements or other medications the patient is taking, whether he drinks or smokes and if he’s had surgery in the chest area in the past. Since male breast reduction surgery is considered cosmetic, it’s usually not covered under typical health insurance. The patient and the doctor can work out financing or a payment plan to help pay for the procedure.
In the weeks before the surgery, the patient should avoid any blood thinning medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. These medications can make it difficult for the blood to clot after surgery. If the patient has pain, he should take pain medications like acetaminophen. The patient also needs to stop smoking at least several weeks before the surgery. Smoking will make it difficult for the body to heal from the surgery, and the same is true of alcohol consumption. The patient should have someone drive him to and from the clinic and should have someone stay with him for at least the first full day after the surgery.
After the surgery, the area has a bandage and there is a garment to wear to make sure the skin doesn’t move. There will usually be a bit of bruising and swelling in the area. There is not much discomfort, and any pain can be controlled with medications. Swelling can be controlled if the patient wears a pressure garment for a few weeks. Still, the results of the breast reduction surgery can be seen right after the operation though it will take about three to six months before the final results can be seen. After two weeks, stitches will be removed.
Patients can usually return to work and other usual activities about two days after the operation but only if the job or activities aren’t too arduous. The patient shouldn’t indulge in any heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for at least three weeks. Scars will fade in about nine months to a year. Complications after this surgery are rare and easily remedied. Most men with gynecomastia are very pleased with the results of male breast reduction surgery.
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What To Expect: The Gynecomastia Procedure
Male breast reduction surgery is most often an outpatient procedure, which means the patient can go home soon after the surgery and won’t need to spend a night in the hospital. It’s performed under general anesthesia, which means the patient is completely asleep and won’t feel any pain. A male breast reduction can last anywhere from 90 minutes to about 2.5 hours.
How the plastic surgeon proceeds depends on whether the patient has too much fatty tissue or too much glandular tissue. The surgeon can reduce the glandular and fatty tissue alone or this can be done as part of an overall liposuction operation. To reduce glandular tissue, the plastic surgeon will make an incision under the nipple. Often fat is extracted with liposuction or a vacuum cannula, from a few tiny incisions. Rarely, if there’s a great deal of fat or glandular tissue, some skin might need to be excised as well and incisions may need to be made larger. This approach will result in more scarring.