MALE BREAST SURGERY
This slender 31 year old professional felt uncomfortable with the size of his breast tissue. In both women and men, breast tissue is composed of fat and firm tissues. Fatty tissue can be removed with a liposuction technique and the firm tissue requires removal through a small incision around the edge of the areola. The aim of this procedure is to dramatically improve the contour of the chest without leaving any noticeable signs of surgery.
This patient was uncomfortable to take his shirt off in public prior to surgery for gynecomastia. This was a condition he had lived with since his early teen years.
This patient had a combination of liposuction and direct tissue removal.
MALE BREAST SURGERY INFORMATION
All men have breast tissue! Some men have more than average amounts of breast tissue which can be extremely distressing. Often men with enlarged breast tissue also have increased subcutaneous fat around the waist – the proverbial “spare tire” or “muffin top”. This tends to be genetically-determined, diet-resistant fatty tissue which is also very treatable with careful liposuction!
Gynecomastia is enlargement of the male breast. It is a common problem affecting an estimated 40-60% of men. It may affect one breast or both. In the vast majority of cases there is no known cause. Certain drugs can cause this condition, including alcohol, amphetamines, anabolic steroids, and tricyclic antidepressants. Some medical conditions can cause gynecomastia, including obesity, liver failure, and testicular tumors. For many patients, there is a family history of male breast enlargement.
Breast enlargement which develops during puberty may resolve after a period of 6-18 months. In cases of drug-induced gynecomastia, discontinuation of the medication where possible can sometimes, but not always, result in improvement of this condition. For patients who require surgery, operations for gynecomastia are both safe and effective.
The type of surgery which is right for you depends on the fat content of your breast tissue. This can be determined by examination during your consultation. The majority of cases of male breast enlargement can be treated with either liposuction and or direct removal of breast tissue through and incision around the nipple.
Gynecomastia is performed as an outpatient procedure where you go home the same day after your surgery. Most patients will need to wear a compression vest for a period of 2-4 weeks depending on the extent of surgery. Most light activity is well tolerated after surgery. Heavy repetitive activity of using the arms is avoided until healing is complete, which is usually between one and two months after surgery. The scar will continue to improve for months to years afterwards.
Male breast reduction surgery can be performed safely by most qualified plastic surgeons. It carries the standard risks of any surgical procedure. Depending on the nature of your scarring, a secondary procedure is sometimes necessary if removal of additional tissue is desired. The main issues related to performing this surgery are to ensure that too much tissue is not removed so as to avoid indentation of the scar.
No. This is considered a cosmetic surgery and unfortunately insurance does not cover cosmetic procedures.