Male Breast Reduction

Male breast enlargement does not necessarily indicate a lack of testosterone or poor muscle tone. A man can have healthy androgen levels and be in excellent shape but still develop this condition. Gynecomastia usually arises because environmental factors cause hormonal changes or a hormonal imbalance. For some men, this condition is genetic. Most males experience breast enlargement during puberty, but in a small percentage of men, pubertal gynecomastia never resolves. For others, medication plays a role; up to 25% of cases of enlarged male breasts can be attributed to medications and supplements that raise estrogen levels.
Finally, aging appears to contribute to the development of gynecomastia. Falling hormone levels and fat centralization both contribute to age-related gynecomastia.

Though this condition is extremely common, men with pronounced gynecomastia often struggle with social stigma and feelings of self-consciousness. Breast enlargement can make a man look heavier than he actually is and can also dissuade a man from exercising in public and present romantic difficulties.

If you suffer from gynecomastia, having breast reduction surgery can be an important step towards improving your emotional health. This operation is not overly invasive and typically does not produce much visible scar tissue, making it the most convenient and discreet way of permanently correcting enlarged breasts.

The ideal gynecomastia surgery patient is a healthy adult male over the age of 22 who is concerned about the appearance of his chest. Because gynecomastia can be caused by a number of different medical conditions, it’s important to have a complete physical before you pursue surgery.

If your gynecomastia arose rapidly, the presence of a medical issue is likely.

You will also need to discuss any medications you are taking with your doctor and Dr. Wilson. Not only can medications cause gynecomastia, they may interfere with your ability to safely have surgery.

Male breast reduction surgery can often be performed as an outpatient procedure using liposuction alone. To start, general anesthesia is administered. Then, to perform liposuction on the chest, Dr. Wilson inserts a very thin surgical tube (called a cannula) into fatty tissue via a keyhole incision. An incision is generally made near each nipple to ensure any resulting scar tissue will be disguised by the border of the areola.

Excess fat cells within the treatment area are irrigated with a liquid solution before being vacuumed out. Liposuction can also remove male breast tissue and glandular tissue, which reduces the projection of the nipples in order to create flat chest contours.

In certain cases, removal of excess skin may be needed to treat gynecomastia. This is more common in men who have been heavily overweight in the past or who have a medical condition that causes pronounced breast enlargement. To facilitate the removal of loose skin, Dr. Wilson will make a small incision within the crease under each breast. He will then perform liposuction, re-drape the skin so that it lies flat, and carefully remove any excess tissue.

Recovery from gynecomastia surgery is usually relatively easy because liposuction does not cause significant localized tissue trauma. With the use of pain medication, discomfort is typically minimal, though patients will experience some swelling and bruising during the first week after their procedure. Most men who have this procedure can return to work within seven to ten days.