A male breast reduction is a cosmetic procedure performed by a plastic surgeon to reduce the appearance of enlarged male breasts. This condition is also called gynecomastia.
What is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is a condition in which men develop enlarged breasts. This can occur at any age, but more commonly occurs during adolescence and during the 50+ age range. Gynecomastia can be the result of hormonal changes (excess estrogen, female sex hormone, levels), obesity, genetics, or a side effect from the use of certain drugs.
In many cases, gynecomastia can cause emotional discomfort and impair self-confidence. Some men may be embarrassed by their condition and avoid certain activities or sexual intimacy in order to hide their excess breast tissue.
Some of the most common side-effects of gynecomastia include:
- Excess localized fat in the breast
- Excess glandular tissue development
- Sometimes excess breast skin, pigment changes, and deformity around the areola
- May present itself unilaterally (in one breast) or bilaterally (in both breasts)
Male Breast Reduction Techniques
Male breast reduction plastic surgery is typically an outpatient procedure and can be completed in a few hours. At NuBody Concepts, we offer two different techniques for reducing enlarged breasts in men: liposuction and surgical excision. A consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons will help determine which procedure is right for you.
Treating Gynecomastia with Liposuction
When treating increased male breast size due to weight gain, liposuction may be employed to remove any excess fat and glandular tissue. Liposuction for men utilizes a narrow cannula which is inserted directly into the breast to loosen and remove fatty tissue from the breast at strategic locations using gentle suction. It achieves the best results when combined with radio frequency assisted skin tightening.
Liposuction for male breast reduction will usually only require a local anesthetic and will cause little downtime. During the liposuction procedure, your plastic surgeon will make small incisions along the areola or within the armpit. Through these incisions, your cosmetic surgeon removes excess fatty breast tissue. At the same time, your surgeon will be sculpting a new chest contour that will look natural to your body.
Recovering from liposuction and/or skin tightening is easy and fast. Patients may be given a compression garment to wear for the first few weeks post-operation. Although excessive exercise will be off-limits for 1-2 weeks, many men feel comfortable returning to work or school within a few days of their procedure.
Male Breast Reduction with Tissue Excision
At times, surgical procedures are required to reduce the effects of gynecomastia. This is often performed through small incisions placed carefully and discreetly around the chest in order to quickly and efficiently remove any excess skin or tissues. Severe cases of gynecomastia may require cosmetic surgery to reposition the nipple in order for the final results to appear natural.
The incision placement and length will depend on the extent of the plastic surgery. Often, gynecomastia surgery will involve incisions around the edge of the areola (peri-areolar) or within the natural creases and chest contours in order for any scarring to be as inconspicuous as possible.
Gynecomastia surgery via tissue excision is an outpatient plastic surgery performed under IV sedation combined with a local anesthetic. It is common for some patients to experience soreness or swelling post-op, but many men report feeling ready to return to work within a week or two of surgery.
Is Male Breast Reduction Permanent?
A male breast reduction is designed to be permanent, especially if you have excess tissue and skin surgically removed. If your procedure is done by liposuction, the fat cells are also permanently removed, but it is not a guarantee against new fat cells accumulating if you don’t maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle.
