Male Breast Reduction
Male breast enlargement is a condition also referred to as gynecomastia. It is very common for teenage boys to have some degree of male breast enlargement. Approximately 60% of teenage boys will outgrow this at some point in their early 20s. For others, breast enlargement will progress over time, with increases in weight as well as hormonal changes. For some, male breast enlargement can be the result of taking certain medications or excess consumption of alcohol and other recreational drugs. Multiple treatment options are available to reduce the size of male breasts and get a more normal chest wall contour.
Ideal Candidate
A male who finds that he is unhappy with the look and shape of his breasts would potentially be a candidate for male breast reduction surgery. However, since male breast growth is associated with hormonal changes, before any surgery is considered Dr. Mancoll would want to explore whether there is a medical reason that has caused breast growth. A physical exam and simple laboratory studies can help to determine this. In addition, the patient should be close to his ideal body weight and have realistic expectations.
Procedure
Determining which procedure is best to correct male breast enlargement depends on the composition of the tissue that makes up the breast. For those men with mostly fatty breasts, liposuction is an excellent means to correct this problem. However, traditional liposuction is not very effective for removing glandular breast tissue. Mancoll Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery offers two technologies to assist with this. Smartlipoā¢ and VASERlipoā¢ are advanced technologies that utilize either laser or ultrasonic energy to break up and help remove excess fatty and glandular tissue. Additionally, these added technologies help to tighten skin much more effectively than liposuction alone (see the section on Smart-lipo and VASERlipoā¢). This is particularly helpful for older men with breast enlargement due to hormonal changes that have occurred with age. For other patients, a small incision can be made at the base of the areola to allow for surgical removal of the excess glandular tissue.
All of the procedures designed to address gynecomastia are done on an outpatient basis. Usually this procedure is done with general anesthesia. However, when only liposuction is performed, sometimes oral or IV sedation and injected numbing medicine can be used.
Costs
The total cost of a male breast reduction procedure depends on several factors, including:
- Facility fees
- Anesthesia fees
- Surgical fees
- Type of liposuction
- Prescriptions for medication
- Post-surgery garments
Although there are certain medical conditions that can lead to male breast enlargement, most frequently this is considered a cosmetic operation. Our staff will gladly assist in applying for insurance authorization for those patients that may have a medical indication for this surgery.
Potential Risks and Complications
As with any surgical procedure, there are certain risks associated with male breast reduction surgery, such as scars, infection, bleeding, asymmetries, postoperative discomfort, and adverse reaction to anesthesia. Although significant complications are uncommon, patients should understand that any surgery, performed for any reason, has risks and should not be taken lightly.
Dr. Mancoll prides himself on his ability to communicate with his patients and tailors each discussion to the patientās individual needs. Dr. Mancoll and his staff will spend time helping you understand your procedure. You should feel free to ask questions at any time, and if you donāt understand the information, we will be more than happy to go over it again.
Recovery
Recovery from male breast reduction surgery is usually quite simple. There is a varying degree of bruising and swelling that may occur. If an open procedure is performed, a surgical drain is left in place for 7 to 10 days. Patients are advised to wear a compression vest for 6 weeks to help minimize swelling and bruising and to generally make patients more comfortable. Most patients will return to work within 3 to 5 days and can return to light physical activity as soon as it is comfortable. The recommend recovery time is 4 to 6 weeks before returning to high-impact running or working out.
Results
In general, the results are considered permanent and long lasting. Long-term results can vary if a patientās body habitus changes with time. The two biggest factors that may contribute to this are weight and male hormones. If the patient continues to take medication known to increase breast size or participate in using alcohol or other recreational drugs, these influences may continue to have an impact on breastsā shape and form.
Ā
Male breast reduction surgery can alleviate the self- consciousness that many men feel when an increase in breast size has occurred. Contact Mancoll Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery at (757) 305-9185 or fill out our online contact form. Dr. John S. Mancoll looks forward to meeting you and discussing this procedure.
