Male Breast Reduction – Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia Surgery Miami
(Male Breast Reduction): A Comprehensive Guide

Having large breasts is lauded for women, but the same cannot be said for men. In fact, ‘man boobs’ are a source of embarrassment for many men, as they feel that their presence strips them of their masculinity.

It can also be downright uncomfortable when doing certain activities, like jogging or running. And unlike women, you cannot wear a sports bra to support your jiggly breasts – lest you want to become the butt of everyone’s jokes.

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel for men suffering from enlarged breasts or gynecomastia. Gynecomastia surgery Miami can solve all your man boob woes, so learn more about gynecomastia and its treatment as you read through this article.

About Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is a medical condition characterized by the swelling of breast tissues in boys or men, resulting in the appearance of abnormally large breasts. It affects almost half of the world’s male population, making it a rather common problem for men of all ages.

True gynecomastia is caused by an imbalance of female sex hormone estrogen and male sex hormone testosterone. Male breast enlargement can happen due to different reasons, such as the use of drugs like steroids and herbal supplements and a variety of medical conditions that affect hormonal balance, like impaired liver function and thyroid diseases.

Pseudogynecomastia, which is common among overweight and obese men, is caused by excess fat rather than swollen breast tissues. As such, it can be easily remedied by weight loss and exercise.

On the other hand, true gynecomastia – though not regarded as a serious problem – will not simply go away once you lose weight. More often than not, male breast reduction surgery is needed to remedy this problem.

However, a lot of people still has misconceptions about this condition. Click this link to learn more about The Top 7 Man Boob Myths and the Facts Behind Them.

About Male Breast Reduction

Also known as male breast reduction, gynecomastia surgery is a cosmetic surgery that aims to reduce men’s breast sizes through the removal of fat, gland tissue, and skin on the chest area. This results in a firmer, flatter, and more masculine-contoured chest. Male breast reduction surgery has been dubbed by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery as the single most consistent and effective treatment method for gynecomastia that delivers permanent gynecomastia surgery results.

Breast reduction plastic surgery for men include liposuction, cutting out excess glandular tissue, or a combination of both tissue excision and liposuction.

Benefits

Male Breast Reduction can make you feel comfortable in revealing your chest contours, either clothed or unclothed. If in the past you are reluctant to remove your shirt in public when swimming, going to the gym, or participating in other sports, a male breast reduction surgery will help you achieve the confidence that you need to go shirtless and not be embarrassed by how your chest looks.

Another benefit of gynecomastia Miami surgery is the fact that it provides long-lasting, if not permanent, results. Since it involves the removal of breast gland tissue and not just fats, you can expect the results to endure even if you gain a bit of weight. However, it is still recommended to maintain a stable weight to avoid gynecomastia recurrence.

Candidates

You are a good candidate for gynecomastia Miami surgery if you have diet and exercise-resistant fat in your chest area that causes your breasts to protrude. Although gynecomastia is often not caused by any serious medical problem, it can still cause physical and social discomfort, making it beneficial for you to undergo male breast reduction surgery.

You are also a good candidate for Male Breast Reduction if you have good skin elasticity. Adequate skin contraction is needed once your excess skin is removed in your chest area, so the success of your surgery will largely depend on your skin elasticity. In general, your skin may lack the necessary elasticity once you are aged 50 years or older. It might also pose as a problem if your skin has incurred significant sun damage or your breasts have lots of stretch marks.

It is also important that you are within 30 to 40 pounds of your ideal body weight at the time of the surgery. Being significantly overweight when you get a male breast reduction surgery might compromise your results.

Good general health, a positive attitude, and realistic expectations all make you an ideal candidate for a male breast reduction surgery.

Procedure

Your doctor will administer general anesthesia at the start of the procedure, as this is the most common type of anesthesia recommended for a male breast reduction surgery. However, local anesthesia coupled with sedation may also be used in some instances.

After the administration of anesthesia, your surgeon creates an incision based on your anatomy. The most common incision is the intra-areolar incision or Webster incision, which extends along the circumference of the bottom half of the areola.

The choice of surgical technique depends on your skin elasticity and your agreement with your surgeon. As previously mentioned, you can go for either liposuction or tissue excision. You may also opt for a combination of both. Those with severe gynecomastia may even need to get a skin resection and nipple transposition.

Some people have opted to go for minimally invasive gynecomastia, which makes use of a ‘pull-through technique’ that creates a very small incision at the areola edge. Usually done after liposuction, the pull-through technique involves pulling out the glandular tissue from the overlying areola through the incision. Though this technique results in less scarring, not all patients qualify for this technique.

The incisions are then brought together to reshape the now smaller breasts. Some sutures are layered deep within the breast tissues to provide support, while skin adhesives, surgical tape, or sutures are used to close the skin. Though the incisions are permanent, they will significantly fade over time.

Techniques

There are basically two surgical options when it comes to male breast reduction Miamiliposuction and tissue excision. Both procedures last for an average of two hours and are usually done on an outpatient basis. You can also do a combination of both approaches as per the recommendations of your surgeon.

Liposuction

Liposuction is the technique of choice for patients suffering from pseudogynecomastia, wherein breast enlargement is largely caused by excess fat deposits on the chest area.

Typically performed under local anesthesia with sedation, liposuction surgery for treating gynecomastia involves a small incision on each side of the chest, with the exact location depending on your needs and the preference of your cosmetic surgeon. Through these incisions, your surgeon will remove excess fat and glandular tissue, thereby sculpting a new natural-looking chest contour as well.

Recovering after a liposuction is tolerable, although it should be done at your own pace. Expect to receive individualized instructions for your gynecomastia surgery recovery. During the first few weeks after surgery, you will be asked to wear a compression garment to help minimize swelling and offer support to healing tissues. You will also not be allowed to perform vigorous exercises for about three weeks, although you can return to work within several days post-surgery.

Tissue Excision

For severe cases of gynecomastia, mere liposuction may not suffice. It is during these instances that a breast reduction via tissue excision may be needed to achieve optimal gynecomastia surgery results. This is the technique of choice for those whose gynecomastia has been caused by swelling of the glandular breast tissues. This is also best for patients with stretched and sagging skin around the breasts, usually as a result of massive weight loss.

In tissue excision, the cosmetic surgeon removes a greater amount of glandular tissue and skin that cannot be successfully treated by liposuction alone. It requires an incision around the edge of the areola or within the natural creases of the chest. Though the process is quite similar to liposuction, tissue excision might make patients experience more soreness and swelling. However, you can still immediately return to work after one week of recovery from male breast reduction Miami.

Gynecomastia Surgery Results

Right after you undergo male breast reduction surgery, you will notice an immediate improvement in both the shape and appearance of your breasts. Though your breasts will be noticeably flatter, expect some redness and swelling after surgery.

The appearance of your scars may vary depending on the amount of breast tissue you have and the elasticity of your skin. If you only underwent liposuction, your scars will likely be just large enough to fit a liposuction cannula. However, if you had tissue excision, your scars may extend across each side of your chest. There is also usually a scar under the areola.

Preparation

Before you get a male breast reduction Miami, your surgeon will take a detailed medical history and perform a complete physical exam to determine your fitness for surgery. Those who are older than 45 years should get a preoperative ECG done, while those suffering from other medical conditions like heart disease or anemia should secure a medical clearance from their specialist. Some surgeons would recommend weight benchmarks and lifestyle changes, especially for overweight patients.

You should avoid sunbathing or tanning for at least two weeks before surgery as this could increase your risk of permanent scarring. Smoking should also be avoided at least four to six weeks before surgery since this can impair and delay healing. Likewise, any blood thinners and aspiring-containing products and herbal supplements should be avoided for at least two weeks prior to surgery, as these can increase your risk of bleeding. Examples of these are vitamin E, green tea, gingko, and garlic supplements.

You also need to schedule some time off work for your recovery. One week is enough for most people since gynecomastia surgery is usually performed on an outpatient basis. However, if your job is labor-intensive, it is recommended to take a leave for at least two weeks.

Recovery

Immediately after surgery, expect to be heavily bandaged on your chest area. You would need to wear compression garments and may also have a surgical drain to prevent fluid accumulation. You may also experience some pain, but you will be given over-the-counter pain medications to keep them at bay.

The most critical days of your gynecomastia surgery recovery are the first three days post-op. You need to fully rest your body at this time, although you can do simple activities like sitting down while watching TV or having meals. However, you should avoid vigorous shoulder movement, especially vertical arm lifts. Strenuous activities should also be avoided for the first two to three weeks to ensure optimal healing.

Most patients who underwent gynecomastia Miami surgery can go back to work after a week. Low impact activities can be resumed within two to three weeks, while gentle upper extremity resistance exercises can be done at three to six weeks post-surgery.

To avoid prolonged swelling and permanent discoloration on your scars, avoid exposure to direct sun or tanning for about six weeks. It might take three months for swelling to fully disappear.

Follow-up visits should be done, with the first one usually five to seven days after surgery.

Maintenance

Though the results of your male breast reduction surgery are permanent, it is still important to maintain a healthy lifestyle to prevent the recurrence of gynecomastia. Significant weight gain, certain medical conditions, and use of steroids and drugs that influence sex hormone levels are all factors that may contribute to the return of this condition.

Risks and Side Effects

Like all other surgeries, gynecomastia surgery has potential complications which include adverse reactions to anesthesia, blood or fluid accumulation, infection, bleeding, allergic reactions, and damage to underlying structures. There is also the possibility of blood clots traveling to the legs or lungs, although this happens rarely. There might also be changes in skin sensation, as well as unsatisfactory results that may necessitate additional procedures or revision surgery.

Scarring is also permanent, although they diminish over time. Plus, your surgeon will take care to place the incisions in inconspicuous areas to minimize the appearance of scars.

Cost

Male breasts reduction cost typically ranges from $4,000 to $6,500. These figures still do not include fees for surgical facilities, anesthesia, medical exams, prescriptions, surgical garments, and other miscellaneous gynecomastia surgery costs.

There are instances in which insurance covers gynecomastia surgery. Still, many surgeons offer patient financing plans to make the cost of gynecomastia surgery easier on the pocket.

Gynecomastia Surgery Alternatives

Gynecomastia treatment without surgery can be tricky, as not all methods work as well as they were envisioned to.

If your gynecomastia is primarily caused by fats, then it is advisable to stick to a low-fat diet as this will give your body the opportunity to burn excess calories under your skin, including your chest area. Coupling proper diet with cardiovascular exercises can help your body get rid of excess fat not just in your breasts but also in the rest of your body. However, it is important to note that proper diet and exercise will only work for pseudogynecomastia patients and not true gynecomastia patients.

You can also try some alternative treatments to treat this condition. The most popular alternative treatments for gynecomastia are homeopathy, acupuncture, yoga, and Ayurveda. However, further studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of these treatments to male breast enlargement.

There are also certain herbs that are said to cure gynecomastia. A popular one is turmeric, a plant coming from the ginger family and boasting of a variety of health benefits. There are also plenty of male breast reduction pills available in the market, all containing active ingredients that will either reduce estrogen levels or boost testosterone levels. Examples of these medications are clomiphene, tamoxifen, and letrozole. Topical creams are also said to shrink fat cells around the breast tissues, though it takes time before their results can be seen.

Learn more about these methods in The 5 Most Popular Non-Invasive Alternatives to Gynecomastia Surgery.

Thinking of getting a gynecomastia surgerySchedule a Free Consultation with one of Face + Body Cosmetic Surgery’s highly experienced and board-certified surgeons to answer any questions that you may have about male breast reduction surgery.

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