Gynecomastia Surgery for Men | Get Rid of Enlarged Breast Tissue

Overview

Living with enlarged male breast tissue (gynecomastia) can cause emotional distress on top of the physical discomfort of breast tenderness, swelling, pain, and nipple discharge. Gynecomastia occurs most frequently in men over 50 and can affect one or both breasts. Usually, it is caused by a hormone imbalance when the body produces too much estrogen and not enough testosterone.

While some underlying medical issues related to this condition can be serious (alcohol and marijuana use, hyperthyroidism, kidney or liver failure, and cirrhosis), gynecomastia itself is not life-threatening. Most cases resolve independently or with medication. In some cases, gynecomastia surgery, also known as male breast reduction, may be necessary.

Summary

Procedure time

1 to 3 hours

Overnight stay

None

Anesthetic

Local or General

Recovery time

3-4 weeks

Types of Gynecomastia Surgery

Liposuction

Liposuction, a common cosmetic surgery, removes fat but not breast gland tissue. By inserting a thin hollow tube into small incisions around the breast area, fat cells can be suctioned out by vacuum. Liposuction alone can be used if the primary cause of enlarged male breasts is excess fatty tissue, and only requires local anesthesia.

Excision

The excision technique is recommended when both glandular breast tissue and excess skin are involved. Like breast reduction, this may also include reducing the size of or relocating the nipple area and reshaping the breast tissue to create a more masculine chest contour.

Liposuction with Excision

In some cases, gynecomastia surgery or male breast reduction involves both liposuction which is the removal of fat through a small surgical vacuum, and excision, when surgical incisions are made to remove excess skin and tissue.

Ultrasonic-Assisted Liposuction

Using ultrasound guidance techniques, our highly-skilled surgeons can precisely target fat cells in the male breast. Ultrasonic waves then turn fat cells into a liquid for easier removal. This process is sometimes used in place of traditional suction-assisted liposuction.

Laser-Assisted Liposuction

Using medical laser beams, our board-certified plastic surgeons can help some men reduce uncomfortable breast size to liquefy fat cells before using traditional liposuction methods to remove them.

Am I a

Candidate for Male Breast Reduction Surgery?

Men beyond puberty with excess glandular tissue, fat, or skin on one or both breasts and whose condition can not be corrected with other treatments could benefit from male breast reduction. Ideal candidates for gynecomastia surgery are non-smokers and non-drug users in generally good health. Obesity and other life-threatening conditions that could impact healing might affect eligibility for this procedure. Underlying conditions that may cause the development of excessive breast tissue in men include alcohol and marijuana use, hyperthyroidism, kidney or liver failure, and cirrhosis.

Consultation

Male breast reduction and gynecomastia surgery consultations are available at all Plastic Surgery Center locations. To determine the best procedure for you, our highly-skilled surgeons will review your medical history and discuss your ideal surgical outcomes before making personalized recommendations. Using computer-assisted photography, we can also provide sample imagery of your expected surgical results.

What to Expect

Our expert surgeons will recommend the male breast reduction procedure best for your surgical goals, health history, and the amount of skin, tissue, and fat to be removed. The least invasive approach is liposuction only. This is recommended when fat removal is a primary concern, and overall skin condition is elastic.

Gynecomastia excision surgery removes breast tissue and skin and will involve one of the following incisions:

Circular areola: a cut around the dark patch of skin surrounding the nipple.

Keyhole incision: a semi-circle cut above the areola and two vertical cuts, allowing the nipple to stay connected to blood supply and nerves.

Once the incisions are made, the surgeon will carefully reshape a more masculine chest contour and remove any excess skin. Typically, incisions are closed using buried, dissolvable stitches to reduce visible scars and increase patient comfort.

Recovery &
Results

Each person's recovery from gynecomastia surgery will vary based on the extent of skin and tissue involved and your healing process. A sterile bandage is placed over the incisions following surgery, and your chest will be wrapped in a supportive bandage. Typically, you can expect to go home within a few hours.

Recovery and discharge instructions depend on the nature of your surgery, but you should plan to have a family member or friend drive you home. Pain and swelling can be managed with medication and ice in the first few days after surgery.

Some patients will go home with small tubes to drain blood and fluid that collect at the surgical site. Care instructions will be included in your discharge paperwork, and drain tubes will be removed in the office during your post-operative visit.

Most patients can resume regular activity within 2-3 weeks. Heavy lifting and strenuous exercise should be avoided for up to 6 weeks. Most patients experience a more masculine chest profile within 1-3 months of surgery, once the initial swelling goes down. However, it can take up to a full year or longer to experience complete healing.

Envision What’s Possible.

Explore photos of real patients with real, life-changing outcomes.

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Our

Surgeons

Our board-certified plastic surgeons combine the most advanced surgical techniques and decades of experience to ensure safety and satisfaction for each patient. Through rigorous training and exceptional attention to detail, we pride ourselves in providing world-class care and surgical outcomes that will exceed your expectations.

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PHYSICIAN

Hamid Abdollahi

MD, FACS

PHYSICIAN

Russell Ashinoff

MD, FACS

PHYSICIAN

Eric I. Chang

MD, FACS

PHYSICIAN

Ritwik Grover

PHYSICIAN

Sean Herman

MD, FACS

PHYSICIAN

Matthew Kaufman

MD, FACS

PHYSICIAN

Ahmed Nasser

PHYSICIAN

Tushar Patel

MD, FACS

PHYSICIAN

Michael Rose

MD, FACS

PHYSICIAN

Adam Saad

MD, FACS

PHYSICIAN

Tzvi Small

MD, FACS

PHYSICIAN

Hakan Usal

PHYSICIAN

Eric Wimmers

MD, FACS

Financing & Insurance

Insurance companies generally only cover gynecomastia surgery if it is deemed medically necessary, such as to correct severe asymmetry or to correct a congenital deformity. We will work with you and your health insurer to obtain the approvals for your covered surgical procedures. If you are interested in learning more about our cosmetic options, please contact us today at 833-615-2621.

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Our Process

Schedule a Consultation

During your consultation, our expert surgeons will listen and work with you to fully understand the look you wish to achieve.

Explore
Your Options

We will review and explain all of your cosmetic options and identify which procedure is right for you.

Start Your Transformation

Our friendly and compassionate staff and physicians will guide you through the entire process, answer all of your questions and alleviate any concerns.