Breast Reduction Surgery for Men
Gynecomastia is the medical term for enlarged male breasts. It is a common condition, according to some sources hitting as many as one in three males at some point in their lives. Gynecomastia most often impacts males during adolescence and may not be related to obesity. What usually occurs is a hormonal imbalance between testosterone and estrogen, resulting in the growth of enlarged breasts. There are indications that this condition may also be a genetic inheritance.
Because they are created by a hormonal malfunction the resulting bloated breasts contain glandular as well as fat tissue. They cannot be exercised away; they may recede over time as the hormones adjust themselves; they can be treated with drugs – or they can be removed through plastic surgery.
Gynecomastia may also be caused by steroids or by habitual use of marijuana or alcohol, or by medications that include prostate-cancer drugs and antidepressants. Physicians make the point that any substance which affects the liver can contribute to gynecomastia.
The surgery is an option for men either cannot take the medication used to treat gynegomastia or who have not responded to medicated treatment. It is also a fairly common procedure for adolescents, a time of life when acute self-consciousness overtakes nearly all of us. Plastic surgeons are quick to note, however, that surgery conducted during adolescence does not mean the problem won’t reappear at some point later in life.
Technically called reduction mammaplasty, the surgery for gynecomastia is performed to remove excess fat and glandular tissue, to create a more natural contour for the male breast, and possibly to remove excess tissue that may be the result of recent weight loss. Nipples that have been stretched by gynecomastia can be reduced in size and even repositioned, as with breast lifts for women.
The incision is often made around the areola and vertically following the contour of the breast. The incision allows removal of excess internal tissue and skin, which is then repositioned to create a smooth low profile breast. Liposuction may be used to remove fat, while glandular and more fibrous tissue is surgically reduced. The incision also allows for repositioning the nipple when desired while leaving the attached nerves and blood vessels intact.
Near term recovery from this surgery takes about a week. The bruising and swelling will reside slowly, with the full results emerging after two or three months. Immediately after surgery the patient is bandaged and dressed with a surgical bra that puts pressure on the surgical area, helping to keep swelling down and holding the newly reconfigured breast in place while sutures heal. A small tube may be inserted in the chest to help drain accumulation of post-surgical blood and fluids associated with the swelling. The bandaging will come off when healing has set in, but the pressure bra will be a fixture for a period of months.
Some men opt for this surgery because the breasts interfere with physical activity. Most, however, cite the damage to self-image that prompts them to seek relief from gynecomastia. This type of surgery varies significantly from female reduction surgery; for that reason it is important that a board certified surgeon be called on to conduct the mammaplasty. A surgeon who is board certified is a doctor who has had years of training and experience in standard reconstructive and cosmetic surgery procedures, including mammaplasty for gynecomastia.
