Male Breast Surgery

Another name for enlarged male breasts is gynecomastia. Ideally, the male breasts are muscular and well defined. It signifies strength and masculinity. Sometimes, for various reasons, the male breast becomes fatty and begins to sag. Instead of a healthy masculine look, the man is left with an unhealthy, out of shape, feminine look.

The causes of this problem range from hormonal changes, to intake of medications, to genetic predisposition. In fact, it is not uncommon for healthy teenage boys, usually around 14 years of age, to have this problem for 1 to 2 years. The reason is hormonal and usually goes away after puberty.

Often, the cause of gynecomastia is never identified. Certain diseases and medications can be the cause and these need to be looked into by your family doctor. The medical causes range from deficiency of testosterone to excess of estrogen. Being overweight can cause too much estrogen and, therefore, it is highly recommended to lose weight.

Medications that are known to cause gynecomastia are as follows:  Estrogens, digitalis, clomiphene, ketoconazole, metronidazole, cisplatin, spironolactone, cimetidine, isoniazid, methyldopa, tricyclic antidepressants, valium, heroin, and marijuana. Liver problems can also be the cause. These are the common causes but there are many more possibilities and only a medical evaluation can determine them with any certainty.

The good news is that with modern plastic surgery, gynecomastia can be effectively treated so that you no longer have to be embarrassed to take your shirt off. The treatment of gynecomastia depends on what is causing the problem. The three components of gynecomastia are:

1) excess fat
2) excess breast tissue
3) excess skin.

Excess Fat:

This is found in almost every gynecomastia patient. It is centered around the nipple/areola but usually involves the entire chest. This is typically removed with liposuction. If the cause is solely from excess fat then liposuction alone will usually take care of the problem. Usually the skin shrinks back after the fat is removed and a good result is obtained.

Excess Fat and Breast Tissue

This may seem strange but all men have breast tissue. This is the same breast tissue that women have but, of course, it is not as abundant. In gynecomastia, the breast tissue often grows considerably and typically is located right under the nipple/areola. If a man squeezes the tissue directly below his nipple, he will feel the breast tissue as a firm, squishy, foot ball shaped lump.

With gynecomastia this tissue mass often will enlarge dramatically. Liposuction alone usually will not adequately remove this tissue. It usually needs to be cut out. The incision is typically located just below areola where it ultimately fades away very indiscreetly.

Excess Fat, Breast Tissue and Skin

As mentioned above, after the fat and breast tissue are removed, the skin usually will shrink back and a flat result will be obtained. There are times when the skin does not shrink back and it needs to be excised as well. This is when there simply is too much skin.

The patient will have saggy breasts that hang downward. The excess skin is obvious. Other patients who may need skin removal are those with poor skin that does not have the elastic properties to shrink back. These are usually older patients or those with significant stretch marks. The Surgeon typically is able to remove skin by making an incision only around the areola. This incision is well hidden because it is masked by the interface between the skin and the areola.

The question as to whether or not you are a good candidate is easier to answer than finding out the exact cause of the gynecomastia. A good candidate is simply any man who feels self-conscious about his breasts. If this problem is treated by a competent plastic surgeon it can be effectively and safely improved and often corrected completely.

Remember, gynecomastia is usually not caused by any serious medical problems. In fact, the cause is rarely identified. However, it must be emphasized, that there are some significant medical problems that do cause gynecomastia and must be looked into. To determine if you have treatable medical reasons for your gynecomastia you must see your family doctor. When seeking consultation, it is important to list all the medications you are taking as well as providing a complete medical history.

It is very important that you understand factors that compromise the result of treating gynecomastia. The most common include:

1. Markedly Overweight Men. Even though surgery will help even the significantly overweight, the result will not be as good. For this reason, you should try to get within 30-40lb of your ideal body weight.
2. Men with Poor Skin Quality. Gynecomastia surgery involves two important processes. One, is to get rid of the excess tissue. The second is skin contraction. The skin must recognize that this tissue is gone and contract back. Some people do not have skin that can contract back. Their skin has lost its elastic properties. This includes men over the age of 50, men with significant sun damage, breasts with a lot of stretch marks, and men who have had gastric bypass.

If you would like more information or Get a Free Consulation, please fill out the form below and one of our Liasions will get back with you as soon as possible to help you feel good about yourself again.
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