Gynecomastia is the increase of breast gland tissue amount in men due to imbalance of the hormones estrogen and testosterone. It can be congenital or occur as a result of hormonal changes during puberty or later in life. Some people may have more mild cases that are hardly detectable, while other have extremely feminine breasts. In Bosphorus Medical Solutions, our surgeons perform customized male breast reduction surgeries for all of our patients to address each individual’s concern and provide desired results. It is important to understand the difference between gynecomastia and pseudogynecomastia where gynecomastia results in an enlarged male chest due to glandular tissue; pseudogynecomastia results in an enlarged male chest due to fatty tissue.
Male breast reduction surgery performed for gynecomastia can take between two to four hours under the patient’s choice of general or local anesthesia. Incisions are made on the natural chest crease or around the areolas depending on the amount of breast tissue.
Male breast reduction surgery performed for pseudogynecomastia can take one to two hours under either general or local anesthesia.
In cases of combined gynecomastia and pseudogynecomastia, tissue excision and liposuction are performed together in the same surgical session. Both procedures are performed as an outpatient, patients become able to return home after their release from the recovery room.
Am I Good Candidate for Gynecomasty?
Good candidates for male breast reduction surgery are men who have an enlarged male chest or are not satisfied with its contour despite exercise. Not being able to contour the chest via working out most likely indicates that the condition is gynecomastia.
Ideal patients will have good skin elasticity, are physically healthy and emotionally stable. The procedure does not have specific age limits; however, it is best for young adults to have reached complete growth before undergoing male breast reduction, since the condition may resolve on its own once the hormone levels balance out after teenage years, and if a patient undergoes the procedure before the chest has fully developed, a second reduction surgery may be necessary to re-contour the chest.
After Your Gynecomasty
After the procedure surgeon will place tiny drains in the incision locations and wrap a compression garment around the chest.
The drains will be removed in a few days, but the compression garment must be kept on for a couple weeks. Swelling and tenderness of the chest are normal and will quickly subside. Any discomfort can be controlled with prescribed medications.
Patients are able to resume light activities in about four days and more strenuous activities and heavy lifting can be continued after two to three weeks.
