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Karl William Schwarz, MD

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Male Breast Reduction Surgery: What to Expect

Posted January 26, 2017 in Plastic Surgery

Gynecomastia surgery, also referred to as male breast reduction surgery, is designed for reducing the size of large male breasts that can cause one to feel embarrassed. The method of reduction used during the procedure can be liposuction, excision, or a combination of both.

Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is essentially a condition of enlarged or overdeveloped breasts in males and is not defined by age. This condition could result from hormonal changes, obesity, using certain drugs, or heredity.

Some of the characteristics of gynecomastia are:
• Excessive development of glandular tissue
• Excessive localized fat
• Excess sagging breast skin

Gynecomastia can occur in one or both of the breasts.

You may consider a male breast reduction surgery if:
• You are hesitant about removing your shirt for activities like swimming or feel generally uncomfortable about exercising at the gym or participating in sports.
• You wish to boost your self-confidence in social interactions.
• You suffer from psychological discomfort related to having large male breasts.
• You wish to enhance your body proportions in general.

Male Breast Reduction Surgery Procedure

The male breast reduction procedure may be performed by first administering general anesthesia or local anesthesia with intravenous sedation. Your doctor may also prescribe certain medications to make you feel comfortable during the procedure.

Different liposuction techniques may be utilized by surgeons for a male breast reduction surgery. Your doctor will discuss the most suitable technique with you prior to the surgery.

When excess fatty tissue is indicated as the cause of gynecomastia, your surgeon may use the liposuction technique in isolation to perform the procedure. This involves inserting a cannula (a thin tube) through multiple small incisions. The surgeon uses a controlled movement to shift the cannula forward and backward, as this helps in loosening all the extra fat. This excess fat is then eliminated from your body with the help of vacuum suction.

Your surgeon may recommend excision techniques if there is a need to remove excess skin or glandular tissue for correcting gynecomastia. The doctor will also need to make an excision if the nipple and areola needs to be repositioned or the areola needs to be reduced in size.

In some cases, a combination of liposuction and excision technique work best to correct gynecomastia.

The Healing Process

You may take a couple of weeks to recover fully after a male breast reduction surgery. Most patients need to call out of work for at least a few days. It could take about six months for the results to show completely, as swelling will need to ameliorate first.

During your recovery period, you may be required to wear a special elastic garment to aid healing. The amount of time taken for the dressings to come off varies depending on the wound-healing abilities of different individuals. After a week or two, the stitches will either dissolve or the doctor will remove them at his clinic. This depends on the type of stitch used to seal the incisions.

Patients are advised against doing stretching, heavy lifting, or strenuous exercise for at least six weeks after surgery. It is safe to begin driving if pain has diminished.

Get In Touch for an Appointment

Dr. Daniel Careaga, an accomplished surgeon serving the Miami region, will be happy to explain the male breast reduction surgery process in greater detail as part of an informative consultation. Schedule your consultation by contacting us today.

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