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Male breast reduction surgery treats a condition called gynecomastia, a medical term meaning "woman-like breasts." This condition affects as many as 30% of men. Gynecomastia may be associated with obesity, hormonal metabolism imbalance, liver disease or other medical concerns. If diet and exercise does not alleviate the problem, male breast reduction surgery may be a good option.
What can I expect during the male breast reduction procedure?
If your gynecomastia is primarily caused by fatty tissue, liposuction is usually the preferred procedure. Liposuction is used to remove localized deposits of fat cells from the body. Orange County plastic surgeon Dr. Savalia uses a tiny straw-like instrument called a cannula which is inserted in an inconspicuous location on the skin. Excess fat is then removed through a vacuum system attached to the cannula. The result is a resculpting of oversized male breasts into more masculine contours.
If your gynecomastia is the result of a glandular disorder, traditional surgery may provide better results. The excision may be performed alone or in conjunction with liposuction. Typically, the incision is placed on the edge of the areola (colored area of the nipple) or in the underarm area. Dr. Savalia will work through these incisions to cut away the excess glandular tissue, fat and skin from the breast. If your reduction requires the removal of significant amounts of tissue, larger incisions may be required. If your gynecomastia is extreme, and large amounts of fat and/or glandular tissue have to be removed, excess skin may also have to be excised.
What is recovery like for male breast reduction?
For the first few days following your surgery, you will wear surgical dressings which will be exchanged for a special compression garment. This will be worn for about two weeks. Most men experience some degree of swelling, bruising and tenderness, and Dr. Savalia may prescribe pain medication and antibiotics as needed. These symptoms should subside in a short time and most patients are back to work within the first week.
For more information on male breast surgery or Gynecomastia, please call or email Dr. Savalia at our Orange County-area plastic surgery office.
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