Men who develop enlarged breast tissue have a condition known as gynecomastia. This is characterized by excess fat and glandular tissue in the chest region, which give the appearance of breasts.
Gynecomastia can be caused by heredity, hormonal changes, and the use of certain medications. Men or boys who have this condition may feel uncomfortable with the size and appearance of their chests and may avoid certain activities due to their fear of going shirtless.
Gynecomastia can’t be solved with diet and exercise alone. As board-certified plastic surgeons, Drs. Peter Butler and Jocelyn Leveque have performed many surgeries to correct gynecomastia with excellent results.
Who Qualifies for a Male Breast Reduction Procedure?
To be considered for the surgery, you should be in good general health and free of any underlying health conditions that can cause complications during the surgical process. Teenagers are usually advised to wait until puberty passes to undergo a breast reduction because imbalances in hormones are normal at younger ages.
During your first consultation with Dr. Butler or Dr. Leveque, you are encouraged to be open about your medical history to give your doctor a good idea about your candidacy. While preparing for the surgery, you will be asked to stop smoking and to limit any use of medications that may act as blood thinners.
Surgical Options for Male Breast Reduction
Some of the surgical options to treat this condition include liposuction and tissue excision. Both options would require making incisions in and around the chest region. In liposuction, the incisions are smaller and less visible, whereas in tissue excision, the incisions are longer but are well hidden in the contours of the body.
In many cases, liposuction can be performed in the office under oral sedation using local anaesthetic. Tissue excision is usually opted for when larger amounts of glandular tissue and skin need to be removed. This is done under general anaesthesia in an out-patient surgery center.
Once the excess glandular tissue and excess fat are removed, the incisions are closed using sutures and bandages. Both techniques may require about one to three hours to complete. Your doctor will help you decide which course of action is best for you.
Recovery After the Procedure
After the procedure is completed, you can expect to experience some downtime so that you can relax and accelerate your recovery period. After about two weeks, you can return to your normal daily activities and begin light exercises. You may feel some discomfort and notice some swelling in the chest region, but this is expected to subside shortly. If, however, it is too much to handle, your doctor will provide you with medication to help.
The final results of the procedure are permanent if you take good care of your body once you are healed. They will be noticeable a couple of months after the surgery. Your chest will appear more toned and masculine. You will feel more confident in your body and lose your fear of going shirtless.
Contact Our Office
Having gynecomastia can severely alter a man’s confidence and make them feel emasculated. For help solving this problem, contact Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery to schedule your consultation with Dr. Peter Butler or Dr. Jocelyn Leveque today.
