Swelling of the breast tissue, also known as gynecomastia affects 40-60% of men resulting in the development of abnormally large breasts. Caused by excess estrogen production by the body, this condition can cause physical discomfort and pain among many, making it difficult for them to do daily activities. Men and young boys who suffer from gynecomastia can feel increasingly conscious and embarrassed about their breasts, which has a negative psychological impact on them. Low self esteem and anxiety often makes them uncomfortable in being shirtless in public. For such individuals, male breast reduction surgery is the perfect solution.
Male Breast Reduction will boost your self confidence and ease any discomfort or pain due to large breasts.
Male breast reduction is a treatment to reduce enlarged breasts in men. It removes excess fat from the tissues and makes the chest firm and strong. Breast reduction can also reduce sagging skin due to excess weight in men. The procedure can bring about psychological satisfaction in men apart from a definite physical betterment. The results of male breast reduction are long lasting or permanent in most cases.
Individuals with good skin elasticity. The procedure requires skin contraction after the excess skin is removed which is dependent on the elasticity of the skin.
Normally, individuals over the age of 50 years lack skin elasticity, and have significant sun damage. Hence such individuals should re-think the surgery.
Individuals who do not use steroids, marijuana, or drink alcohol excessively are ideal candidates.
Individuals who are not significantly overweight. Such individuals will benefit more than those who weight more than 30 pounds of their ideal weight according to the BMI.
Male breast reduction, or Gynecomastia involves the removal of excess fat or muscular tissue from the male breast. The procedure gives a flatter and firmer look to the breasts and makes it seem more masculine. Proper diet and exercising can often reduce female-like breasts among overweight men. However, genetic disposition, hormone disorder or the use of certain medication can develop breasts in even the thin men and surgery might be their only option.
Most often, male breast reduction takes place through incisions, made around the nipple area. The location of the incision can be decided by the patient. It can be located along the edge of the areola or within the armpit. The length of the incision is based on your anatomy. This is followed by liposuction that sucks out excess fat from the breasts. With liposuction assisting the surgery, there are less chances of blood loss, nipple distortion and areola slough (sagging of areola) that can look unappealing.
Exercise. Stretch, lift moderate weight and jog to enhance general body strength. It helps in post operative recovery. However, make sure you don’t overdo it.
Make sure you are not suffering from small illnesses such as colds in the weeks prior to the surgery. Hence, maintain a good health hygiene.
Smoking and Marijuana should be completely discontinued at least four week prior to the surgery as they can prolong the recovery time by restricting blood flow to the treated area.
A couple of weeks before the surgery, stop taking Vitamin E, garlic supplements, green tea, anti-inflammatory agents, estrogen supplements and herbal medication as they can increase chances of bleeding.
Skin damage can lead to the development of irregular scars and pigmentation after the surgery. Avoid any form of exposure to the skin when the scar is healing.
On the day of the surgery, use antibacterial soap while showering. Do not apply scented cream or soap. Do not use deodorant, hair spray or cologne.
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight on the day prior to the surgery as it can interfere with the sedation during the procedure.
Get adequate rest. This is an important after care measure.
Do not decrease physical activity by a large extent. It may lead to constipation. Engage in light physical exertion such as walking. It also helps in reducing the swelling.
Do not over exert yourself in physical activities. Wait for 2-3 weeks in the stages of healing after the surgery if you want to indulge in contact sports.
Do not start driving until you have complete control of your arms and their movements are no more restricted.
Avoid exposing the scar to the sun for at least 12 months after the surgery. Sun exposure is harmful to the scar and can lead to its permanency.
Keep the incision clean and inspect daily for any signs of inspection. Do not engage in tub soaking till the sutures are removed.
Continue taking a balanced diet. Eat raw fruits to avoid constipation. Also consume adequate vitamin C.
Do not drink alcohol while on medication. Avoid smoking for a few weeks after the surgery as well.
Take only prescribed medication. Do not take pain medication on your own. Medicines like aspirin can lead to swelling and even bleeding.
Do not eat fish oil, supplemental garlic, omega-3 supplements, multi-vitamin supplements.
A male breast reduction is appropriate for an individual with abnormally large breasts that are disproportionate with the other body parts.
If you are overweight already, getting a breast reduction so as to remove female like breasts might not be the best way to solve your problem. It is better to try and reduce your breasts first by exercising and dieting.
In case you are the ideal candidate, remember the side effects of the procedure, such as scarring and nipple displacement. Normally, a male breast reduction can increase your self esteem and make you confident. However, it can lead to prominent surgical scars if the procedure is performed by a skilled doctor.
Results of male breast reduction surgery last for a lifetime.
Permanence- One of the main benefits of a gynecomastia treatment is that it produces permanent results. Since the surgery involves removal of the enlarged breast tissue, it leads to a permanent reduction in the size of male breasts, given that the patient does not put on weight after surgery and avoids harmful drugs and substances.
Increased Confidence- Men who undergo a breast reduction surgery feel much more comfortable with their bodies after the procedure. They are no longer intimidated and awkward in social situations, thereby resulting in a higher level of self esteem and regain of confidence.
Personalization- An advantage of gynecomastia surgery is that it is highly personalised. The patient can decide the technique and extent of the surgery that is most suitable keeping in mind his/her age, body type, physical fitness and medical history. This ensures that the patient is always satisfied with the results of the surgery.
Since the surgery is considered to be elective, it is unlikely to be covered by insurance, and can prove to be expensive for some. However, the permanent and satisfactory results of the surgery have proven to be well worth the cost.
Scarring can be a possible drawback of the procedure. However, these scars are generally minimal, especially if the procedure is performed by a highly skilled surgeon.
Some individuals, despite possessing excessive breast tissue, might not be ideal candidates for this procedure.
Individuals who do not have elastic skin in the upper abdomen.
Individuals, whose skins are damaged by the sun. Sunburn causes excessive scarring after the surgery.
Individuals who are above the age of 50 years. The skin of these individuals is generally exposed to sunlight and has aged, and they might not be appropriate for this surgery.
Overweight individuals are not a good fit for this surgery. An ideal candidate should not weigh more than 30 pounds of the ideal weight.
Besides surgery, following are the alternative treatments for gynecomastia:
Exercise and Diet- One of the most natural methods to get rid of enlarged breasts is through exercise. A number of exercise routines designed specifically to build the arm and shoulder muscles and lose fat around the chest area are popular among men for treating gynecomastia. Individuals can also choose to adopt a healthier lifestyle through low fat diets. However, these do not provide a guaranteed result and are generally long-drawn treatments. Moreover, they provide only a temporary solution which looses effect when the individual gains weight. Also, building muscles can make the breasts look more heavier.
Creams and Ointments- Many individuals who are unable to treat their condition through exercise and diet may choose topical treatment options like creams, serums and gels that are applied to the chest. These are a completely non invasive, painless and a relatively cheaper alternative to surgery. However, these do not provide a permanent solution and have several side effects like uneven shape of breasts.
Reduction Pills- Male breast reduction pills are the most common non invasive alternative to surgical treatment. These are easily available in pharmacies and involve much lesser cost. However, they can have dangerous side effects.
Ultimately, however, the most effective treatment for male breast reduction is surgery, which despite being relatively costly, provides a permanent solution and immediate results.
The scars are an obvious result of any surgery involving an incision, such as male breast reduction. However, any scar caused by a minimally invasive surgery can be reduced to being invisible, if due care is taken. Proper care includes following the right preoperative and postoperative instruction as mentioned above. For example, protecting the scar from sun exposure, and restraining from excessive physical activity.
The location and extent of the scar also matters on the physical nature of your original breasts. If the original size of the breasts is small, the size of the scar is also tiny. If the breasts are big, the scar may extend. If the breast tissues are hard, the scar is located under the areola and might be less visible. Also, if the areola is big, the scar goes all the way around the areola and become more prominent.
While male breast reduction is a fairly simple and straightforward surgery, it has a few temporary complications that you should have knowledge about:
Sore breasts - This lasts for a few weeks after the surgery. You can reduce the discomfort by putting ice on the affected area and by avoiding putting strain on the muscles around the breasts.
Scars - Scars are common risks in surgical procedures. Eventually, they can be completely removed if you take care of them. In order to accelerate recovery, do not expose the scars to the sun for a few months after the surgery, do not stretch or exercise for at least 10 days and eat a nutritious diet.
Bruising and swelling - Bruising and swelling is common to most surgical procedures. Apply ice to soothe the affected area.
There are three considerations you need to remember in order to choose the right surgeon. These are:
the surgeon’s educational background and training experience,
whether the surgeon is certified in performing cosmetic procedures, and
your level of comfort with the surgeon and the assisting medical staff.
These considerations will ensure that you don’t suffer from unnecessary after effects of the surgery, such as:
Prominent scarring
Loss of nipple sensation
Unevenly shaped breasts
Development of lumps around the breasts
The most critical point of the surgery is when the surgeon is making the incision. The length of the incision and how it is made determines the permanency of the scar, and the position of nipples after the procedure.
