Good candidates for male breast reduction:
Gynecomastia surgery is a highly individualized procedure and should not be done to fulfill someone else’s desires or to fit any sort of ideal image. It is best performed on patients who:
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Are healthy and of relatively normal weight
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Do not smoke
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Have a positive outlook and specific, realistic expectations
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Are bothered by the feeling that their breasts are too large
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Have stabilized breast development
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Men whose condition cannot be corrected through alternative medical treatments
Adolescents may benefit from surgery, although secondary procedures may be needed in the future should breast development continue.
The Surgery
Plastic surgery to correct gynecomastia is called reduction mammaplasty. It reduces breast size, flattening and enhancing the chest contours. In severe cases of gynecomastia, the weight of excess breast tissue may cause the breasts to sag and stretch the areola. In these cases the position and size of the areola can be surgically improved and excess skin may be reduced.
Step 1 - Anesthesia
Anesthesia will be administered by a board-certified M.D. anesthesiologist.
Step 2 – The Approach
Liposuction: In cases where gynecomastia is primarily the result of excess fatty tissue, liposuction techniques alone may be used. This requires the insertion of a cannula, a thin hollow tube, through several small incisions. The cannula is moved back and forth in a controlled motion to loosen the excess fat, which is then removed from the body by vacuum suction. There are various liposuction techniques that may be used. The technique most appropriate will be defined with the patient during a consultation.
Excision: Excision techniques are recommended where glandular beast tissue or excess skin must be removed to correct gynecomastia. Excision is also necessary if the areola will be reduced or the nipple repositioned to a more natural male contour. Incision patterns vary depending upon the specific conditions and surgical preference.
Sometimes gynecomastia is treated with both liposuction and excision.
Step 3 – See the results
The visible improvements of male breast reduction are immediate. Either surgical approached used to correct gynecomastia will require incisions. Over time, post-surgical swelling will resolve and incision lines will fade. Your final result should restore a more youthful look also help you feel more confident about yourself.
Making the Wise Choice
Plastic surgery involves many choices. The first and most important is selecting a surgeon you can trust. A doctor’s board certification is one of the best indicators of his or her training. Ask for certification from The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), the only one of 24 boards approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) that certifies physicians in plastic surgery of the face and all areas of the body. To be ABPS board-certified, a physician must meet these rigorous standards:
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Graduate from an accredited medical school
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Complete at least five years of surgical training following medical school with a minimum of two years of plastic surgery residency training
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Pass comprehensive oral and written exams