Male Breast Hypertrophy Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia
is a medical term that comes from the Greek words for "women-like breasts."
Though this oddly named condition is rarely talked about, it is actually
quite common. For men who feel self-conscious about their appearance, breast-reduction
surgery can help. The procedure removes fat and or glandular tissue from
the breasts, and in extreme cases removes excess skin, resulting in a chest
that is flatter, firmer, and better contoured. Surgery to correct gynecomastia
can be performed on healthy, emotionally stable men of any age. The best
candidates for surgery have firm, elastic skin that will reshape to the
body's new contours.
Surgery may be discouraged for obese men, or for overweight men who have
not first attempted to correct the problem with exercise or weight loss.
Also, individuals who drink alcohol beverages in excess or smoke marijuana
are usually not considered good candidates for surgery. These drugs, along
with anabolic steroids, may cause gynecomastia. Therefore, patients are
first directed to stop the use of these drugs to see if the breast fullness
will diminish before surgery is considered an option.
When male breast-reduction surgery is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon,
complications are infrequent and usually minor. Nevertheless, as with any
surgery, there are risks. These include infection, skin injury, excessive
bleeding, adverse reaction to anesthesia, and excessive fluid loss or accumulation.
The procedure may also result in noticeable scars, permanent pigment changes
in the breast area, or slightly mismatched breasts or nipples. If asymmetry
is significant, a second procedure may be performed to remove additional
tissue. The temporary effects of breast reduction include loss of breast
sensation or numbness, which may last up to a year.
Smokers should plan to stop smoking for a minimum of one or two weeks before
surgery and during recovery. Smoking decreases circulation and interferes
with proper healing. Therefore, it is essential to follow all your surgeon's
instructions. Surgery for gynecomastia is most often performed as an outpatient
procedure, but in extreme cases, or those where other medical conditions
present cause for concern, an overnight hospital stay may be recommended.
The surgery itself usually takes about an hour and a half to complete. However,
more extensive procedures may take longer.
Correction of enlarged male breasts may be performed under general, or in
some cases, under local anesthesia plus sedation. You will be awake, but
very relaxed and insensitive to pain. More extensive correction may be performed
under general anesthesia, which allows the patient to sleep through the
entire operation. Your surgeon will discuss which option is recommended
for you, and why this is the option of choice. If excess glandular tissue
is the primary cause of the breast enlargement, it will be excised, or cut
out, with a scalpel. The excision may be performed alone or in conjunction
with liposuction. In a typical procedure, an incision is made in an inconspicuous
location--either on the edge of the areola or in the under arm area. Working
through the incision, the surgeon cuts away the excess glandular tissue,
fat and skin from around the areola and from the sides and bottom of the
breast. Major reductions that involve the removal of a significant amount
of tissue and skin may require larger incisions that result in more conspicuous
scars. If liposuction is used to remove excess fat, the cannula is usually
inserted through the existing incisions.
If your gynecomastia consists primarily of excessive fatty tissue, your
surgeon will likely use liposuction to remove the excess fat. A small incision,
less than a half-inch in length, is made around the edge of the areola--the
dark skin that surrounds the nipple. Or, the incision may be placed in the
underarm area. A slim hollow tube called a cannula which is attached to
a vacuum pump, is then inserted into the incision. Using strong, deliberate
strokes, the surgeon moves the cannula through the layers beneath the skin,
breaking up the fat and suctioning it out. Patients may feel a vibration
or some friction during the procedure, but generally no pain. In extreme
cases where large amounts of fat or glandular tissue have been removed,
skin may not adjust well to the new smaller breast contour. In these cases,
excess skin may have to be removed to allow the removing skin to firmly
re-adjust to the new breast contour.
You will be swollen and bruised for awhile. To help reduce swelling, you
will probably be instructed to wear an elastic pressure garment continuously
for a week or two, and for a few weeks longer at night. Although the worst
of your swelling will dissipate in the first few weeks, it may be three
months or more before the final results of your surgery are apparent. In
the meantime, it is important to begin getting back to normal. You will
be encouraged to begin walking around on the day of surgery, and can return
to work when you feel well enough--which could be as early as a day or two
after surgery. Any stitches will generally be removed about 1 to 2 weeks
following the procedure. You should also avoid exposing the resulting scars
to the sun for at least six months. Sunlight can permanently affect the
skin pigmentation, causing the scar to turn dark. If sun exposure is unavoidable,
use a strong sunblock.
Gynecomastia surgery can enhance your appearance and self-confidence, but
it will not necessarily change your looks to match your ideal. Before you
decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss
them frankly with your plastic surgeon. The results of the procedure are
significant and permanent. If your expectations are realistic, chances are
good that you will be very satisfied with your new look.
