It’s high time that the world comes together to tackle the harmful stigmas preventing men with gynecomastia from seeking help.
No, the appearance of extra fat around the breasts does not make you feminine, and no, you don’t have to just “grin and bear it.”
At Nuance Cosmetic Surgery of Folsom, California, Dr. Kenneth Sumida helps men restore confidence in their bodies with convenient and effective male breast reduction surgeries.
Wondering if this procedure is right for you, and/or how it works? In this overview of male breast reduction surgery, we will walk you through all the key considerations so that you can have a clearly informed understanding before making a commitment.
What Is Gynecomastia?
While men obviously differ significantly from women when it comes to the form and function of their breast tissue, hormonal shifts can still affect breast tissue in men.
As mentioned, the term “gynecomastia” refers to an increase in breast tissue in men, which, in addition to hormonal shifts, can be caused by several other factors, including:
- Illicit and prescribed drug use
- Various disease processes (kidney disease, lung cancer, and more)
- Obesity
- Genetic disorders (Klinefelter syndrome)
- Exposure to toxins
- Heavy stress
- Some injuries
Sometimes, gynecomastia presents asymmetrically, meaning the excess fatty tissue and/or skin forms differently on the right and left breasts, making matters worse aesthetically speaking.
Who Is Male Breast Reduction For?
As for how any given patient’s eligibility for male breast reduction is determined, there are several key factors (beyond the nature and extent of excess fatty tissue) that Dr. Sumida will assess in order to establish whether or not you are a fit for this procedure.
Ultimately, each case is unique, and is decided by your surgeon. That said, factors that commonly harm one’s eligibility for this procedure include uncontrolled cancers, ongoing smoking or drug habits, and certain conditions that may interfere with the healing process.
If you’re curious as to whether or not you might be a candidate for male breast reduction surgery, contact our Folsom, CA, office and schedule a consultation. We will carefully evaluate your case to provide you with a well-informed list of options.
How Does Male Breast Reduction Work?
Depending on the kind of tissue to be removed – whether it is glandular tissue, fat, or skin – male breast reduction procedures can take one of several approaches.
For example, liposuction is appropriate when removing fatty tissue from the breasts. In this approach, a special tube called a cannula is inserted through a small incision into the target area. The fatty breast tissue is broken up by the surgeon manually moving the tube, and/or with the assistance of ultrasound, radiofrequency, or other forms of energy, before being extracted.
In other cases, the surgeon may excise, or cut out, lumps of tissue. Generally, this approach is reserved for more severe cases of gynecomastia, and/or for removing excess skin and glandular tissue.
Depending on the approach, this procedure usually requires either local or general anesthesia. As an added aesthetic benefit, we also have the opportunity to enhance the shape of the chest during breast reduction surgery.
In either case, male breast reduction is usually permanent, and comes with several aesthetic and other benefits.
Benefits of Male Breast Reduction
From improved self-esteem to weight management and more, breast reduction surgery promotes many positive and surprisingly holistic benefits that often last for a lifetime, including the following:
Renewed confidence: Too many men suffer in silence as a result of their gynecomastia, which often feeds directly into deleterious mental health problems like depression and social anxiety. These issues affect key aspects of daily life, including relationships, workplace acceptance, and more. Resolving the gynecomastia with male breast reduction can restore a healthy body image and greatly aid in the healing process.
Easier exercise: While male breast reduction surgery in itself is not meant to be a weight loss procedure, men feel much more comfortable exercising after their recovery because they don’t have to contend with that loose tissue moving around. For many men, this surgery can make the difference between being confident enough to swim at the gym and skipping the cardio due to insecurity.
Long-lasting results: Once removed, the fat cells do not come back, meaning you can enjoy permanent results. However, it’s important to understand that this doesn’t make it impossible for the residual fat in the area to expand. If the underlying issue that caused your gynecomastia is not addressed by surgery or subsequent lifestyle changes (as with hormonal causes increasing glandular tissue), the gynecomastia may return to an extent. It’s important to address the underlying issue to ensure more long-lasting results.
Smooth recovery process: Thanks to our discrete, patient-centered approach to male breast reduction surgery, you don’t need to worry about a lengthy, painful, and inconvenient recovery process. Downtime is usually limited to a week or less, with heavier activities taking 2-3 more weeks to return to. As long as you follow all recovery guidelines, you’re in for a fairly short stint.
Achieve a Leaner, Masculine Chest with Male Breast Reduction Surgery by Nuance Cosmetic Surgery of Folsom, CA
We know from experience how hard it can often be for men with gynecomastia to face the problem and take action. Nuance Cosmetic Surgery is here to put your mind at ease throughout the entire process, crafting a compassionate, patient-centered plan that will restore your confidence.
Contact us to set up a consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Kenneth Sumida, and start your transformative journey towards a new and more confident you today.
