As a man, are you embarrassed by your oversized breasts? Many men experience what doctors call gynecomastia. Gynecomastia surgery is the best way to get the lean, masculine chest you want.

What is Male Breast Reduction?

Male breast reduction refers to any surgery that reduces excess fat and glandular tissue. It is a safe procedure that has been successfully used on millions of men. Most men get liposuction or tissue excision surgery.

Get the Solution That Works

If you want to return to the lean, flat look you had when you were young, you have probably tried everything. Male breast reduction surgery allows you to:

• Stop hiding your chest under baggy clothes.
• Take your shirt off at the pool or beach.
• Stop feeling embarrassed at the gym.
• Have more confidence in your personal life.

What Can Male Breast Reduction Do for You?

Gynecomastia is the medical term for excess male breast tissue. It is a common condition. It frequently happens to men when they reach the age of 50, but teenagers have also been known to develop male breasts. In some cases, it goes away on its own. This is usually when it’s caused by a brief hormonal shift, illness or the use of certain drugs and medications. In other cases, it hangs around for years.

Common Misconceptions

Many people believe that having excess breast tissue is caused by being overweight, not exercising or other unhealthy behaviors. There’s also a misconception that it’s associated with not being masculine enough. These ideas have probably made you feel worse about your condition. However, they are not true. The good news is that male breast reduction surgery can end your embarrassment and your worries forever. In one day, you can get rid of that unwanted flab and restore your chest to its firm, flat and youthful shape.

Benefits of Gynecomastia Surgery

• It is a straightforward solution that doesn’t involve pills, supplements or hormones.
• You won’t have visible scars.
• The results are permanent.
• The surgery can also reduce nipple size.
• Male breast reduction is a safe, FDA-approved technique.
• The procedure and recovery are fast.

What Causes Excess Breast Tissue in Men?

• Hormonal Changes – Many things can cause hormonal changes in your body. Exposure to certain compounds that contain estrogen can be at fault. So can illnesses that affect your glandular system. Many teenagers experience a passing phase of excess breast tissue after going through puberty. Teenage gynecomastia usually goes away on its own as your body gets used to the hormonal changes of adolescence. 
• Aging – As the years pass, your body produces less testosterone. This is a chief cause of soft, sagging breasts in older men. The condition is compounded by the fact that your skin also starts to sag when you get older. That makes it almost impossible to exercise away the flab.
• Liver disease. On its own, cirrhosis of the liver can throw your hormonal balance out of whack. What’s worse is that the medications for liver problems also affect hormonal balance.
• Kidney disease. Many men with kidney disease have low levels of testosterone. Medications for kidney disease can also contribute to low testosterone levels.
• Hypogonadism. This is the medical term for low testosterone production.
• Being overweight. Most men who are overweight or obese also have gynecomastia.
• Medications and Drugs – Gynecomastia is a frequent side effect of some prescription drugs and street drugs. You may have developed it after using antidepressants and mood stabilizers, medications for your heart or blood pressure, or steroids.

Are There Any Nonsurgical Treatments for Gynecomastia?

There are many treatments that claim to cure your excess breast tissue. You may even have tried some of them.

• Lifestyle Changes – Some health advocates advise you to change your diet, avoid exposure to toxins and take herbal supplements to limit the effects of estrogen exposure. Those lifestyle changes can help minimize the problem, and they probably won’t do any harm. They are not an immediate solution, however, and there is no guarantee that they will work. There is no evidence that herbal supplements can reduce your estrogen levels or your male breast tissue. Fast, safe surgical removal of your breast tissue is the only method that works on everyone.
• Topical Medications – There are many creams, ointments and lotions that advertise their ability to reduce gynecomastia. In some cases, these topical applications can temporarily firm and tighten your skin. They offer a slight, temporary fix for some men, but they are not a true solution.
• Compression Garments – You can buy compression garments to wear under your clothes. These are like the shapers or girdles that women wear to look sleek under their clothing. These garments work as a temporary fix if you want to feel less self-conscious at work or in social settings. Wearing a compression garment all the time is not a practical or permanent solution.
• Non-Surgical Body Contouring – You have probably heard about nonsurgical methods for removing excess fat like SculpSure and CoolSculpting. These treatments kill fat cells to help tone and trim the body.

These treatments can work in a few cases. They are best for men with only slight flabbiness whose skin is still firm. If you’re older, have loose skin or have large, flabby breast tissue, they won’t work. They are also inefficient. They require repeated sessions over several weeks before you can see any results.

Surgery is the Only Fast, Permanent Solution

If you want to put an end to your problem once and for all, surgery is the best option. The two surgeries that doctors normally recommend for male breast reduction are liposuction and tissue excision surgery. Your surgeon can recommend the best course of action for you.

Start with a Surgical Consultation

If you’ve decided to get surgery, always begin by scheduling a consultation with your plastic surgeon. This is the best way to devise a surgical plan that will get your desired results. Your surgeon will perform a complete physical assessment to determine the best surgical option. You can use this time to ask any questions you have about the procedure. Discuss your goals for surgery and your plans for maintaining your results.

Liposuction

Liposuction is the top choice for removing excess breast fat. Usually, one treatment with liposuction is enough to completely remove your breast tissue. Liposuction allows your doctor to reshape your chest area while removing the fat. The result is a firm, flat and totally natural look. Liposuction has been around for decades. It is still the most trusted and most common surgical method of fat removal. Many surgeons call liposuction the gold standard of fat loss surgery.

What is the Liposuction Procedure Like?

The procedure takes about one to three hours. During the treatment, your doctor uses very small medical straws called a cannula. Your surgeon inserts the cannula into your breast tissue. After this, the liposuction device suctions the fat from your breasts through the cannula. Your doctor then uses the remaining fat to reshape your breasts and reposition your nipples. Liposuction:

• Is performed in your doctor’s office
• Does not require a hospital stay or general anesthesia
• Is a fast, safe procedure when performed by a qualified plastic surgeon
• Has a short recovery period. Most people can return to work in about a week.

Tissue Excision Surgery

Liposuction is usually enough to remove all your breast fat and give you back your flat, masculine chest. If you have a lot of sagging skin or your skin isn’t firm enough for liposuction, your doctor may recommend tissue excision surgery. In this procedure, your surgeon removes glandular tissue around your breast. Tissue excision surgery is the best option for men with large, heavy breasts. Their size and weight often lead to stretched skin. If you have lost a lot of weight, you might have sagging pockets of skin. Tissue excision surgery is the only way to correct this.

What is the Tissue Excision Procedure Like?

You will have this procedure at your surgeon’s surgical clinic. During the procedure, your surgeon removes the excess skin and tissue surrounding your breasts. Your doctor then removes the fat and glandular tissue from your chest. After removing the excess fat and tissue, your surgeon seales the openings around your chest. Your doctor places the openings in a way that minimizes the look of scars.

Aftercare and Recovery

If you have never had plastic surgery, you might be understandably concerned. You may even have heard about protracted recovery periods. Don’t let those stories deter you. Most of the long recovery periods are associated with highly detailed cosmetic procedures like facelifts or breast implant surgery. Male breast reduction is safe, quick and straightforward. Most people can return to work in about a week. If you have a job that requires you to be on your feet, you should take two weeks off. You can generally return to normal activities in about three weeks.

When Will You See Your Results?

You will notice results immediately after the surgery. Your body still needs time to recover before you can see your lean, new chest. Most men can hit the beach or the pool shirtless in about a month.

How Long Do the Results Last?

The results of male breast reduction are permanent. You can keep your new shape if you maintain a healthy weight.

How to Maintain Your Results

• Keep your weight stable.
• Avoid foods and products that contain estrogen.
• Avoid taking steroids, hormones or questionable supplements.
• Don’t drink to excess.
• Consult your doctor if you have questions about any medications or supplements you plan to take.

Schedule Your Consultation Today

If you’re ready to get the lean, firm chest you want, learn more about gynecomastia surgery by making an appointment with Murphy Plastic Surgery. At our convenient location in Englewood by Denver, CO, our caring and devoted team of professionals will be pleased to explain this option in greater detail and answer any questions you may have. Contact us today to set up your consultation – we look forward to speaking with you!