Male Breast Reduction

What is a "male breast reduction"?

A male breast reduction is a procedure that's performed for gynecomastia , or enlarged breasts in a male. There are a variety of common causes for enlarged breast tissue, but for almost all the treatments the procedure is male breast reduction.

How is a male breast reduction procedure performed?

A male breast reduction really depends on how much excess fat or breast tissue you have and how much extra skin. At the most benign, least invasive male breast reduction procedure, it may just require a liposuction or a very small incision in the nipple area. For extensive gynecomastia, you may require a large incision on the chest to remove both breast tissue and skin.

Who should get a male breast reduction?

It's important that your doctor and your plastic surgeon determine what the cause of gynecomastia is before you embark on male breast reduction. If, in fact, there's a hormonal reason that you're having enlarged breasts, your doctor may choose to stop those hormones, which will improve the area. Any male who is having significant concerns about the way that their breasts look, and a concern that it looks like they have breasts, is usually a good candidate for male breast reduction. Where it becomes an issue is in teenagers and young adults, and whether or not this is just a puberty issue which will resolve, or whether or not they need further surgery.

Is male breast reduction painful?

Depending on the procedure performed, whether it's liposuction or a full male breast reduction including incisions in the skin and breast tissue, in general, a male breast reduction is mildly painful and should not require more than Tylenol with Codine or some of the stronger pain medications, but in general, male breast reduction is not a very painful procedure.

What are the risks and complications associated with male breast reduction surgery?

The most common concern with male breast reduction is inverted or retracted nipples, and that's a matter of where the incision is and making sure that a cuff of tissue remains behind the nipple. Other concerns with male breast reduction include asymmetry, or making sure that the breasts look relatively the same, and that they look like a male breast as opposed to a female breast, meaning that the nipple is in an appropriate area for a male breast.

What incisions or scarring should I expect with a male breast reduction procedure?

The incisions during a male breast reduction really depend on how significant your gynecomastia is. If you have a small amount of breast tissue, your doctor may choose to make an incision in the nipple area and perform liposuction. For more significant breast tissue, it may require either a lollipop incision that's around the nipple or straight down, or an incision included in the crease area. Some of our techniques are changing to limit the scarring for male breast reduction, so you really need to check with your plastic surgeon before embarking on this procedure.

What should I expect after male breast reduction surgery?

When you wake up from male breast reduction surgery, you'll have a garment and a dressing on. The incision sites will be covered with a dressing and you'll see your doctor probably about two or three days after the procedure. He'll put you in a garment or a vest which will compress those areas to make sure that the skin and the underlying tissue really adhere to each other. The evaluation or treatment post-op is pretty straight-forward. There is not a lot to do after a male breast reduction. Obviously, there will be no chest presses or chest exercise for about a month.

Will I have to take time off from work after getting male breast reduction surgery?

Because the garment and the dressings are hidden by a shirt or a suit, you shouldn't have to take that much time off from work after a male breast reduction. It will be painful for about a day or two, but pain medications should really address those areas. If you need to get back to work, you can consider doing the breast reduction procedure on a Thursday or Friday and then potentially be back to work either Monday or Tuesday.

What are the costs associated with male breast reduction?

In certain cases where there's excessive gynecomastia or breast tissue, health insurance may cover the cost for male breast reduction. You're going to need to check with your insurance carrier and also with your plastic surgeon before that. Otherwise the cost for male breast reduction can be anywhere from $5000, to $10,000.