 |
Male Breast Reductions or Gynecomastia
in Bethesda Maryland - Washington DC Metro Area
Correction of Enlarged Male Breasts
Gynecomastia is a medical term derived from the Greek words for "woman-like breasts." Though this oddly named condition is rarely talked about, it's actually quite common. Gynecomastia affects an estimated 40 to 60 percent of men. It may affect only one breast or both. Though certain drugs, food and medical problems have been linked with male breast overdevelopment, there is no known cause in the vast majority of cases. 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.
How reduction surgery can help you
For men with gynecomastia who feel self-conscious about their appearance, breast-reduction surgery can help. The best candidates for surgery have firm, elastic skin that will reshape to the body's new contours. Surgery may be beneficial for obese men, or for overweight men. Gynecomastia may occur in individuals who drink alcoholic beverages in excess, smoke marijuana or use anabolic steroids. This surgery may be confined to the breast or can be done in conjunction with mid-body liposuction and contouring.
Your surgical consultation
The initial consultation with your surgeon is very important. Your surgeon will need a complete medical history, so check your own records ahead of time and be ready to provide this information. First, your surgeon will examine your breasts and check for causes of the gynecomastia, such as impaired liver function, use of estrogen-containing medications, or anabolic steroids. If a medical problem is the suspected cause, you'll be referred to an appropriate specialist.
Once your surgeon knows how much fat and glandular tissue is contained within the breasts, he or she can choose the best surgical approach and make recommendations to the patient.
The surgery
Surgery for gynecomastia is most often performed as an outpatient procedure. 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'll 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; the fat will be removed by liposuction.
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 is attached to a vacuum pump and inserted into the incision. The surgeon moves the cannula through the layers beneath the skin, breaking up the fat and suctioning it out. Patients under local anesthetic 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 readjust to the new breast contour.
Once closed, the incisions are usually covered with a dressing. The chest may be wrapped to keep the skin firmly in place.
Enhancing your appearance with breast reduction surgery
Overly large breasts can cause some women to have both health and emotional problems. In addition to self image issues, you may also experience physical pain and discomfort.
The weight of excess breast tissue can impair your ability to lead an active life. The emotional discomfort and self-consciousness often associated with having large pendulous breasts is as important an issue to many women as the physical discomfort and pain.
Also known as reduction mammoplasty, this procedure removes excess breast fat, glandular tissue and skin to achieve a breast size in proportion with your body and to alleviate the discomfort associated with overly large breasts.
Is it right for me?
Breast reduction is a highly individualized procedure and you should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else’s desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image.
Breast reduction is usually performed through incisions on your breasts with surgical removal of the excess fat, glandular tissue and skin.
In some cases, excess fat may be removed through liposuction in conjunction with the excision techniques described below. If breast size is largely due to fatty tissue and excess skin is not a factor, liposuction alone may be used for breast reduction.
The technique used to reduce the size of your breasts will be determined by your individual condition, breast composition, amount of reduction desired, your personal preferences and the surgeon’s advice. Most patients have physical symptoms such as pain in the back and neck. The procedure is done under general anesthesia and the cost may be covered under your health insurance.
If you are interested in scheduling a complimentary consultation for Male Breast Reductions or Gynecomastia, please use our online plastic surgery information form to make an appiontment.