Gynecomastia is a common, yet rarely discussed condition in adolescent and adult males. The emotional trauma from this condition can cause decreased self-esteem and confidence issues. Sometimes the excess breast tissue can start to grow at puberty and can resolve itself in one to two years after puberty.
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Causes of Gynecomastia
- Puberty: Excessive breast growth is common during puberty with it naturally resolving in a year or two.
- Advancing Age: After the age of 55, hormone levels shift in men.
- Medications: Amphetamines, antidepressants, blood pressure drugs, antibiotics and herbal treatments.
- Obesity: Accumulation of fat tissue along the chest that may stimulate estrogen production and glandular tissue growth.
- Alcohol Consumption: Heavy consumption affects the liver and therefore alters estrogen and testosterone levels, causing an increase of breast tissue.
- Anabolic Steroids
- Genetic Predisposition
Is it Gynecomastia or Pseudogynecomastia?
Pseudogynecomastia: Mostly seen in obese men, where mostly fatty tissue manifests around, behind, or underneath the nipples without pain during palpation.
Gynecomastia: There is both excess fat and glandular tissue in the breast.
Gynecomastia Procedure Snapshot
| PROCEDURE SUMMARY | |
|---|---|
| What is the pain level after the surgery? | Mild to moderate |
| Anesthesia type (if applicable) | General anesthesia |
| Duration of Surgery | 1 to 2 hours for liposuction/3-4 hours for skin resection |
| Where will scaring for this procedure be? | Small incisions along breast fold for liposuction/ Along breast crease if excision required |
| Timeframe to begin showing final results | 4-6weeks |
| When is the patient able to return to regular activities? | 1 week |
| When is the patient able to resume exercise? | 2-3 weeks |
| Cost of surgeon’s fee | With Liposuction – $5,500 – $7,000 / With Excess Skin Resection – $6,500 – $10,500 |
Ideal Candidate for Gynecomastia Surgery
Good Candidates for Gynecomastia:
- Have a hormonal imbalance in your body
- Have enlargement in your breast tissue
- Have hormonal imbalance that comes from levels of estrogen (female hormones) being relatively higher than the androgen levels (male hormones)
- Have breast tissue that is usually soft or elastic and more pronounced around the nipple
- Have enlarged breast tissue tender to the touch
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- Daily Life!
Gynecomastia Surgical Techniques
Patients that suffer from gynecomastia secondary to puberty are usually advised to wait to see if the condition improves with time. The severity of gynecomastia dictates the type of surgical correction a patient should have performed. The gynecomastia surgery will be performed at an accredited outpatient surgical facility under general anesthesia
STEPS TO PERFORMING GYNECOMASTIA CORRECTION
STEP 1: Markings – Surgeon will use a marking pen to mark areas of breast tissue and fat to be removed.
STEP 2: Liposuction – A small 4 mm incision is made at the lateral inframammary fold where a small liposuction cannula will be inserted to suction out excess fat. Our surgeon uses a power-assisted liposuction device in order to allow for speedy recovery and minimal bruising and swelling.
STEP3: Excision of Excess Tissue – An incision will be made above and below the nipple allowing for removal of excess skin. The nipple is repositioned in a fashion to allow for the scar be placed into the inframammary fold where it will appear natural and more subtle.
STEP 4: Application of Dressing and Garment
Before & After Photos
Cost of Gynecomastia Surgery
There are a variety of factors that determine the overall cost of your gynecomastia surgery.
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- Surgeons Fee: $5,500 – $10,500
- Anesthesia Fee: Depends on the length of the procedure
- Hospital and Surgical Facility Fees: Depends on the length of the procedure
- Post-Surgery Garments: Included with the surgeon’s fee at The Naderi Center. Often men will be advised to purchase a SpanxÒ garment to wear in the recovery period.
- Pre-Surgical Medical Clearance and Lab Tests: Usually covered by medical insurance
- Medication Costs: Usually covered by medical insurance
- Follow-Up Visits: Included with surgeon’s fee at The Naderi Center
Preparation for Gynecomastia Surgery
At The Naderi Center, we believe the success of any cosmetic procedure can be improved with proper patient preparation. We go above and beyond to make sure that our patients are medically, emotionally and physically ready for surgery.
Please review our detailed instructions on gynecomastia surgery preparation with the link below:
Download and Print Preop and Post-Operative Gynecomastia Instructions Here
Recovery after Gynecomastia Surgery
Men can expect mild bruising, swelling, and tenderness along the chest, following their gynecomastia procedure. The majority of these will resolve over the first week, although some swelling can remain for several months. Discomfort after gynecomastia surgery is normally mild, and you will be prescribed the necessary pain medications. A compression garment is advised to be worn for 6 weeks to minimize swelling. Adequate rest following gynecomastia surgery is essential for proper healing. Strenuous activity, physical fitness/working out is determined by your surgeon, although you may return to work after 1 week after surgery.
Patients should fill their medications prior to the procedure and make sure they are on hand when returning home from surgery. Assistance from a loved one or friend is important for the first several days following, as patients are usually sore and tired.
While some results from gynecomastia surgery may be noticeable soon after surgery, it will take up to six months for the breasts to heal completely. Once the bruising and swelling have resolved, the benefits of surgery will be apparent.
Risks, Safety and Complications of Gynecomastia Surgery
Gynecomastia correction is a commonly performed procedure at The Naderi Center and is known for safely bringing patients excellent results. During your consultation appointment, our surgeons will further discuss the risk and potential complications during the gynecomastia correction procedure.
Possible Complications after a Gynecomastia Include:
- Risks of general anesthesia
- Excessive bleeding
- Skin changes or discoloration
- Poor incision healing or scar healing
- Fluid accumulation or what is known as seroma
- Nerve damage or numbness on the skin
- Temporary or permanent changes to nipple sensation
- Breast asymmetry
- Infection
- Death of fatty tissue or fat necrosis
- Partial or total injury to nipple
- Need for revision surgery
Gynecomastia Correction Specialist
Correction for mild to severe gynecomastia is available at the Naderi Center. Our breast and body specialist is a board-certified plastic surgeon who exclusively performs breast and body procedures. Our surgical procedure is designed to reduce breast size in men with excessive fatty or glandular tissue along the chest. Using liposuction, excision, or a combination of both techniques, our surgeons can create the desired masculine chest. The nipple and areola can also be reshaped during the procedure to provide a proportionate, pleasing look. A male breast reduction can dramatically help men to regain self-esteem and confidence in their appearance.
Schedule Your Gynecomastia Correction Consultation
Do you still have questions about the gynecomastia procedure? To find out more, contact the Naderi Center’s Reston, Virginia office at 703-481-0002 or the Chevy Chase, Maryland office at 301-222-2020. Virtual consultations are available for those patients traveling from outside of the immediate area.
Gynecomastia FAQs
The condition known as Gynecomastia, or enlarged male breasts, is extremely common. There are many potential causes of gynecomastia, including hormonal changes, weight fluctuations, illness, and certain medications. In some instances, gynecomastia will resolve on its own, but in many cases, surgical intervention is required.
If you are in generally good health and have been struggling with excess breast tissue for over a year, then gynecomastia correction may be appropriate for you. Prior to surgery, the cause of unwanted breast tissue growth should be determined, if possible. As with all cosmetic surgery procedures, patients should understand the surgical process and hold realistic expectations for their results.
Gynecomastia can be corrected using liposuction or surgical excision. Excess fatty tissue can be eliminated with liposuction, however, this technique does not address unwanted glandular tissue, which will require surgical removal. In most cases, a combination of both techniques will be used. Our specialists’ gynecomastia procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, getting patients back home the same afternoon.
Mild discomfort is common after a male breast reduction, but our surgeons will prescribe needed medications for comfort. Most patients are back to work less than a week after their gynecomastia correction procedure. Light exercise can begin in about two weeks, but more strenuous activities should be postponed for four to six weeks.
While some changes in the breasts will be evident over the first one to two weeks, it can take up to six months for the breast tissue to completely heal. Once the swelling has resolved, the full benefits of surgery, and smooth chest contour will be noticeable.
If you live in the states of Virginia or Maryland, The Naderi Center for Plastic Surgery and Dermatology offers gynecomastia correction among its services. For a full list of services, please visit our Locations page.
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