For a variety of motivations such as staying competitive with younger applicants in today’s job market or to improve overall self-esteem, the number of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures among men continues to gain popularity. Double-board certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Whiteman meets with his male patients who want to address a cosmetic concern that affects nearly 40 to 60 percent of men, gynecomastia. The medical term used to describe men with overly large breasts, gynecomastia can cause men to feel self-conscious about their appearance. Men affected by gynecomastia may benefit from breast reduction surgery to restore their confidence and eliminate their enlarged breasts.
Originating from the Greek phrase meaning “women-like breasts,” gynecomastia occurs when there is a hormone imbalance of estrogen and testosterone. Gynecomastia can occur in one or both breasts and can even leave breasts noticeably uneven. Caused by heredity, disease or hormonal changes, the breast glands can increase to an unusually large size, often hindering physical activity or intimacy due to embarrassment male patients may experience.
Dr. Whiteman often sees patients who, despite proper diet and staying physically active, are not able to reduce their enlarged breasts. Dr. Whiteman performs breast reduction to address his patients’ underlying issue of excess fat, glandular tissue and skin. Depending on how large the breasts are, the most common techniques used during male breast reduction are liposuction and excision. During liposuction, Dr. Whiteman uses a thin hollow tube (a cannula) to loosen and remove excess fat with a vacuum suction through small incisions. Excision may be performed to surgically remove glandular tissue. Once the excess fat has been addressed, Dr. Whiteman then removes and tightens the remaining skin and tissue to create a smooth, flat contour.
While male breast reduction results are permanent, Dr. Whiteman stresses to his patients that a healthy diet and exercise routine is key to maintaining optimal plastic surgery results, as weight gain could cause the breasts to increase in size again. If you are interested in male breast reduction or other plastic surgery procedures offered at Southern Plastic Surgery, contact us today to schedule your consultation. Also be sure to connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for the latest plastic surgery news and information.