Male breast enlargement may sound abnormal to some, but the truth is that it is extremely common for men to experience this aesthetic condition. In fact, experts estimate that gynecomastia, a condition that causes the growth of excess glandular tissue in the chest, affects at least 40% of all men in the US. And while male breast enlargement can affect all kinds of men, that doesn’t necessarily mean that every guy is a good candidate for gynecomastia surgery, otherwise known as male breast reduction. To help reinforce what makes someone a good candidate for male breast reduction surgery, I have answered the following questions on the subject below.
Question #1: Can teenagers undergo male breast reduction surgery?
Yes, they can. While some patients may benefit from waiting until they have fully developed before choosing to undergo this procedure, male breast reduction can be extremely helpful for many teenage patients.
Question #2: Can someone be too old to undergo surgery for gynecomastia?
I don’t typically put an age cap on male breast reduction surgery. While the procedure is most associated with men between 20 and 34, it’s now quite common for men in their 50s (and sometimes even older) to undergo male breast reduction. As long as the patient is healthy enough to undergo the procedure and deemed to be a good candidate after a consultation appointment, I see no issue here.
Question #3: What factors can prevent someone from being eligible from undergoing male breast reduction?
Some men may not have enough skin elasticity in the chest area to undergo male breast reduction surgery. It’s also important for men who undergo this surgery not to smoke or use recreational drugs, as this can affect the post-surgery healing process and the long-term results of the procedure. We will discuss all of these factors, and more, during the pre-surgery consultation appointment.
When performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon like myself, the life-changing effects of male breast reduction can be incredible to witness. For more information or to schedule a complimentary plastic surgery consultation today, please contact me, Dr. David Whiteman, at Southern Plastic Surgery. You can also follow along with us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for additional plastic surgery tips, practice updates, and so much more.