One of the most common breast procedures performed on both men and women is breast reduction. Many patients often suffer from overly large breasts that may contribute to both physical and emotional health concerns. For men who suffer from gynecomastia (overly large breasts), a breast reduction is the ideal procedure to reduce the breast size, which does not respond to even the most dedicated nutrition and active regimens.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), there were 22,939 male breast reduction procedures performed in 2013, with an 11 percent increase since 2012. Gynecomastia is a medical term that comes from a Greek phrase meaning “woman-like breasts,” and is typically caused by genetics, disease or a hormonal imbalance of estrogen and testosterone causing the breast glands to increase to an unusually large size. It can occur in one or both breasts, often leaving the breasts looking noticeably uneven.
I perform breast reduction to address the male patient’s underlying issue of excess fat, glandular tissue and skin. When performing a male breast reduction, I utilize liposuction and excision techniques in which a cannula (thin hollow tube) is used to loosen and eliminate excess fat with a vacuum suction through tiny incisions. Once the fat has been targeted, the remaining skin and glandular tissue is removed and tightened to create a smoother, more masculine chest. A nipple reduction may also be incorporated if the size of the patient’s nipple is too large.
Though male breast reduction results are permanent, excessive weight gain can cause breasts to become overly large again. I remind all of my patients that sustaining a healthy lifestyle is vital in order to preserve successful plastic surgery results.
If you are interested in male breast reduction or other plastic surgery procedures, contact Southern Plastic Surgery, P.C. today to schedule your consultation. Also be sure to connect with me, Dr. David Whiteman, on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for the latest plastic surgery news and information.