“Thank you so very much for the medical care you performed for me. I really do appreciate the care and support of you and your staff. Each time I visit everyone’s so kind and thoughtful. Thanks for being so concerned with my recovery also.”– Shaim
Summer is a time when the bathing suits come out and going shirtless is a standard uniform for beating the heat. For many males however, enlarged or excess breast tissue, medically referred to as gynecomastia, can leave them unhappy or embarrassed by their physical appearance. To remedy their condition, men are turning to breast surgery to help them achieve a more masculine and contoured chest. Last year alone there were 26,175 male breast reduction procedures performed to address this common condition – a 14% increase since 2013 and a 29% increase since 2000. Let’s take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions I hear regarding male breast reduction:
What causes overly large breasts in men?
Gynecomastia is a medical condition to describe overly large breast in men. Affecting 40-60% of men, gynecomastia can occur in men of all ages, body types and weights and is generally caused by a hormone imbalance, hereditary predisposition or excess weight.
How does male breast reduction treat large breasts?
When performing a male breast reduction procedure, I start by removing excess breast tissue that causes the breasts to sag before repositioning and tightening the remaining skin. For some men, their areolas may become enlarged or stretched out and less proportionate to the new breast size due to gynecomastia. If this is an area of concern for men, the areola can also be reduced and reshaped to more proportionately suit their overall look.
What is male breast reduction recovery like and how long will my results last?
Following your procedure you’ll be sent home in compression garments to keep the swelling down and support the new breasts as they heal. Downtime for male breast reduction surgery is generally minimal and most of my patients are able to return to work in a few short days (keep in mind everyone heals differently so it’s important to attend your follow-up consultations to make sure everything is healing nicely). Although excessive weight gain can cause breasts to become overly large again, male breast reduction results are permanent. This goes for any plastic surgery procedure, the work doesn’t stop when you leave; proper diet and exercise is essential for helping to maintain lasting plastic surgery results.
Many men find their self-confidence improves after surgery with their flatter, firmer chests and are satisfied with their results. I encourage you to reach out with any questions you may have about male breast reduction or any of the plastic surgery procedures that I perform as a double-board certified plastic surgeon. For more on the latest plastic surgery news and information, be sure to connect with me, Dr. David Whiteman, on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.