Although men do not have breasts like women, they can have small breast glands which can overdevelop. Various factors can cause this overdevelopment:
- Certain hormones
- Weight gain
- Genetic conditions
- Disease, such as liver disease
- Certain medications
- Use of non-prescription or recreational drugs, including anabolic steroids and cannabis
When this occurs, it is termed as Gynaecomastia also commonly known as ‘man boobs’.
Another common cause for man boobs is not necessarily the enlargement of the breast gland, but deposition of fat over the pectoral ‘pec’ muscles.
Gynecomastia affects up to 30% of Australian men and causes social and professional embarrassment, as well as the inconvenience when dressing. It can affect one side or both sides.
Male Breast Reduction Surgery
Male breast reduction surgery (also known as Gynaecomastia surgery) involves the removal of fat and excess glandular tissue from the chest area. This can be achieved by liposuction alone or by a combination of liposuction and excision of excess tissue. The result is a more toned, natural looking male chest that conveys self-confidence when wearing clothes or swimming.
Male Breast Reduction Surgery Quick Summary
What is Male breast reduction surgery: Male breast reduction surgery (also known as Gynaecomastia surgery) involves removal of fat and excess glandular tissue from the chest area. This can be achieved by liposuction alone or by a combination of liposuction and excision of excess tissue.
Where is it done: Your Male breast reduction surgery will be performed at the brand-new Honeysuckle Day Hospital in Newcastle, a fully licensed and accredited day hospital which specializes in cosmetic surgery.
Length of Surgery: Usually between 1-2 hrs. Maybe longer depending on the complexity of surgery or if male breast reduction surgery will be combined with another type of surgery.
Type of anaesthesia: General Anaesthesia.
Day surgery or inpatient stay: Day Surgery.
Approximate cost: Varies according to type, complexity, and length of the procedure. You will receive a quote with the cost of the procedure after your consultation with Dr. Verma, tailored to you.
Not sure if Male breast reduction surgery is right for you? Maybe you feel more than one type of cosmetic surgery may be required?
We advise booking a consultation with Dr. Verma. With his expertise and commitment to achieving the best results for you, together you can create a personalized treatment plan involving both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic treatments specially tailored to the look you would like to achieve. Call (02) 4001 0511 to talk to our friendly staff and book a consultation with Dr. Verma.
Please also see our list of general FAQs for more details
FAQs
The Male breast reduction surgery consultation
Do I qualify for Male breast reduction surgery?
You need to be in good general physical and mental health to undergo surgery and ideally be a non-smoker or amenable to quitting pre-operatively.
The onset of gynecomastia is usually after puberty. Therefore, young adolescent men and teenagers are encouraged to wait a few more years before considering this surgery. It is encouraged that overweight men should try correcting their excess chest fat through weight loss and exercise first and be at their ideal weight before considering breast reduction surgery. If the enlarged breasts are caused by non-prescribed or recreational drugs, such as anabolic steroids or cannabis, the surgery will not be performed until these substances have been ceased for at least 4-6 months prior. If you are on prescribed medications that may be causing gynaecomastia, please discuss with your regular prescribing doctor if there are any alternative medications you can take.
Who is a good candidate for Male breast reduction surgery?
The ideal candidate is someone who has realistic expectations of what surgery can achieve and is undergoing surgery for themselves and not for anyone else (eg. pressure from partners or family, undergoing surgery to salvage a relationship or try to procure or keep a job). It is important to understand that cosmetic surgery performed by Dr. Verma is done with finesse, with the aim of giving a subtle but noticeable natural and elegant look.
What to expect during the consultation?
No two bodies are the same. After taking a general medical history, Dr. Verma will examine your chest and discuss your concerns with you. He will then suggest a procedure or procedures specifically tailored to address these issues, giving you a balanced and natural look. In some cases, if Dr. Verma may ask you to undergo blood tests to check whether the breast tissue enlargement is due to an abnormality in your endocrine (hormonal) system.
Please note that Dr. Verma will be taking photographs of your chest. Photography is vital in the cosmetic surgery experience and allows Dr. Verma to document and share with you your progress pre- and post-operatively. Sometimes these photographs will be uploaded onto our website. The images are de-identified, with birthmarks, tattoos and other identifying features removed. The images are not altered any other way, in order to give a true representation of the likely results. Such ‘Before-After’ images help other potential patients like yourself to decide whether this is the right procedure for them.
Generally, the consultation is your opportunity to ask Dr. Verma any questions or clear any concerns you may have regarding Male breast reduction surgery.
Could my excess breast tissue be male breast cancer?
Gynaecomastia is benign and not cancer. Male breast cancer is rare but when it does occur it is usually in men aged in their 60s to 70s, affecting one side initially and presenting as a firm painless lump. If you have a breast lump, please have it checked by a doctor as soon as possible.
What is the cost of Male breast reduction surgery? What is included?
Cost of Male breast reduction surgery depends on the length and complexity of the surgery. After the consultation, once you have decided you are interested in Male breast reduction surgery, you will receive a quote for the cost of the surgery. This price includes Dr. Verma’s fees (Proceduralist fees) and the cost of follow up visits up to 3 months post-surgery. It does not include hospital and anesthetist costs but an estimate of such costs can be provided on request.
Male Breast Reduction Surgery Procedure
Where will the incisions/scars be?
The incisions for Male breast reduction surgery vary depending on the extent of fat and tissue to be removed. Mostly the scars are hidden around the lower border of the areola. In rare cases, extra incisions in the chest wall may be needed to remove all the excess breast tissue. These generally fade to form faint white scars, although the degree of fading varies depending on how your skin tends to heal and form scars.
What type of Anaesthesia will be used?
The type of anaesthesia used is general anaesthesia. This means you will be asleep during the operation. Sometimes local anaesthesia can be injected into the site of surgery, giving you better pain relief upon waking.
What are side effects of Male breast reduction surgery?
Temporary bruising and swelling and numbness of the nipple. The majority of such symptoms resolve within 2-3 weeks after the operation.
What are the risks and complications of Male breast reduction surgery?
With any surgical procedure, there are risks involved and most problems are easily treated and settle with time. Generally speaking, cosmetic surgery is quite safe as it is sought by healthy and fit individuals seeking improvement in the appearance.
General risks of any surgery include excessive bleeding, reaction to any of the medications (including anaesthesia), infection, poor healing or excessive scarring. There are also risks and complications specific to male breast reduction surgery such as permanent numbness in the nipple which is rare. Sometimes a thin plastic tube may need to be inserted into the area that has been operated on. These tubes drain any blood and secretions that accumulate under the skin after surgery and help to promote healing. Whether these drains are inserted or not is decided on a case-by-case basis, but generally, they are reserved for those requiring extensive surgery.
The occurrence of such complications depends mainly on whether you smoke, your general health status, how your body heals, as well as your post-operative recovery. Dr. Verma will discuss all risks and complications with you during a consultation, as well as techniques and medications which can minimize risks.
Recovery after Male Breast Reduction Surgery
Care of your chest and wounds
You will be provided with detailed instructions by Finesse Cosmetic Surgery with regards to care of your sutures, wounds etc. Any non-dissolving sutures are usually removed in 7-10 days. After Male breast reduction surgery, you will need to wear a ‘post-op garment’. This is a snug fabric vest for your chest to be worn after surgery. It reduces swelling and bruising after surgery, helping to minimize pain and achieve better-looking results.
Downtime
Returning to work takes up to 2 weeks, depending on the type of work you do. More strenuous activity (such as lifting, straining, pushing, exercise beyond a light walk) should be strictly avoided for 4-6 weeks. The majority of the bruising and swelling can take up to a month to resolve.
Typically, patients return to work within one to two weeks of surgery. Light exercise can recommence from one to two weeks post-surgery with unrestricted activity generally from four to six weeks after surgery.
When will you see results?
Dr. Verma will see you one week post the operation and then organize subsequent follow-ups according to how you recover. All follow-up visit costs up to three months after the operation are included in the cost of the surgery. Revision surgery for any complications carries an extra charge.
Similar to your consultation visit (see above), Dr. Verma will be taking photographs of your chest in order to document its healing during follow up visits.
How long do the effects of Male breast reduction surgery last for?
The results are usually permanent and the man boobs do not recur, however occasionally revision surgery may be needed to remove excess skin after the swelling fades. In rare cases, weight gain after male breast reduction surgery can cause fat bulges in the area.