Male Breast Reduction / Gynecomastia Correction
Male breast reduction can correct excess, feminine-like breast tissue on a man. Dr. Ljung uses liposuction and surgical excision techniques to remove the fat and glandular tissue that reside on the patient’s chest. In many cases, male breast reduction is performed to correct a bothersome condition called gynecomastia.
Are You a Candidate for Male Breast Reduction?
Excess breast tissue can be an embarrassing problem for males, and it can affect adolescents as well as adults. Men and boys who suffer from this condition will often attempt to hide it or ignore it rather than seek treatment.
Surgery is not the only option. In fact, Dr. Ljung will often instruct patients to see their physician first to investigate possible causes of gynecomastia. While the cause of the condition will vary, physicians have linked gynecomastia to factors such as:
- Impaired liver function
- Testosterone deficiency
- Use of certain medications and illicit drugs
Good candidates for male breast reduction will have completed a thorough investigation of possible causes and adjusted their lifestyles accordingly. If you are considering this procedure, you should first reach a stable and healthy body weight and quit smoking.
What to Expect During Your Male Breast Reduction
Dr. Ljung may recommend and MRI or mammogram to determine the composition of your excess chest tissue. The surgical technique he chooses will partly depend on this evaluation, as well as the condition of your skin. If you are relatively young and have adequate skin elasticity, liposuction alone may be a viable treatment option. In most cases, a combination of liposuction and surgical excision is necessary.
Male breast reduction requires about 1 hour of operating time. Local anesthesia can often be used, while general anesthesia is an alternative in cases of large volume tissue removal. Dr. Ljung makes an incision around the pigmented area of the nipple. Fat is then dislodged and removed with suction. Glandular tissue is removed with a scalpel. The incisions are closed with stitches and your chest is then wrapped in gauze and tape.
What Happens After Male Breast Reduction / Gynecomastia Correction
You should be back to work or your normal routine in about 1 week and back to exercise in about 3 weeks. Dr. Ljung prescribes pain medications to control discomfort. Swelling and bruising is normal, but will gradually resolve during your recovery.
The stitches, if not dissolvable, will be removed after the first week. Scars from male breast reduction are typically hidden in the pigmented area of the nipple, but they are permanent. To ensure a lasting result and prevent recurrence, it is recommended that patients initiate lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.
Possible Complications
As with any surgical procedure, male breast reduction has risks. Adverse events that can occur with this procedure include but are not limited to scarring, changes in pigmentation, asymmetry, infection, skin injury, bleeding, fluid accumulation and adverse reaction to anesthesia. Ask Dr. Ljung for more information if you are concerned about these risks.
Contact Azalea Coast Plastic Surgery to learn more about male breast reduction / gynecomastia correction in Wilmington and Jacksonville, NC.
