Gynecomastia: surgery to reduce male breasts
What is gynecomastia?
Dr. Antolín explains the details of gynecomastia surgery in Valencia, which he performs at his clinics.
Gynecomastia is the abnormal development of the pectoral region in men as a result of excess mammary gland volume or fatty tissue in male breasts.
Contact us nowThe causes of gynecomastia can be varied, ranging from medical conditions, medications and drug use.
The most common symptoms of gynecomastia include swelling, pain and tenderness.
Many men experience “pseudogynecomastia,” which refers to enlarged male breasts caused by excess fatty tissue alone.
This problem can be improved with lifestyle changes or breast liposuction surgery alone.
Gynecomastia is common during adolescence due to the effects of hormones.
At this stage of life, treatment is generally not necessary, as breast fullness typically resolves spontaneously after one to two years.
Once adolescence ends, gynecomastia tends to be permanent and can lead to serious self-esteem and confidence issues.
In these cases, surgery is often the only option to reduce male breasts and resolve the problem.
A considerable amount of information must be conveyed by the patient and correctly interpreted by the surgeon in order to establish the most optimal surgical plan and make the most appropriate decisions. The patient must be thoroughly assessed by the surgeon to determine whether we are dealing with a case of gynecomastia or pseudogynecomastia, and must be listened to with genuine interest and care. It is essential that the patient receives excellent care, is well informed, is operated on with skill, and of course, most importantly, that the patient feels genuinely delighted.
Candidates for male breast reduction surgery
The best candidate to undergo gynecomastia surgery or male breast reduction should meet the following criteria:
- The best candidates for male breast reduction are healthy adult men with enlarged breasts that have persisted over time and cause embarrassment and self-esteem issues.
- Men who smoke must be willing to stop smoking for a period of several weeks before and after surgery, and are therefore encouraged to stop smoking before the procedure.
- Anyone considering male breast surgery should have realistic expectations regarding the results of the procedure.
- To maintain the results, patients should avoid any medications or substances that may trigger breast regrowth and maintain a stable weight after surgery.
The initial consultation
Prior to male reduction mammoplasty, all patients have several scheduled consultations with Dr. Antolín.
In this way, before the operation, patient and surgeon will be able to address all doubts, questions and matters related to it and the patient will feel completely confident and motivated to undergo the surgery.
At this initial FREE appointment, candidates should receive answers to all their questions, the doctor should review their goals and both parties should be aligned regarding the desired results.
During the initial consultation with Dr. Pedro Antolín, the patient will discuss his concerns about his chest contour and review his options for male breast reduction surgery. Depending on the severity of your condition, whether we are dealing with a case of gynecomastia or pseudogynecomastia, different surgical approaches may be recommended for optimal results, using the least invasive techniques possible.
The patient will have the opportunity to ask any questions about the procedure and will also learn more about gynecomastia surgery and the recovery process.
At the consultation, Dr. Antolín will ensure that the patient is fully aware of the benefits and risks of the procedure before deciding to proceed.
Types of procedure
Gynecomastia can be treated using two types of techniques, depending on the patient, the degree of severity and the objective to be achieved:
- Liposuction techniques.
- Excision or removal of the gland and excess skin.
Our preference in gynecomastia management is liposuction techniques.
No matter how large the breast is, if we have a young patient with good skin quality in terms of firmness and elasticity, we can resolve severe cases with excellent results in a minimally invasive way and with almost no scarring.
Only in cases where significant skin laxity and breast ptosis are present do we employ techniques that require a periareolar scar (the most common), or with other wider approaches (very severe cases), in order to remove the abnormal gland and excess skin.
Breast liposuction technique
In cases where gynecomastia is primarily the result of excess fatty tissue, liposuction techniques alone can be employed. This is performed by inserting a cannula, a thin hollow tube, through several small incisions.
The cannula moves in a controlled back-and-forth motion to dislodge excess fat, which is then removed from the body by suction.
There are several liposuction techniques available; the most appropriate technique for your case will be determined prior to your procedure.
Excision technique
The excision technique is recommended when breast glandular tissue or excess skin must be removed to achieve gynecomastia correction.
Excision is also necessary if the areola needs to be reduced or if the nipple needs to be repositioned to a more natural male contour.
Incision patterns vary depending on specific conditions and surgical preference.
Combination of liposuction and excisional techniques
Depending on the patient’s condition and surgical preference, it is possible to treat gynecomastia by combining excision and liposuction techniques.
Procedure characteristics
- In any case, this surgery is performed under local anaesthesia and sedation, or under general anaesthesia depending on the case.
- The procedure usually takes approximately one to two hours to complete, depending on the amount of tissue to be removed.
- For many men, chest liposuction is all that is required to produce good results, and this is done through small incisions.
- If breast tissue needs to be removed, a small semicircular incision in the areola (tissue surrounding the nipple) will be required so that breast tissue can be removed whilst leaving minimal scarring.
- If excess skin needs to be removed and tightened as well, this will be done through additional incisions.
Postoperative period and recovery
We advise one day of hospital admission, and the initial recovery time for male breast reduction or gynecomastia is one week to return to work or school, and one month to resume sporting activities.
During this time, patients should take things easy and avoid strenuous activity to facilitate healing and prevent complications.
- During the first 4 weeks, a compression garment will be worn to help skin retraction and prevent fluid accumulation.
- Any postoperative pain can be controlled with medications prescribed by Dr. Antolín.
- Bruising and swelling will resolve gradually, until the final results can be seen during the months following surgery.
Results
The results of gynecomastia surgery are immediately visible.
Over time, postoperative swelling will resolve and the incision lines will fade. Satisfaction with the new appearance should continue to increase as you recover from surgery.
The final results of your gynecomastia surgery may take 3 to 6 months to become fully apparent. Although the scars are permanent, they will continue to fade over time until they are virtually imperceptible.
Schedule an initial consultation to meet with Dr. Antolín and learn more about plastic surgery procedures in Valencia and Alcoy.
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Frequently asked questions
What causes male breast development?
There are several potential causes of gynecomastia, including the effects of male hormones or the effect of hormonal medications. In many cases it is related to prescription drugs, steroids (often used by bodybuilders or athletes) or excessive use of alcohol and opiates.
In some cases, this is caused by genetics.
Can male breast reduction help with swollen nipples?
Yes, there are varying degrees of severity when it comes to male breast development, and puffy nipples are often part of the gynecomastia problem.
The goal of surgery is to provide reduction and contouring for a more masculine-looking chest, which may involve making changes to the nipples.
Is gynecomastia surgery permanent?
The tissue removed through male breast reduction surgery will not regrow on its own and, in this respect, the surgery is permanent.
However, if the patient does not make lifestyle changes and continues with habits that can cause gynecomastia or pseudogynecomastia, the problem could recur.
Subsequent weight gain could also compromise the surgery results, if fat accumulates in the chest area.
Are pills a good substitute for surgery?
Whilst it would be desirable if there were a magic pill to solve problems like gynecomastia, the reality is that these products are fraudulent and a waste of money.
At present, the only effective treatment for the management of abnormal male breast development is surgery performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon.
Will there be scarring after surgery?
All surgery produces some scarring, but most patients can have their breast fullness treated with only small incisions through which liposuction is performed, which virtually disappear over time.
In other cases, male breast reduction procedures may include only a very small incision (2–3 cm) on the underside of each areola (tissue surrounding the nipple). This scar is usually very inconspicuous and should become less prominent over time.
For more extensive gynecomastia surgery, additional incisions may be required to tighten the skin, but all scarring is minimised as much as possible.
Can certain exercises reduce breast size?
Many people are surprised to hear that performing chest exercises to make gynecomastia less noticeable can actually worsen the problem.
This is because gynecomastia has nothing to do with chest muscles, and building those muscles can increase chest volume that is already overdeveloped with unwanted breast tissue.
However, after surgery, men who develop chest muscles can expect nice, masculine “pecs” rather than “man boobs.”
Will my breasts look natural after male breast reduction?
The goal of male breast reduction is always a natural-looking, masculine chest contour.
Only excess breast tissue is removed, as all men have some breast gland tissue. Removal of additional tissue would negatively affect breast contour and make the result appear unnatural.
When performed by a skilled plastic surgeon, male breast reduction results are usually very symmetrical and natural-looking.
How do I know my gynecomastia won’t go away on its own?
It is always difficult to predict whether gynecomastia will resolve naturally, but the fact remains that the problem is usually only temporary in newborns and adolescents.
Adult men with gynecomastia should not expect the problem to resolve on its own, as once breast gland tissue has formed, it can only be resolved through surgical excision.
Furthermore, if gynecomastia is triggered by any prescribed medication or the use of illegal drugs, cannabis and anabolic steroids, breast growth may recur after surgery if medication use is not discontinued.
How long must I wait before returning to exercise after surgery?
Male breast reduction patients are often eager to return to the gym after surgery, but it is important to proceed cautiously and allow your body to heal before returning to any strenuous activity.
This is especially important for exercises affecting the chest and pectoral muscles, such as weight training.
Light activity can be resumed after the initial healing period (approximately two weeks), but vigorous exercise should wait at least 4 to 6 weeks on average.
Request an initial assessment for your surgery with Dr. Antolín.