Society is harsh to men with enlarged breasts. Yet, you shouldn't let Gynecomastia make you feel ashamed of your appearance or damage your self-esteem. You can bring back a masculine look to your chest through gynecomastia surgery.
Progress in plastic surgery techniques allows for effective operations fast healing, and scars that become invisible after recovery. Keep reading to find out more about gynecomastia surgery.
What is Gynecomastia Surgery?
Gynecomastia surgery, or male breast reduction, aims to fix oversized or overdeveloped breasts in men. A specialized gynecomastia plastic surgeon performs this cosmetic procedure on teenage and adult men.
Male breast reduction surgery has an impact on excess granular tissue and fat on the chest to create a firm, flat, and masculine-looking chest. To prevent a recurrence, the surgery involves liposuction, gland incision, and gland excision.
Men can have bigger breasts due to many reasons. These include genes, hormone problems certain medicines, steroids too much drinking, or other causes. Most guys deal with some [man boobs at some point](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2770912/#:~:text=The%20prevalence%20of them%20were%20symptomatic.). You can spot Gynecomastia by looking for larger breasts that hurt when you touch them. This can happen to men of any age.
Excess breast tissue in men often brings about shame and embarrassment, as society tends to favor men with flat chests and firm pectoral muscles. The good news is that you can have a safe and successful male breast reduction surgery to restore your masculine chest with the help of a skilled and experienced cosmetic surgeon.
Why Get Gynecomastia Surgery?
Gynecomastia surgery is the only treatment that has an impact on Gynecomastia with long-lasting or permanent effects.
You can treat mild Gynecomastia without surgery by wearing compression shirts working out changing your diet, and taking pills. On the other hand, pubertal Gynecomastia in teens doesn't need treatment because it goes away once hormone levels balance out. But you can remove serious Gynecomastia through surgery. You qualify for gynecomastia surgery if:
- Your breasts make you feel self-conscious and unhappy
- Your breasts cause you physical pain and discomfort
- You've tried to shrink your breasts through other methods like working out and changing your diet, but nothing worked
- You can't join in public activities where you need to take off your shirt
After a successful operation most guys can go shirtless at the beach and other public places. This gives their confidence a boost and helps them feel better about themselves.
Who Makes A Good Fit For Gynecomastia Surgery?
Guys who feel their chest is bigger than normal can get gynecomastia surgery. This works for both teens and grown men. But you need to meet certain requirements to qualify for this operation.
You might be a good fit for gynecomastia surgery if:
- You're dealing with Gynecomastia
- You've attempted to eliminate Gynecomastia through other methods like exercise without success
- You're in good physical health without any life-threatening medical issues
- You don't smoke or use drugs
- Your weight falls within a normal range
- You have realistic expectations about this surgery
What Happens During the Gynecomastia Surgery Consultation
You need to consult with a doctor before any treatment. When you visit a plastic surgeon who specializes in gynecomastia:
- The plastic surgeon will explain everything about Gynecomastia to you. They will discuss the treatment options and possible results.
- You'll need to share your expectations for the gynecomastia surgery. Your goals will help the team figure out if they're realistic and doable.
- Be ready for a thorough breast exam to confirm Gynecomastia and rule out male breast cancer.
- Prepare for a complete physical check-up to make sure you're healthy enough for surgery.
- The team will record all your health info in a file. This includes medical problems, family history past surgeries, and any medicines or supplements you take.
A gynecomastia plastic surgeon will book you for surgery if they can meet your expectations. They aim to address your needs while ensuring your safety.
How to Prepare For Gynecomastia Surgery
If your surgeon determines you're a good candidate for gynecomastia surgery after the initial consultation, they might ask you to do these things to get ready:
- Undergo a medical evaluation
- Take a blood test
- Quit taking medications that might cause too much bleeding
- Stop smoking
- Discontinue herbal supplements
- Eat foods that help you heal and recover faster
- Avoid anti-inflammatory drugs because they can lead to more bleeding
To ensure gynecomastia surgery is safe and successful, you need to be honest during your consultation. The procedure takes about 2 hours and is a one-time treatment. After the surgery, you'll have to stay in the clinic for around four hours so the staff can keep an eye on you.
Most doctors do gynecomastia surgery with general anesthesia, but they can also use local anesthesia and give you medicine to help you relax.
After surgery, you'll need to take these steps:
- Use drains to stop fluid from building up
- Wear compression vests to keep swelling down
- Apply ice to help with pain
Recovery After the Gynecomastia surgery
Gynecomastia surgery has a high safety profile with few complications. You can go back to work 7-10 days after a successful operation. You must show up for all follow-up appointments and wear your compression vest until your doctor gives you the all-clear.
You'll see results right away after gynecomastia surgery, and it offers a long-term fix for Gynecomastia unless you put on a lot of weight.
The surgery carries some risks. These include blood clots that go away on their own or need removal by needle, infections that need antibiotics to treat, or scars if an infection happens.
How To Pick A Skilled Gynecomastia Plastic Surgeon
Getting gynecomastia surgery is simple, but your results hinge on the doctor who does the procedure. When you're looking for a plastic surgeon to handle your gynecomastia, think about these things:
- Expertise and track record - pick a surgeon who has training and experience in male breast reduction. Ask them how many male breast reductions they do and request to look at before and after photos of their patients.
- Board Certification in Cosmetic Surgery - there are fake surgeons out there, and you don't want bad plastic surgery. So, make sure the surgeon has ABCS board certification and that your operation happens in an accredited surgery center.
- Talk - you need to speak and with your plastic surgeon about what you want, what's worrying you, and your health background. If you don't click with the surgeon for any reason, they're not the right fit for you.
Final word
If man boobs affect your self-image and confidence, gynecomastia surgery might be your only option to fix the problem. Talk to a skilled gynecomastia plastic surgeon who can help you regain your masculine chest.