Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia or male breast reduction surgery is a special cosmetic procedure that removes excess glandular and fatty tissue from the breasts and chest in teen boys and men.Menard Plastic Surgery, led by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. John Menard, provides gynecomastia procedures for men and boys living in the Tuscaloosa area.
What is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is a condition of enlarged breasts in men. This condition can occur at any age but is common in adolescents. If this persists, surgical correction can be performed. During this surgery, excess breast tissue and skin are removed. The result is a more proportioned upper body, which can lead to improved self-confidence and a more active lifestyle. This procedure requires general anesthesia and possibly an overnight stay. Many insurance companies consider this a covered expense.
What Causes Gynecomastia in Men and Boys?
Gynecomastia may be caused by weight gain, genetics, medications, or fluctuations in hormone levels. When caused by hormonal imbalances, in some cases, the condition may clear up by simply treating the underlying hormonal condition. But in cases where gynecomastia is caused by excess glandular development, the prescribed treatment is a gynecomastia procedure performed either using surgery or liposuction to extract excess breast gland and fatty tissue from the chest and breasts.
What Kind of Results Can a Gynecomastia Procedure Achieve?
A gynecomastia or male breast reduction procedure can produce a more taut, defined chest contour with reduced size of the breasts.
How is the Procedure Performed?
The procedure takes one to three hours to complete, and may require the use of local or general anesthesia, depending on the extent of your procedure. In most cases, the gynecomastia procedure involves the use of liposuction, excision surgery, or a combination of both treatments, depending on the type as well as the amount of glandular and fatty tissue to be removed. Liposuction alone may be used to remove tissue that contains exclusively fat cells, but if there is glandular tissue or excess skin that needs to be tightened after fat extraction, surgery may be the procedure of choice to produce a toned and defined chest contour. The surgery is usually performed using incisions under the nipple or under the lower fold of the breast.
What Can I Expect After a Gynecomastia Procedure?
As with any procedure requiring the use of anesthesia, enlist someone to drive you home after the procedure since you may be groggy from the anesthesia. You may experience minor swelling and bruising immediately after treatment, but these symptoms will clear up naturally in a few weeks. For four weeks, you must wear a compressive vest to support healing and diminish the possibility of swelling and discomfort. You may return to a light duty job in 1 week. It will be approximately 4-6 weeks before you can return to a more physically demanding job.
Gynecomastia can be an embarrassing and often painful condition for men and teen boys that can be treated by Dr. John Menard, a reputable board-certified plastic surgeon. Contact Dr. Menard today at Menard Plastic Surgery, serving Tuscaloosa area residents.
