Male Breast Reduction | Gynecomastia Surgery

Male breast reduction, or gynecomastia surgery, is a common cosmetic procedure among men who have enlarged male breasts due to gynecomastia (enlarged breast glandular tissue), pseudogynecomastia (excess fatty tissue), or a combination of both.

Male breast surgery is an effective treatment option for many of the concerns related to overly large breasts in men and is used to:

• Reduce excess fatty tissue in the chest
• Correct puffy nipples
• Remove enlarged breast glands
• Correct mammary ptosis, or breast sagging
• Restore the appearance of the breasts for a more masculine shape.

Board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr. David Dellinger of Elysian Plastic Surgery in Austin, specializes in breast surgery for men. His extensive skill and experience performing male breast plastic surgery is why so many men in the Austin area and throughout Texas seek his expertise. Dr. Dellinger will work with you to get you closer to your ideal masculine figure.

Contact us online or call our Austin office at 512-229-1978 to learn more about your options for male breast reduction.

• At Elysian Plastic Surgery, we take an individualized approach for each one of our male breast surgery patients. Your medical history, your expectations and your motivations will guide us to ensure you get the best treatment for you.
• Dellinger pursues continued training and education to ensure he is offering the most advanced techniques to help you achieve better results.
• We provide comprehensive treatment planning that includes addressing underlying health concerns, such as correcting hormone imbalances related to the aging process with bioidentical testosterone replacement therapy.

The best candidates for male breast reduction are healthy adult men who are struggling to reduce the size of their breasts despite following a healthy diet and exercise and avoiding certain medications. Having realistic expectations for the surgery and results is another important factor in determining if gynecomastia surgery is right for you.

Dr. Dellinger will design your treatment plan according to your concerns and the chest contours you are looking for. Depending on your overall aesthetic goals, Dr. Dellinger may suggest combining your procedure with other body contouring procedures such as a tummy tuck to get you closer to your ideal figure.

Before your surgery, you will have a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Dellinger to discuss your goals, review your medical history, and examine your areas of concern. You may be required to have further testing done to determine the cause of your enlarged breasts and whether swollen breast glands, excess fat or a combination of both are present. Dr. Dellinger will then use this information to tailor your treatment plan to best suit your needs.

The steps for your surgical procedure will depend on the severity of your condition. If you are experiencing mild to moderate breast enlargement without the presence of excess skin and have good skin elasticity, Dr. Dellinger may only need to use liposuction to sculpt your new chest shape. Liposuction incisions are typically made along the outer edge of the areola or under the armpit. Dr. Dellinger will then insert a thin tube called a cannula to remove the excess fat and glandular tissue.

More severe breast enlargement with the presence of loose skin and tissue may require a combination of liposuction and skin removal to achieve optimal results. The incisions required for tissue and skin removal may be made around the areola or along the natural crease of the chest muscles.

After surgery, Dr. Dellinger may require you to wear a compression garment to help aid in healing and reduce swelling. You may experience some tenderness, bruising and swelling in the surgical area, but these symptoms are typically managed with over-the-counter pain medication and prescription pain medication when needed.

Your specific healing time depends on a variety of factors, including your body’s natural healing response, the invasiveness of your procedure, and whether you combine your surgery with other procedures. However, many patients are able to return to work after a few days of rest and more strenuous activities after a few weeks.

While you may notice an initial change to your chest area following surgery, it may take several months for residual swelling to subside to see the full results. Male breast reduction can provide long-lasting results, provided you follow a healthy diet and exercise to maintain them.

Is gynecomastia surgery safe?

While all surgeries come with their own unique set of challenges, gynecomastia surgeries are relatively safe, and the majority of procedures are successful. Common risks to watch out for include excessive bleeding, bruising, fluid build-up, asymmetry and infection. Following Dr. Dellinger’s pre- and post-operative guidelines and maintaining good health and hygiene can help reduce your chances of complications.

How do you tell if you have gynecomastia or just fat?

Diagnosing whether you have true gynecomastia or just excess fat (pseudogynecomastia) requires a combination of medical evaluations. Dr. Dellinger will review your medical history, examine your chest and may require a series of tests such as blood work and x-ray images to rule out other causes of the breast enlargement.

Does gynecomastia grow back after surgery?

Male breast reduction is intended to be a one-time surgical solution to gynecomastia. However, there are some factors that may cause enlarged breasts to return, including:

• Gaining weight after surgery
• Taking certain medications or anabolic steroids
• Habitual marijuana use
• An untreated underlying hormonal imbalance

If your condition is stable and you are following a healthy lifestyle, gynecomastia surgery can provide long-lasting results.