Male Breast Reduction

(Gynaecomastia)


 

An abundance of excess fat on a man’s chest very often extends beyond the normal bounds of a broad, masculine torso, to the point where it can resemble the size and shape of female breasts.

The resulting effect can be extremely embarrassing. Men with this condition will avoid wearing tight fitting clothing at any cost, and they also dread holiday time when their top needs to be removed for swimming or sunbathing.

Many men suffer in silence with this condition, which is otherwise known as gynaecomastia, but in reality it is a very common problem. A widespread misconception is that generally men who have excess breast fat are overweight or even obese. Although this can often be a factor, otherwise physically trim men can be prone to developing gynaecomastia for no apparent reason.

In some cases, male breasts are produced purely from excess fatty deposits, but in other instances actual breast tissue also forms underneath the areola (nipple).   

When an excess of fat cells forms the male breast, using a form of liposuction can rectify the problem. A small, semi-circular incision is made under the areola and the excess fat is surgically removed by a vacuum pump into a collecting vessel.

The incision line for this procedure is hidden between the pigmented tissue of the areola and the lighter skin below, although it may extend out either side of the pigmented tissue in some cases.

Once the fat cells have been removed, they cannot be stored in the same quantities in that area, and will not return at a later date. In the weeks following the surgery, the skin will then gradually retract over the smoother chest surface.

When breast tissue has formed in the breast, a more detailed procedure is carried out. Alongside the necessary liposuction to remove the glut of fat cells, a surgeon will also excise the lump of breast tissue that has developed.

The results of this operation do take a number of weeks to finally appear, when the skin has eventually retracted, although there is still an instant high when the very obvious breast bumps have been removed.

The emotional after-effects are tremendous, and like women who have had breast surgery, men who undertake a gynaecomastia operation enjoy the same confidence boosting benefits. For the majority, the pain of possessing female style breasts is a private embarrassment, which ultimately affects their social and sexual relationships, but following male breast reduction surgery that hurt is lifted and they can finally join their friends and take off their t-shirt in the sun without a care.

Post Operative Healing
Male breast reduction is carried out under general anaesthetic and usually entails a one night stay in hospital. Following surgery the chest will develop some swelling, which is suppressed by the patient wearing a support garment for a period of approximately 3 –4 weeks. There may also be some bruising afterwards, but this should disappear after about a week. The patient should not drive for 5 - 7 days after having the surgery, and should avoid heavy lifting or strenuous exercise involving the upper body for approximately four weeks.

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