A Guide to Male Breast Reduction Surgery: 10 Crucial Things Every Man Should Know

According to the Cleveland Clinic, more than half of men and boys will experience enlarged breasts (gynecomastia) produced by natural hormone fluctuations, usually during their early-to-mid puberty period.

By the time they reach middle age, roughly 50 percent of men will still struggle with this often embarrassing and persistent condition. As more men come forward to speak with their physicians about these concerns, male breast reduction surgery has become more popular as an effective treatment for gynecomastia. 

Gynecomastia is far more common than one might think. Although it's generally associated with adolescence and puberty, the issue is also known to develop later in life.

In most cases, there's no apparent cause for the development of male breast tissue. Still, it can occur as a side effect of weight, medical conditions, certain medications, and in rare cases, excess consumption of marijuana.

Male breast reduction surgery, also known as gynecomastia surgery, is a cosmetic procedure that aims to reduce the size of male breasts. If you're considering undergoing male breast reduction surgery, there are several things you need to know. 

What Are the Types of Male Breast Reduction Surgery?

There are two types of surgery that work best to treat gynecomastia: liposuction and direct excision. These surgeries are sometimes performed in tandem to achieve the best results.

If a man's breasts are composed of soft and fatty tissue, a condition often called pseudogynecomastia, liposuction alone can be the best option for treatment. The procedure is performed with small incisions along the lower edge of the areola or lower chest.

If the excess breast tissue is dense and glandular, excision is often required; in this case, incisions are made along the lower half of the areola. 

In both circumstances, any scarring fades very well and is barely noticeable. We can see more noticeable scarring when a man has loose underlying skin that needs to be removed via excision.

Regardless of how male breast reduction is performed, here are ten things every man considering the procedure should know:

1. Dropping Extra Pounds Helps

If you're currently overweight to obese, your surgeon may recommend that you lose weight before your male chest reduction.

It's an optimal strategy because it will prevent mistaking fatty tissue for glandular tissue and give your surgeons a better idea of how much loose skin may remain post-weight loss.

2. It Will Be Easier To Maintain Your Weight After Surgery

Not all men who suffer from gynecomastia are overweight. Yet, men generally falling within their ideal weight range may find it challenging to maintain this healthy level due to the extra adipose and glandular tissue within their breasts.

Additionally, breast reduction surgery can cause discomfort while exercising, so surgery can help men feel more confident in engaging in healthy activities.

3. Breast Reduction Surgery Might Alleviate Back Pain

A man can experience the same issue women experience with large breasts causing back pain if they have excess fat and weight around the chest area and insufficiently strong back muscles. In that case, discomfort can be felt throughout the entire back.

Breast reduction surgery to treat gynecomastia can improve this.

4. A More Masculine Figure Can Be Sculpted

Societal norms tell us that the traditional female form has hips and a bust proportionate to each other and a smaller waistline, often called an hourglass figure.

The ideal male form is broad and flat through the shoulders and chest with a tapered waist. Gynecomastia throws these proportions off in a man and can make his body appear less masculine, but surgery can help restore balance to its male proportions.

5. Breast Reduction Surgery is Quick

Breast reduction surgery for gynecomastia takes one to two hours to perform fully. An incision is made around the nipple to extract the glandular and fatty tissue from the breast.

Liposuction is also incorporated depending on how much fat you have. This part of the procedure can be performed through the same incisions.

6. Recovery Can Be Quicker Than You Think

Most men should be able to return to their normal activities after four weeks of recovery. For the first 72 hours of surgery, pain medication and rest will help alleviate discomfort. 

A compression garment should be worn for at least two weeks post-surgery, which will help deal with swelling and speed up your recovery process.

7. You Can Wear More Things Now

Most men try to hide their gynecomastia with bulky, oversized clothing. After breast reduction surgery, you will no longer have to feel the relief of being comfortable in your skin.

Most men will experience a quick increase in their self-confidence, prompting them to expand their wardrobes into more form-fitting clothing to show off their new masculine chest.

8. Male Breast Reduction Results Last A Lifetime

Male breast reduction results with liposuction are usually considered permanent. Once the fat cells are removed, they will only grow back if you gain significant weight. The remaining fat cells in the breasts can grow larger if you do not maintain a healthy lifestyle, but the number of fat cells in the chest will remain lower. 

With glandular excision, results are permanent as long as a proper diagnosis is provided. 

9. You Will Feel Much More Confident 

Men with gynecomastia often suffer from poor body image or social anxiety.

This condition's impact on a man's self-esteem should not be considered irrelevant. Many men don't realize how much their enlarged breasts affect their mental health until surgery.

10. AirSculpt® Offers Superior Male Breast Fat Removal

Male breast reduction with Gynecomastia AirSculpt® is optimal for men seeking a masculine physique. 

Our exclusive fat removal procedure is so advanced that no scalpels, stitches, needles, or general anesthesia are used, making it a preferable alternative to liposuction for male breasts. Patients with low-severity gynecomastia or pseudogynecomastia alone can find an effective, long-lasting solution with AirSculpt.

We should note that our AirSculpt® Male Breast Reduction only treats excessive fat tissue found within the chest. Glandular excision falls outside the scope of Gynecomastia AirSculpt® procedures, given the more invasive nature of these treatments.

That said, men often find lasting relief with AirSculpt alone, even if they have minor gynecomastia and excess fat. 

For more information on how we can help you achieve your body goals, call the body sculpting office nearest you to schedule a free consultation.