IS A MALE BREAST REDUCTION THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR ME?
In recent years, rates of men undergoing male breast reduction have soared. Feeling self-conscious about enlarged male breasts can be a painful thing to live with.
As men are more open to having plastic surgery, the tally of male breast reduction surgeries has been steadily increasing, with over 27,000 procedures performed in 2016, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Our board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Hallak, MD understands your concerns and has the experience to help you address this embarrassing condition.
Gynecomastia is the presence of excessive male breast tissue which causes men to develop enlarged breasts. This condition is quite common, affecting 40 to 60 percent of men at some point in their lifetimes. It often results from an imbalance of the male and female hormones testosterone and estrogen.
"Dr. Hallak is a very thoughtful surgeon who took the time to explain my options. He knew how important it was for me to obtain a stylish look without overdoing it. Although I managed to fill a 34D before my surgery, my breasts were uneven and had lost all fullness. In addition to my much-needed lift, I also wanted an areola reduction..
I had complete faith in Dr. Hallak and now after a breast lift, areolar reduction, and 400 cc high profile implants thanks to Dr. Hallak’s skillful hands, I am a sexy 36DD and my breasts are shaped beautifully and feel very natural. My sincere thanks to Dr. Hallak and his staff."
"Hello, I am a patient of Dr. Hallak's I had breast augmentation & this is my testimonial: Being fairly new to San Diego I went on to see many doctors for consults on having my breast implants replaced. I had saline implants for 11 years and was ready to replace them with silicone implants. I was very nervous and didn’t want a drastic change Dr. Hallak & his staff were incredible I had such a great experience really liked everyone at the surgery center also. I knew I was in good hands all of my questions were answered & concerns were addressed I’ve been so pleased with the results my new implants look so good and natural I’m always getting compliments when I’m out with friends. I’m very excited to show off my new look this summer on the beach. I couldn’t be happier with the decision I made to have Dr. Hallak as my surgeon! Thank-you"
HOW MALE BREAST REDUCTION IS PERFORMED
There are three basic male breast reduction techniques. The degree of gynecomastia and the density of the breast gland determine which technique is used. At our office, Dr.Hallak will evaluate your condition and go over these options with you to determine the most effective procedure to achieve the results you want.
Liposuction: If your gynecomastia condition is mostly fat with good skin tone, then liposuction alone may be adequate to provide the results you want. Liposuction uses a special device called a cannula to break apart and suction away excess fat cells.
Excision: If thick glandular tissue or excess skin is present, excision (precise cutting away of tissue) through the nipple or under the breast may be the best approach.
Combined approach: For some men, a combination of liposuction and tissue excision is the best approach. Oftentimes this technique is used if both significant excess fat and excess glandular tissue are present.
WHEN TO WAIT ON SURGERY
In general, most adult men who have enlarged breasts are good candidates for this procedure. As with any other surgery though, there are certain factors that may disqualify you from candidacy. Male breast reduction surgery is best for those who:
Are at or near a healthy weight
Do not suffer from serious diseases or illnesses
Are not on any prescription drugs which may slow down healing
Have stabilized breast development
Do not smoke or use drugs
Aside from the lifestyle and health factors mentioned above, good candidates for this procedure should have realistic expectations for the outcomes, be able to abstain or limit physical activity for a period of time, and be willing to follow all postoperative instructions from your doctor.