Although it can impact self-esteem, gynecomastia is usually a benign (non-cancerous) condition of over-developed or enlarged male breasts that can occur at any age. Hormone changes, such as fluctuations in estrogen, the female hormone, and testosterone, the male hormone, can cause gynecomastia, though a hormonal imbalance is not the only culprit.
Heredity, obesity, or the use of certain prescription medications can cause this excess breast tissue. Certain drugs, such as antidepressants, antibiotics, chemotherapy, prostate cancer medicines, ulcer or cardiovascular medicines can cause the development of excess breast tissue in men.
Some medical conditions may also cause gynecomastia, including:
Whether due to hormonal changes, certain medications, medical conditions or genetics, gynecomastia can create emotional discomfort and impair self-confidence. Some men may even avoid physical activity and intimacy simply because their enlarged breasts are a source of embarrassment.
Fortunately, there is a solution. At Palm Beach Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery, our Board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Fredric M. Barr, M.D., F.A.C.S., performs male breast reduction surgery, an outpatient procedure that provides an effective treatment for removing excess breast tissue in the male breast and achieving optimal results.
About half of all men today have excess breast tissue in one or both breasts. As reported by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, according to statistics compiled by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), nearly 50 to 60 percent of adolescent males and 65% of men between the ages of 27 and 92 deal with gynecomastia.
While often not a serious medical problem, enlarged breasts in men can be painful. They can also cause embarrassment — especially among young boys who may be teased about their breasts. Gynecomastia in young men is largely due to the hormonal changes in sex hormones that occur during puberty. The excess breast tissue disappears without treatment in two years in 75 percent, and within three years in 90 percent of boys.
Gynecomastia is a condition characterized by the enlargement of the glandular tissue in the male breast, resulting in a localized increase in the size of one or both breasts. The common characteristics of gynecomastia include:
In gynecomastia, breast enlargement typically occurs on both sides of the chest. However, if it is one-sided, firm, and hard, see a doctor immediately to rule out male breast cancer.
Because teenage boys tend to outgrow gynecomastia, we do not recommend male breast reduction surgery for them. The best candidates for a breast reduction are men coping with a loss of self-esteem due to their overabundance of breast tissue.
Performed by Dr. Barr at our outpatient surgery center, this male breast reduction procedure offers adult men the opportunity to experience a more masculine, firmer, flatter chest. Our plastic surgeon performs this surgery under general anesthesia to ensure comfort and prioritize safety. Depending on the type and severity of the patient's gynecomastia, Dr. Barr makes strategic small incisions in inconspicuous locations, such as around the edge of the areola or in the natural chest contours, to minimize visible scarring.
Our plastic surgeon then proceeds to remove excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin from the breast area to achieve a more masculine chest appearance. This effort may involve techniques such as liposuction, surgical excision, or a combination of both, tailored to the patient's unique anatomical features.
In cases where gynecomastia has led to changes in the position or size of the nipples, Dr. Barr may reposition and resize the nipples for a more natural aesthetic outcome.
Finally, addressing skin often involves reshaping and tightening the remaining skin to create a smoother, more toned chest contour.
Before your gynecomastia surgery, you will have a consultation with our patient counselor and Dr. Barr at our plastic surgery office in West Palm Beach. Gynecomastia patients should be in good general health and at a healthy weight. Although obesity can cause the appearance of male breast development, weight loss rather than surgery is the best solution in such a case.
Blood tests to determine hormone levels, a physical exam, and a discussion of your medical history will take place before gynecomastia surgery to rule out potential medical issues as the cause of the growth of breast tissue.
Once we determine that gynecomastia surgery is the right course of action, the patient should avoid blood-thinning medications like aspirin or ibuprofen that can make it difficult for blood to clot after the surgery. If needed for pain, take pain medications like acetaminophen.
At least two weeks before the gynecomastia surgery, the patient must stop smoking and avoid alcohol consumption, as both impede the healing process. On the day of the surgical procedure, the patient should have someone transport him to and from the clinic, and then stay with him for at least the first full day after the surgery.
Following surgery, Dr. Barr will bandage the area and give you a garment to wear in order to make sure the skin does not move. While you may have some bruising and swelling, discomfort is minimal and easily managed with medication. Wearing a pressure garment for two weeks can reduce swelling. Dr. Barr will remove your stitches after two weeks. As long as your work and normal activities are not too demanding, you can resume them in just two days. However, avoid heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for at least three weeks.
Although you will notice immediate results after the male breast reduction surgery, expect the final outcome in three months to half a year. Scars will naturally fade away within a year or nine months. With gynecomastia surgery, complications are rare and easily treated. Our male breast reduction surgery has left countless patients satisfied with their transformed appearance.
The cost to remove excess breast tissue and excess skin depends on the surgical correction needed to produce the desired result. In severe cases, the cost will be higher due to the complexity of the surgery. During your consultation with our patient counselor and our plastic surgeon, we will discuss costs based on your unique circumstances, including the amount of excess fatty tissue and excess skin to be removed.
While many insurance companies do not cover gynecomastia surgery because it is often considered a cosmetic procedure, there are instances where insurance may cover a portion of the costs if deemed medically necessary. Check with your provider for information about your policy.
This outpatient surgery generally takes about two hours under general anesthesia.
This procedure offers permanent results. However, gaining weight, accumulating excess fat, and aging can affect the longevity of results.
For men seeking a breast reduction, we invite you to schedule a consultation with our patient counselor at (561) 833-4122 or by completing our online form. With care and compassion, we will listen to your concerns and goals, and our surgeon will advise the best course of action based on your unique needs. At Palm Beach Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery, you can expect five-star service with the assurance that safety and honesty are at the core of our practice.
The answer depends on multiple factors, including the specific combination of procedures, your recovery rates, your age and health status, and your behaviors or habits. More invasive surgeries typically require recovery time ranging between 6 and 12 weeks to 6 months, and surgeries to the same area of your body will also generally require recovery time between procedures.
However, if you are in good health and the combination of procedures in question will be performed on different parts of your body and are not especially invasive, a combination of procedures could potentially be approved together on a case-by-case basis. It is imperative that the combination of procedures does not compromise your healing, and your attention to prescribed pre-operation and recovery habits also plays a significant role. Schedule a consultation for an assessment and guidance regarding the procedures you are considering.
While aging affects us all, there are steps we can take to put forth a more vibrant appearance. We seek to perform subtle adjustments to address imperfections and the wear of time while retaining your natural look. While you should notice an improvement, the glaring changes or distortions in appearance you are concerned about and may have seen from other surgeons’ work do not meet the standard of quality plastic and cosmetic surgery we perform in our office.
Dr. Frederic M. Barr is a board-certified Plastic & Cosmetic Surgeon with over 30 years of experience performing Plastic Surgery in South Florida. We enhance and refine your appearance according to your goals. Review our Gallery of Before & After Photos to see some examples of our work.
For patients with Breast Implant Illness (BII), which can include allergy, auto-immune, and thyroid hormone issues, this has been an emerging topic with significant press coverage in recent years. Although numerous medical professionals have demonstrated varying responses to these women’s concerns, we believe in addressing these women’s experiences and symptoms. In response to this phenomenon, we have also chosen not to perform new breast implant surgeries. We perform Total Capsulectomy on patients with breast implants, which involves the removal of both the saline or silicone implant and the capsule around it.
Removal of the implants and surrounding scar tissue has been shown to improve women’s health concerning these symptoms. While some women choose no further procedure following Breast Explant Surgery, some patients elect to have a Mastopexy procedure that involves reshaping the breast tissue for a pleasant cosmetic breast appearance. We welcome your specific questions regarding these procedures and their anticipated effects for your situation. See our Breast Implant Explantation (Total Capsulectomy) page for more detailed information, including before-and-after photo examples.