Advanced Gynecomastia Surgery For Enlarged Breasts in Males

Pristyn Care provides advanced treatment for gynecomastia using liposuction, gland excision, or a combination of both these techniques. The procedure is also known as male breast reduction surgery. The goal is to remove the glandular tissues from the chest safely without leaving any scars on the body. We leverage the advanced technology approved by USFDA to treat the condition effectively.

We have a dedicated team of highly experienced plastic surgeons with more than 10 years of experience. They specialize in treating gynecomastia in a minimally invasive manner with a success rate of 98%.

Diagnosis

Before surgery, the doctor will perform a physical examination to accurately diagnose whether you have gynecomastia or chest fat, also known as pseudogynecomastia.

The physical examination is done while the patient is lying on his back. It includes:

• Examination of the breasts in which the doctor will examine the breast’s shape, size, and firmness.
• The doctor will pinch the side of the breasts around the nipple or areola.
• If a disk-shaped mound of tissues is felt around the nipples, it indicates true gynecomastia.
• The doctor will also check the armpits or breasts to see if there are any enlarged lymph nodes present.

Besides the physical examination, the doctor will also recommend a few tests, such as X-rays, MRIs, ultrasound, etc., that will allow the doctor to gather more information about your overall health and narrow down the most appropriate treatment option.

Procedure

Once you are taken to the operation theater (OT), the anesthetist will inject the solution into the breast region. Usually, the surgery is performed under local anesthesia, but general anesthesia may be used if the patient has an allergic reaction to some component of the anesthesia. Once the doctor ensures that the patient won’t have any sensation in the chest region, then they proceed with the following steps:

• The liposuction technique is used at first to break down the fat deposits and extract them using a suction device.
• A small incision is made around the areola (the darker region around the nipple) to insert the liposuction cannula and extract the melted or broken fat tissues.
• The same incision is used for gland excision. A scalpel is used to cut the glandular tissues and remove them without harming the surrounding tissues and muscles underneath.
• Then the incision is closed with the help of stitches or left open to heal on its own with time. But the wound is properly covered.The patient is kept under observation for the next few hours until the anesthesia wears off and then transferred to the ward.

Gynecomastia is of two types- true gynecomastia and pseudogynecomastia. In true gynecomastia, only breast glandular tissues are present. Unlike this, in pseudogynecomastia, mainly fat tissues give the appearance of breasts.

To treat true gynecomastia, the surgeon uses the gland excision technique to remove the glandular tissues permanently. And for the treatment of pseudogynecomastia, the surgeon uses liposuction as most of the fat tissues can be successfully removed through this technique.

In younger teens and children, the breasts will disappear as soon as the hormones stabilize. But in adults, the condition doesn’t go away without proper treatment. And the best treatment method for gynecomastia treatment is surgery. The surgical procedure is known as male breast reduction surgery.

Before the technology was advanced, breast tissues were excised through open surgery, which was invasive in nature. But thanks to modern technology, now male breast reduction surgery is performed using one of the two techniques or a combination of both:

• Liposuction– It is a technique that is used when there are excess fat tissues present in the breasts. There are various techniques available to remove the fat tissues, such as laser, ultrasound-assisted, etc. A liposuction cannula is inserted into the targeted area through a tiny incision, and the fat is removed through suction.
• Gland Excision- This technique is used for the removal of glandular tissues as they can’t be broken down like fat tissues. The glands need to be excised carefully. A scalpel is used to excise the tissues through a small incision around the areola. Once the tissues are removed, the incisions are closed and left to heal.

Generally, in gynecomastia, both fat tissues and glandular tissues are present. Due to this, these two techniques are combined together to treat gynecomastia permanently.

Gynaecomastia surgery is usually a safe procedure with minimal risks. While the surgery is being carried out, the doctor will ensure that the patient’s health is not at risk at all. Still, there are some risks that a patient should be aware of before having the surgery. These includes:

• Bleeding
• Damage to the deeper structures like nerves, blood vessels, muscles, etc.
• Tissue death

These complications rarely arise if you have an experienced and well-trained surgeon beside you. Moreover, the doctor will ask you to sign a consent form after discussing all the possible risks and complications prior to the surgery.

To prepare for the male breast reduction surgery, the doctor will first ask you to:

• Get diagnosed properly to see if you have any underlying medical conditions or not
• Take certain medications and adjust other medicines to prepare your body for the upcoming surgery
• Avoid smoking completely at least 4 weeks before the surgery
• Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, herbal supplements, or blood thinners, as they can increase the risk of bleeding during surgery.

The success rate and safety of gynecomastia surgery depend on how well you prepare for the treatment and whether you understand the effect of your lifestyle choices.

Immediately after the surgery, you will notice an improvement in the shape and appearance of the chest. Once the anesthesia wears out, you may feel sore for a couple of days. The chest area will have dressings to cover the wound, and there will only be minimal pain. If needed, the doctor may prescribe pain medications to help you get relief.

Before you leave the hospital, the dietician will provide a list of foods that will help you recover faster. You will be discharged from the hospital on the same day or the next day after the surgery. Besides this, you will also have to wear a compression garment to hold the chest muscles and reduce post-surgery swelling.

A man is considered an ideal candidate for gynecomastia surgery if he meets the following criteria-

• If the condition has advanced to an extent that causes physical or social discomfort for the man.
• The man is overall healthy, i.e., there are no other underlying medical conditions or life-threatening illnesses.
• Breast development has stabilized.
• If the man is a non-smoker and non-drug user.
• The man has a positive outlook toward the treatment and has realistic expectations.

Here are the top 5 advantages of choosing surgery to reduce enlarged breasts in males over other treatment options.

• Enhanced masculine shape– The first advantage of choosing gynecomastia surgery is that it removes excess tissue from the chest and results in a flattened and muscular body shape.
• Uplifts confidence and self-esteem– Gynecomastia dampens the patient’s confidence and self-esteem as they develop women-like breasts. After gynecomastia surgery, people have high spirits and boosted self-confidence.
• Better posture– Due to the added weight of the extra fat and tissue on the chest, the patient’s posture is disfigured. Subsequently, the patient’s core strength is compromised. This is also resolved with the surgery.
• Easier to do physical activity– Several activities, such as running, skipping, swimming, etc., make it difficult for gynecomastia patients to perform. After the gynecomastia surgery, you can flaunt the chest without any discomfort during any physical activity that you undertake.
• No more social embarrassment– The individual doesn’t have to feel ashamed anymore or embarrassed in social gatherings after the gynecomastia surgery. The flattened chest contour helps the patients experience a better quality of relief and relieves them of any emotional baggage.

• Diet

Immediately after the surgery, you will be on a liquid diet. Then you can gradually switch to a solid diet. You have to make sure that you eat healthy foods and plenty of water. Try to avoid drinking alcohol and smoking after the surgery for at least a month to get desired results.

• Physical Activities

For the first 24 hours after surgery, it is advised that you get plenty of rest. After that, restrain from performing any type of strenuous activity such as driving, operating machinery, or lifting heavy weights. Though you don’t have to stay in bed all the time, and you are free to walk and climb the stairs, make sure that you don’t push your limits. As your body heals, you will be able to resume all activities without any hassle.

• Wound Care

To make sure that the chest tissues stay in place and swelling subsides quickly, the doctor will suggest that you wear compression garments for at least 2-3 weeks throughout the day. Over time, you can limit the usage of the garment up to 12 hours.

• Medication

Throughout the recovery process, you will have to avoid taking medications like ibuprofen, aspirin, etc. These medicines can interfere with the blood clotting system and increase the risk of complications. If you take other medicines on a regular basis, those should also be cleared by the surgeon.

Leaving gynecomastia untreated usually has both physical and psychological impacts on the individual.

Physical Impact

• The individual will start to slouch to hide the breast tissues, which affects the posture.
• Due to the weight of the breasts, the individual may experience severe back pain.
• Over time, the patient may get spinal deformity.

Psychological Impact

• The individual may feel self-conscious among their peers and may get teased.
• The individual may become self-conscious and lose his confidence due to physical changes in appearance.
• Due to the teasing and taunting, the individual may get into depression and face other emotional problems.

In many cases, gynecomastia resolves on its own once the primary cause is identified and addressed. For instance, if the breasts start to grow due to the effects of a medication, the growth can be stopped by stopping the medicine and using an alternative one. But you should know that the growth of breast tissues will stop, but the effects won’t be reversed.

Surgery is the only definitive way to treat gynecomastia. However, there are some methods available that can improve the appearance of the chest region. The following options may be of help to some extent-

• Medicines– Most people don’t believe this, but there are no medications specifically available for the treatment of gynecomastia. Some doctors prescribe Tamoxifen, Danazol, Clomiphene, etc., for gynecomastia. However, they are not approved by the USFDA, and there is no significant evidence to prove that these medicines actually work to treat the condition.
• Hormone Replacement Therapy– In some cases, hormone replacement therapy is also suggested to restore the hormonal balance in males. It involves replacing the estrogen hormone with testosterone. But it usually works when the hormonal imbalance is caused due to hypogonadism.
• Termination of Causative Drugs– There are various drugs that induce hormonal imbalance in the body. So, the first thing to do is either stop those drugs or ask the doctor for alternative drugs that don’t have any side effects.
• Exercise– Though exercise doesn’t have any impact on the breast tissues, it can help to tighten the pectoral muscles underneath the breasts. This will improve the appearance of the chest region.

These methods usually don’t help over the long haul. As a result, the patient has to rely on surgery for an effective solution.

A couple of months ago, on 7th May, Mr. Shivank Kapoor (name changed) contacted us about the enlarged breast tissues. He had grade III gynecomastia and wanted to undergo surgery to get rid of the problem. He was planning his wedding; therefore, undergoing surgery as quickly as possible was necessary for him. One of the best doctors we have, Dr. Ashwani Kumar, handled the case and performed the male breast reduction surgery. The patient had both fat and glandular tissues, which were extracted and excised carefully. The results of the surgery were visible within 2-3 days. There weren’t many risks involved in the procedure as the patient was healthy and didn’t have any habits that could alter the results of the surgery.

Shivank took good care of his body and followed all the instructions given by Dr. Ashwani. His wound healed in the 2nd week, and the scars also disappeared completely before his wedding. He was satisfied with the results and recovered completely within a month.