Male Breast Reduction (Gynaecomastia) Surgery
Gynaecomastia is the medical term for male breast enlargement and is an extremely common condition that can cause intense personal embarrassment for those affected. Gynaecomastia can be predominantly due to fatty enlargement of the male breast (lipomastia or pseudo-gynaecomastia) or due a glandular enlargement also called true gynaecomastia.
During an initial clinical assessment it may be appropriate to perform some blood tests to rule out some of the rarer underlying causes for gynaecomastia in association with a full history and examination. In addition an ultrasound scan or mammogram may also be requested to help characterize the breast enlargement. Occasionally a biopsy may be required to help rule out a male breast cancer if any concerns have been raised during the initial clinical and radiological assessment, although this is a rare occurrence.
Often, no obvious underlying cause is identified for gynaecomastia (idiopathic gynaecomastia). During its early development there may be some tenderness around the affected area. This is known as the “proliferative” phase and this will usually settle during the following months. Gynaecomastia is a benign condition and may only cause minimal cosmetic impact and often a watch and wait policy is all that is required in mild cases.
During an initial clinical assessment it may be appropriate to perform some blood tests to rule out some of the rarer underlying causes for gynaecomastia in association with a full history and examination. In addition an ultrasound scan or mammogram may also be requested to help characterize the breast enlargement. Occasionally a biopsy may be required to help rule out a male breast cancer if any concerns have been raised during the initial clinical and radiological assessment, although this is a rare occurrence.
Often, no obvious underlying cause is identified for gynaecomastia (idiopathic gynaecomastia). During its early development there may be some tenderness around the affected area. This is known as the “proliferative” phase and this will usually settle during the following months. Gynaecomastia is a benign condition and may only cause minimal cosmetic impact and often a watch and wait policy is all that is required in mild cases.
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However, glandular development and fatty deposition around the chest wall may progress and cause noticeable enlargement of the male breast sometimes with associated skin excess in more marked cases. Various effective cosmetic surgical treatments are available for the correction of male breast enlargement and which technique is most appropriate will depend on the proportion of fatty vs. glandular enlargement and the presence of skin excess. Mr. Hawkins offers a full range of treatments for male breast enlargement and will be able to advise on which is best in each individual circumstance. When applied in the correct clinical situation male breast reduction can have significant benefits in terms of improved self-confidence and enhanced body image with a multitude of associated side benefits. |
Male Breast Reduction Techniques
Liposuction is an excellent option for correction of significant lipomastia (fatty enlargement) of the male breast and can usually be performed through very small (<5mm) incisions. This technique can remove significant volumes of fat deposited in the male breast but will not be effective for glandular breast tissue enlargement (true gynaecomastia). Liposuction may be recommended in combination with other forms of male breast reduction surgery if there is mixed glandular and fatty enlargement of the breast
If true glandular gynaecomastia is a significant component of the male breast enlargement then it needs to be surgically excised, whilst taking care to preserve the nipple and maintaining a smooth chest wall contour. This can often be performed through a periareolar incision (around the nipple) without skin removal and with minimal scarring. Alternatively male breast reduction can be performed in a similar manner to a female breast reduction particularly if there is a significant amount of excess skin that also needs to be removed in association with the glandular enlargement (also called Grade 3 and 4 gynaecomastia). If excess skin needs to be excised then this can lead to scarring around the chest wall and Mr. Hawkins will discuss with you what strategies can be adopted to keep the scarring to a minimum and what you can expect post-operatively.
Please feel free to contact us to arrange a personal consultation to discuss your options.
- Liposuction
Liposuction is an excellent option for correction of significant lipomastia (fatty enlargement) of the male breast and can usually be performed through very small (<5mm) incisions. This technique can remove significant volumes of fat deposited in the male breast but will not be effective for glandular breast tissue enlargement (true gynaecomastia). Liposuction may be recommended in combination with other forms of male breast reduction surgery if there is mixed glandular and fatty enlargement of the breast
- Glandular resection
If true glandular gynaecomastia is a significant component of the male breast enlargement then it needs to be surgically excised, whilst taking care to preserve the nipple and maintaining a smooth chest wall contour. This can often be performed through a periareolar incision (around the nipple) without skin removal and with minimal scarring. Alternatively male breast reduction can be performed in a similar manner to a female breast reduction particularly if there is a significant amount of excess skin that also needs to be removed in association with the glandular enlargement (also called Grade 3 and 4 gynaecomastia). If excess skin needs to be excised then this can lead to scarring around the chest wall and Mr. Hawkins will discuss with you what strategies can be adopted to keep the scarring to a minimum and what you can expect post-operatively.
Please feel free to contact us to arrange a personal consultation to discuss your options.
