Male Breast Reduction
Although some drugs and medical conditions have been linked with male breast enlargement, commonly there is no known cause for this condition In fact up to 60% of the male population may be affected by gynecomastia which may affect one or more commonly both breasts.
Primary gynecomastia usually develops during puberty with no associated underlying cause. Secondary gynecomastia on the other hand develops because of some underlying condition, such as, obesity, endocrine imbalance, or the use of certain drugs such as steroids, alcohol or marijuana. If a patient is obese, drinks alcohol in excess, smokes marijuana or takes steroids, he is routinely discouraged from having surgery and asked to stop using these drugs to see if breast fullness subsequently subsides.
In the treatment of primary gynecomastia, it is important to know how much fat and glandular tissue is within the breast area before choosing the proper surgical approach. The best candidates for this type of surgery have firm, elastic skin that will reshape itself to a new contour after surgery.
The surgery is most often performed as an outpatient procedure under general anaesthesia and takes from an hour to an hour and a half to complete. Complications related to surgery, although infrequent, are usually minor in nature.
Questions You May Have:
What restrictions will I have after surgery?
Recovery is relatively quick and uncomplicated although you will be requested to wear a post operative chest garment to help reduce post operative swelling and discomfort. You can expect to be back to normal daily activities within a week but you will be restricted from heavy physical activity for about a month. It will take about 3 months before you see the final result of your surgery. The temporary effects of male breast reduction surgery may include numbness which may last up to a year.
