Chest reduction surgery for men

According to Mr Henley, “Although rarely discussed, gynaecomastia (meaning male breast enlargement) affects many men at some point in their lives and there are many different reasons for its development. The condition is due to either an increase in fatty tissue which is soft, or actual breast tissue which is firm and dense, and sometimes it is a combination of both fat and breast tissue.”  Gynaecomastia may be present in one or both breasts and its development can be as a result of hormonal changes, disease, heredity, or the use of certain drugs.

Gynaecomastia can be an excruciatingly embarrassing problem and some men go to great lengths to hide their condition. “This condition means living with your shirt on no matter what you are doing. Beaches and swimming pools are no-go areas, but it’s more common than many men realise. Knowing that you’re not the only one with the problem and that there are treatment options available can sometimes bring relief in itself“, says Mr Henley.

According to the latest figures from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, the number of men seeking breast reduction has risen by 44% in the last year. It is the fifth most popular cosmetic procedure for men. Reduction mammaplasty (in surgical jargon) is the operation performed to correct gynaecomastia. A small incision is made under each nipple to perform the surgery and the procedure takes about two hours to complete.

If the gynaecomastia is mostly caused by excess fatty tissue, liposuction techniques alone may be used. If the problem is actual breast tissue, Mr Henley will recommend excision techniques to remove the excess. Sometimes, a combination of both excision and liposuction is used to achieve the best result.

Many of these operations are carried out using a general anaesthetic, although local anaesthetic and sedation is sometimes used. Mr Henley will discuss the range of surgical and anaesthetic options available to you.

Risks and Side Effects of Surgery

Risks for this procedure are the same as in any surgery and include the risks associated with an anaesthetic, bleeding, bruising, wound infection, chest infection and blood clots in the leg (known as a deep vein thrombosis), although these risks are uncommon.

Any surgical treatment to correct gynaecomastia will require cuts (incisions) to be made, so there will be some scarring. While most incision lines are concealed within natural contours of the body, they can be visible and occasionally scars can become very noticeable.

Rarely, the skin of the nipple area may die. Although this sounds very bad, in reality once new skin has grown and healing is complete, the end result is normally very satisfactory. Dressings will need to be applied to the affected area whilst the healing process takes place.

A further complication is either over or under correction of the gynaecomastia, which may need further treatment to correct this.

Decreased sensation in the nipple and breast area can occur, although this is very uncommon. If liposuction is used, irregularities or uneven contours in the breast tissue can occur, such as lumpiness or bumpiness.

Development of a seroma is the most common, significant complication; this is a collection of fluid. This fluid can, however, be removed easily by using a needle and syringe during the first four to six weeks after the surgery; the procedure may need to be repeated on more than one occasion. This is the reason why patients wear a compression dressing after surgery, as it minimises the chances of this occurring.

All the risks will be discussed in detail at your consultation. You will also be provided with detailed written information to help you make an informed decision about any surgery.

Recovery

People who have had this surgery say that it’s not really painful – more of a soreness. For those of you who go to the gym, it’s been described as the same feeling you get after a heavy work-out. The chest will be swollen and bruised for a while, so it will take a little time to gauge the result of the surgery.

Ideally, a compression garment is worn on the chest for six weeks to reduce any swelling and minimise the risk of seroma. Exercise is limited for about three to four weeks.  

To reduce the risk of poor scar formation, it is important that you do not subject the wounds to excessive force, abrasion, or motion during the time of healing.

As well as the physical recovery, the psychological scars of gynaecomastia start to heal too. Many men report feeling much happier about themselves, feelings of shame and self-consciousness being replaced by increased optimism and self- confidence.

Gynaecomastia can be an excruciatingly embarrassing problem and some men go to great lengths to hide their condition. 

“It means living with your shirt on no matter what you are doing. P.E. lessons at school are a nightmare.  Beaches and swimming pools are no-go areas, but it’s more common than many men realise. Knowing that you’re not the only one with the problem and that there are treatment options available can sometimes bring relief in itself“, says Mr Henley. 

“Living with this condition can be very difficult. The daily stress of trying to hide the problem or being called names and the subject of everyone’s jokes can take its toll over the years”. 

For this reason, Mr Henley needs to be sure that anyone thinking about this procedure is not only physically ready for surgery but emotionally ready too.

“Timing of the operation is so important” he says and a referral to a clinical psychologist may be suggested as part of the overall treatment plan. Make sure you plan well for your surgery.

“Surgery, alongside treatment to repair any emotional wounds, gives a better result than surgery on its own”.

According to the latest figures from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, the number of men seeking breast reduction has risen by 44% in the last year. It is the fifth most popular cosmetic procedure for men.

Will the problem return?

If your gynaecomastia was due to excessive weight and you gain weight, the problem may return. If your condition is caused by the use of steroids or marijuana, using those drugs can cause it to come back. If your condition is hormonal, then the problem may come back. However, remember that, in the majority of cases the problem doesn’t have a cause and in those situations, it doesn’t come back.

 

Male breast reduction before and after surgery

This 40 year old gentleman was unable to go swimming, play in the sea with his young family or enjoy many other family activities.

Before surgery Note the degree of sagging (ptosis). A small incision is made around the nipple area to allow the excess breast tissue to be removed.	Four weeks after surgery A great deal of the sagging has been eliminated giving a much more masculine appearance to the chest.	Five months after surgery

Before surgery	Four weeks after surgery	Five months after surgery

Before surgery	Four weeks after surgery	Five months after surgery

Mr Henley would like to thank this patient for allowing his photographs to be displayed for the benefit of others who may be considering cosmetic surgery.

The information provided is intended to give a brief outline of the procedure. It is not a substitute for a personal consultation with a surgeon.