Gynecomastia, also known as male breasts, is a condition normally caused by a hormonal imbalance. Males are most at risk of developing this condition during infancy, puberty, and old age because it is the result of an excess of estrogen and a lack of testosterone. If you believe you suffer from this condition, male breast reduction at Boulder Plastic Surgery in Boulder, CO can help. Here is what you need to know about the procedure.
What Is Male Breast Reduction Called?
Male breast reduction goes by many names. Some people call it gynecomastia reduction. Others call it reduction mammaplasty, and some people call it male breast correction. However, we’d like to clarify that each name refers to the same procedure.
What to Expect During the Procedure
Before gynecomastia reduction begins, we will administer general anesthesia so you are asleep and comfortable. Furthermore, your chest will be sanitized to mitigate the risk of infection. Once you’re asleep and your skin is prepared for the procedure, we will make small incisions around the nipple so there will be no visible scarring as the incisions heal.
Through these small incisions, excess glandular tissue will be removed and a small amount of fat can be excised. However, male breast correction is not a fat removal procedure, so you should not expect much fat loss. Furthermore, excess skin will be removed as necessary and the remaining skin will be tightened.
What to Expect After the Procedure
If you are returning to a desk job, there is no reason to spend over a week out of the office. Contrastingly, if you have a physically demanding job, you will need to take two full weeks off from work. It is advisable to not perform physically taxing tasks or lift over 10 pounds for the first three weeks post-op; if your job is physically demanding, let your supervisor know that the scope of your job will need to be adjusted for three weeks post-op.
How Long the Results Will Last
Causes of Male Breasts
Other fairly common preventable causes of male breasts include excessive use of alcohol and other drugs. For the sake of your health and appearance, you should not drink more than two units of alcohol per day. Both the American Heart Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that consuming over two units of alcohol daily for men is incredibly detrimental to health and should be avoided. Also, drink eight ounces of water between units.
Medical Conditions Can Also Cause Male Breasts
It’s not just drugs and hormonal imbalances that can cause male breasts. Medical conditions can also the swelling of male breast tissue or an excess of male breast tissue growth. Hypogonadism can occur at any age and prevents your testes from producing enough testosterone to keep your serum hormone levels in balance. Hypogonadism is usually caused by pituitary insufficiency or Klinefelter syndrome but may be caused by genetics.
Furthermore, the development of male breasts may be a sign of a tumor. Tumors that lead to male breasts are most often found in the pituitary gland, adrenal glands, or testes. If you have a family history of testicular cancer, you may want to ask an oncologist if screening would be appropriate for you. Other conditions that can affect your body’s hormone balance include renal failure, hyperthyroidism, malnutrition, and liver failure.
How to Extend the Results of the Procedure
You can also extend the results of your procedure by talking to your primary care physician and finding alternatives to medications you are currently taking that can cause male breasts. For example, if you are taking Valium for your anxiety, ask your psychiatrist about anti-anxiety drugs that do not increase the chance of male breasts, or see if CBT would be a viable solution for you. Similarly, see if there’s a safer alternative for supporting your prostate if you take flutamide.
Liposuction May Also Be Helpful
Liposuction is a fat removal procedure that has been around since 1974 and was popularized in 1982. The procedure is performed by making a tiny incision through which a cannula (very fine tube) is inserted. This cannula houses a suction device that sucks white fat cells out of the area. Although individual results vary based on the volume and specific location of excess fat beneath the skin, it usually results in a fat reduction of around 26%.
The Two Procedures Can Be Performed at the Same Time
It’s not uncommon to have excess breast tissue and a significant amount of fat in the chest. While male breast correction excises some fat, it is not as effective for fat removal as liposuction is. Luckily, both procedures can be performed at the same time for the best results. Male breast correction usually takes 90 to 120 minutes to complete. Having liposuction performed on the chest shouldn’t take more than an hour.
Therefore, even if you need both glandular tissue and a significant amount of excess fat removed, your total male breast correction will only take around three hours. If you don’t need liposuction performed on other regions of your body to further enhance your masculine physique, you can expect your recovery period to be just as smooth as if you only had male breast correction performed.
Risk Factors for Developing Male Breasts
There are several risk factors for developing male breasts. The most common risk factor for developing the condition is age. The male body starts to produce testosterone at a reduced rate beginning at the age of 31. This reduced production rate is so significant that 25% of men between the ages of 50 and 69 develop male breasts.
Another incredibly common risk factor for developing male breasts is the use of recreational drugs. Recreational drugs that can cause male breasts, or the appearance of male breasts, include marijuana, heroin, methadone and amphetamines. If you are self-treating a medical condition, such as ADHD with street drugs, seek the counsel of a licensed psychiatrist.
When You Should See a Doctor
When male breasts occur in infants and adolescents, the condition usually resolves itself on its own. For infants, the condition may only last two to three weeks. Alternatively, it may resolve when the infant stops drinking his mother’s breast milk, which may provide him with too much estrogen. Similarly, a pubescent boy may find that his male breasts go away when he has progressed through puberty enough for his body to produce adequate testosterone levels.
However, you should see a doctor if you are at least 18 years of age and concerned about the appearance of your chest. If you’re 18 and going through puberty late, the contours of your chest may change again within six to 24 months. However, if you have already been through puberty, and you are experiencing swelling, tenderness, pain, or nipple discharge, schedule an appointment right away.
Good Candidates for Male Breast Correction
The only way we can determine whether you are a good candidate for male breast correction is to evaluate you during an initial consultation. If you are at least 18 years of age and feel self-conscious about the appearance of your chest or experience swelling, tenderness, pain, or nipple discharge, you will probably be considered a good candidate for this procedure.
However, we must review your medical history and assess your current health before we can make that determination. To be put under general anesthesia safely, your heart and lungs must be healthy. Furthermore, you should be healthy overall for a quick, smooth recovery. You should also have realistic expectations about the preparation for the procedure, the procedure itself, the recovery process, and the results.
How to Prepare for the Procedure
The first thing you should to do prepare for your male breast correction is to come in for an initial consultation. During this initial consultation, we will assess your perceived male breasts to determine if you suffer from excess glandular tissue growth or pseudo-male breasts caused by an excess of fat and skin tissue. From there, we will determine which procedure or procedures will achieve your aesthetic goals most effectively.
Once we have determined that you are a good candidate and have a treatment plan for you, we will provide you with a comprehensive list of everything you should do and avoid in the six weeks leading up to your procedure. For example, you must stop smoking and drinking alcohol for six weeks post-op and drink plenty of water in the two weeks pre-op.
Gynecomastia (Male Breast Reduction) is a condition that affects up to 65% of men who are at least middle-aged. However, it is not a condition that you must live with. If you feel like your chest looks more like breasts, you may suffer from male breasts or pseudo-male breasts. Either way, we can help. To learn more about male breast reduction, contact our experts at Boulder Plastic Surgery in Boulder, CO to discover the appropriate solution for you.
Thanks to Dr Rouch and BPS for such a great surgery experience
by Joan Heron
Category: reviewsI am very glad that I had my procedure done at Boulder Plastic Surgery. I am also very glad that Dr Rouch was my surgeon. He is naturally warm and personable. It is obvious that he really loves his work. When I made an appointment to ask about a surgical procedure that I felt uncertain about, he immediately began a relaxed conversation with me about what he was seeing and what my options might be. He was so at ease that I began to feel at ease and I made my decision. Having surgery at Boulder Plastic Surgery was a high- quality experience. Everyone who was part of my care was responsive and supportive, giving me the information that I needed to make a good recovery. My thanks to everyone involved. Special thanks to Lana for helping me with wound care. It made all the difference. I felt very taken care of by Dr Rouch who was responsive and supportive from start to finish. I really appreciate his skills, his kind demeanor and his thoughtful reassurances. He is a great surgeon. After my surgery, a close friend said, "You look like yourself, but better." I am very happy with my experiences at BPS.
The Best Aesthetician, Heather!
by Carol Semple
Category: reviewsI have been going to IV Seasons Skin Care for over 20 years. From the beginning I have always received top notch skin care and friendly, professional treatments from everyone! For the last 9 years I have been seeing Heather. Heather brings the art of skin care to a whole new level. Her expertise in designing exactly what is right for your skin is beyond compare. She listens to your needs and treats your skin with the utmost professionalism. I trust her advice and the procedures and products she recommends. On top of that, she is super friendly and a joy to work with. If you're looking for the best aesthetician around, I'd highly recomment Heather! Everyone thinks I look 10 years younger than my actual age. Thank you Heather and thank you IV Seasons Skin Care!
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Category: reviewsI have been seeing Heather for over three years and have been going to the Clinic for over six years. Heather is the ultimate professional. She listens to any concerns I may have and makes recommendations to help me achieve the best skin results. We have a great time together and I love seeing her. The products made especially for the clinic are fantastic and they are always happy to provide trial samples to make sure you are pleased with them. Thank you Heather and look forward to seeing you next month!
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Category: reviewsHeather’s treatments have transformed my skin and appearance. 8 years ago having never done professional skin care, I went in for a free initial consult with Heather. She gradually introduced me to quality skin care and treatments. She takes your lifestyle and goals and develops a high impact, personalized plan for you. No cookie cutter recommendations or high pressure. Genuinely, Heather cares about my personal progress and helps me reach my goals. My skin immediately transformed. And I am still keeping up the facials and peels. My before and after is amazing! Thanks Heather! Finally, I should mention that over the years, she has done many extractions and teen facials for my teens and now continues caring for their skin in their 20’s. Heather cares about her clients and I feel very lucky to have found a rock star skin care expert!
Say Yes to Dr. Maxhimer!
by Linda Connelly
Category: reviewsThere are so many amazing things that I want to convey that I am afraid I won't do this review justice. Dr. Maxhimer and Claudia are a dream team. They are so good at tag-teaming and keeping each other up to date on patient needs and progress that it boosted my confidence in my results during each weekly visit. I had quite a bit of work done - abdominoplasty, blepharoplasty, breast lift and augmentation. Claudia's ability to understand where I was at and what I was feeling at each stage of recovery was so helpful. She was ready with whatever I needed, anticipated each question, but let me ask it anyway, and helped me transition from post-op to healed with such ease that honestly, I was sad at the thought of not having our weekly chats anymore. She is a gem! I have had a substantial number of surgeries in my lifetime - all non-elective, so while I was not scared of surgery, I was very nervous for the outcome. I should never have been concerned. Dr. Maxhimer is smart and super down to earth. He has a sense of humor, he treats you like you are his friend, and he cheers right along with you as you start to see the results during recovery. He is encouraging by nature, so easy to talk to, and I needed that when contemplating massive overhaul at 52! I am now at week 7 post-op and feel amazing. I am so impressed with their servant hearts, their incredible skills and the results that I would not hesitate to recommend Dr. Maxhimer to anyone looking for a surgeon. If I could have a pre-op call with any prospective patient, I would say this: Say YES to yourself. Say yes to Dr. Maxhimer and let he and Claudia take you under their wing for a few weeks of your life. You will not regret it.
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