Male Breast Reduction Surgery Fort Worth
As men age, their hormones can become imbalanced, leading to enlarged male breasts, a condition clinically referred to as gynecomastia. Up to 70% of men between the ages of 50 and 69, and 69% of adolescent males between the ages of 10 and 19, experience this uncomfortable and embarrassing condition. Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Emily J. Kirby performs male breast reduction surgery in Fort Worth to correct gynecomastia and restore a flat, firm, masculine appearance to the chest.
All about male breast reduction at Kirby Plastic Surgery:
- What is gynecomastia?
- What does male breast reduction surgery involve?
- Male breast reduction surgery with liposuction
- Male breast reduction surgery with tissue excision
- Should I have breast reduction surgery for gynecomastia?
- What are the risks of male breast reduction surgery?
- How do I prepare for gynecomastia surgery?
- What kind of anesthesia will I have?
- How long will my breast reduction surgery last?
- What is recovery from breast reduction surgery like?
What is gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is a common medical condition in which male breast tissue becomes enlarged due to an imbalance in estrogen and testosterone hormones. Gynecomastia can affect one or both breasts, and tenderness usually occurs directly beneath the nipple. This condition can be uncomfortable, embarrassing, and even painful.
Symptoms of gynecomastia
Symptoms of gynecomastia may include:
- Swollen breast tissue
- Tenderness and/or pain in the breast
- Nipple discharge
These symptoms range from mild to severe among men and adolescents.
Causes of gynecomastia
Gynecomastia can occur at various stages in a man’s life (after birth, at puberty, or during adulthood), and causes may include:
- Alcohol and/or drug use, particularly marijuana
- Aging
- Use of estrogen-promoting medications
- Use of performance-enhancing steroids containing testosterone
- Genetics
- Exposure to certain chemicals
- Kidney and/or liver disease
- Obesity
- Poor diet
The incidence of gynecomastia tends to increase in men as they reach their middle years. While there is a perception that only overweight men suffer from gynecomastia, it can also afflict slim men.
Diagnosing gynecomastia
When diagnosing patients with gynecomastia, it is important that a doctor rule out breast and testicular cancers, as well as sex-hormone producing tumors, as possible diagnoses.
What does male breast reduction surgery involve?
While gynecomastia treatment with medications, radiotherapy, and exercise exist, surgery is considered to be the most lasting and effective treatment. Dr. Kirby performs male breast reduction surgery on site at her private, AAAASF-accredited surgery center in Fort Worth.
Male breast reduction surgery with liposuction
If your gynecomastia is mostly caused by excess fatty tissue, your male breast reduction surgery may require only liposuction, which is a minimally-invasive procedure. In men’s liposuction surgery, excess fat tissue is removed through small (1cm) incisions.
If localized fat deposits in other areas bother you, male breast reduction surgery can be combined with other liposuction procedures to address areas like the love handles and abdomen.
Patient Gallery
Before & after patient images from board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Emily Kirby Visit our patient galleryMale breast reduction surgery with tissue excision
In cases of gynecomastia that involve enlarged glandular tissue, tissue excision may be necessary. This procedure is slightly more extensive than liposuction and involves removal of excess glandular breast tissue, typically through a semicircular incision around the areola (the pigmented skin around the nipple). The scar after this procedure is usually discreet and appears to be part of the nipple itself. Occasionally, excess skin associated with gynecomastia may need to be removed using longer incisions.
Should I have breast reduction surgery for gynecomastia?
If you are seeking a long-term solution to your gynecomastia and are in generally good health, surgery may be the right treatment option for you. Male breast reduction surgery has a very high patient satisfaction rating; in a study of 27 male participants who underwent gynecomastia surgery, the majority rated their experience a 9 out of 10. Our patients report having increased confidence and appreciation for their appearance following breast reduction surgery.
What are the risks of male breast reduction surgery?
Gynecomastia repair is a safe and effective surgery, but as with any surgical procedure, complications may occur in rare cases. These may include numbness, excessive swelling and/or bruising, loss of the nipple (nipple necrosis), or loss of nipple skin (areolar necrosis).
How do I prepare for gynecomastia surgery in Fort Worth?
To prepare for your Fort Worth breast reduction surgery, Dr. Kirby recommends eating a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, getting plenty of restful sleep, and refraining from smoking or using nicotine products. In the weeks prior to surgery, Dr. Kirby will direct you to stop taking certain medications that may hinder blood clotting, including aspirin and aspirin products (Alka-Seltzer®, Carisoprodol, Excedrin®, Goody’s®), anti-inflammatory medications (except acetaminophen, or Tylenol®), and herbal supplements.
“Thank you to Dr. Kirby and team for the amazing work and service I received. Your work is truly a piece of art! I will be sharing your name with all of my friends.”
—Anonymous
What kind of anesthesia will I have?
Dr. Kirby typically uses general anesthesia to provide maximum comfort for her patients during gynecomastia surgery. You will be fully asleep for the entire procedure.
How long will my breast reduction surgery last?
Male breast reduction surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure and normally takes anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on your type of procedure. After you wake up from anesthesia, you will be able to go home to recover on the same day.
What is recovery from breast reduction surgery like?
Most men return to work within a few days of undergoing breast reduction surgery. Dr. Kirby usually recommends patients refrain from vigorous exercise for the first 4 to 6 weeks and wear a compression vest to help the tissue heal and prevent fluid from accumulating in the chest. Some swelling and bruising in the chest is normal during this recovery period and can be lessened with prescription or over-the-counter medications. Depending on the extent of your procedure, Dr. Kirby may further personalize your recovery recommendations.
Dr. Emily Kirby uses Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols, also known as “multimodal analgesia,” to minimize recovery time, and we see real results: our patients experience less nausea and feel more alert, mobile, and comfortable after their procedures.
“I had very hard recoveries in the past…it took me weeks to get back to caring for my family. With Dr. Kirby, I had a wonderful recovery and was back to my activities surprisingly quickly. Don’t tell the doctor, but I was at my child’s sporting event the day after my surgery, and I felt great!”
—Real patient of Dr. Kirby
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