Male Breast Reduction (Gynecomastia)
Offered at our convenient location in Denver
Gynecomastia is a very common occurrence among men. And with more men opting to undergo cosmetic enhancing procedures recently, male breast reduction surgeries increased by 11 percent in 2013 (American Society of Plastic Surgeons.) Male breast reduction surgery with Dr. John Millard can give men their self-confidence back.
Contents
What is Gynecomastia?
If you suffer from gynecomastia, you’re not alone! Gynecomastia affects 40% – 60% of men and is due to the excess growth of breast tissue. An even larger percentage of the population of men suffer from something called “pseudogynecomastia” or “lipodystrophy of the chest.” What this means is that they were born or inherited the predisposition to store extra fat in their chest and/or axilla (armpit.) In fact, this is the more common presentation and it’s common for men to have a father, son, uncle, or brother with the same history of the problem.
Before and After Photos
Causes of Gynecomastia
There isn’t one single cause for gynecomastia. However, there are several factors that have been studied that can lead to gynecomastia, typically an excess amount of estrogen. The below factors are some causes of male breasts.
Estrogen
Some men experience a high amount of estrogen that is significantly more than the normal occurrence. There is no medical harm that comes from this, it just leads to an increase in breast tissue growth. There are some studies that find that the foods we consume in North America are high in estrogen.
Klinefelter Syndrome
Klinefelter Syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality which causes people to have an extra X chromosome. For men, this will show as XXY. Most of the time symptoms are very subtle and people do not realize they experience this. Prominent symptoms however can include less body hair, weaker muscles, and breast enlargement.
Hyperthyroidism
The thyroid gland is an important part of your body; it controls the rate at which we burn calories, regulates your heartbeat, and procedures hormones. When it becomes overactive, more thyroid hormones are produced than needed; this is referred to as hyperthyroidism.
Aging
Aging causes men’s testosterone level to revert back to earlier levels or become dormant; this can cause an increase in estrogen.
Steroids and Other Drugs
Steroids and other similar drugs are a big cause of gynecomastia in bodybuilders. Steroids can manipulate testosterone and estrogen levels, typically tilting more towards estrogen, and as a result increase breast tissue.
Degrees of Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia can present itself in different degrees based on breast size, breast feminization, and severity of the condition.
Type 1: Very mild – Small tissue pocket located around the areola.
Type 2: Mild to high – Slight enlargement of breast passing areola boundary with indistinct edges from chest.
Type 3: High and visible – Slight enlargement of breast passing areola boundary with distinct edges from chest and skin redundancy.
Type 4: Severe and feminine – Pronounced breast enlargement, skin redundancy, and breast feminization.
Top 5 Male Plastic Surgery Procedures
- Nose Reshaping
- Eyelid Surgery
- Liposuction
- Gynecomastia
- Facelift
In recent years, we have seen a dramatic increase in cosmetic procedures elected by men. It is becoming more socially acceptable for men to undergo cosmetic surgery. This is a direct result of the advancements in plastic surgery that now make it possible to produce results that look natural and take relatively little time to heal from.
Why Choose Dr. Millard?
Dr. Millard does all male breast reduction procedures through one small three millimeter incision inside the areola, when most doctors use more incisions and larger incisions. He’s also pioneered a combination procedure that allows him to, at the same time as the gynecomastia surgery, put fat back into the muscle to make the muscle look bigger. Further, most doctors don’t use a skin tightening technique with this procedure; the skin tightening procedure is a powerful hedge against a drooping male breast after the surgery. Additionally, he includes the axilla (armpit) into the procedure which carves out both pectoralis definition and latissimus definition.
Ideal Candidates
Ideal candidates for gynecomastia surgery are simply men who do not feel comfortable with the way their chest looks. These men must be able to quit smoking for a month prior to their procedure, are in good health, and near a stable weight.
If you’ve been struggling with gynecomastia and it’s hindering your self-confidence, we highly recommend seeking professional medical support. Gynecomastia is extremely common and it’s important to seek out the consult of an experienced gynecomastia doctor who will evaluate all possibilities of your gynecomastia before electing surgery as your best option.
Dr. Millard has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating gynecomastia, pseudogynecomastia and lipodystrophy of the chest cases and can help you regain your confidence.
Consultation
During your private consultation with Denver’s top plastic surgeon Dr. John A. Millard, you will explain the concerns you have with your chest and how you would like it to look. Bringing example pictures help greatly. Dr. Millard will then perform a detailed examination to see if male breast reduction surgery can benefit you and if you will be able to receive your aesthetic goal.
If deemed a good candidate, he will show you before and after pictures of previous gynecomastia patients. This is only meant to show you possible outcomes as results do vary between patients. It is important to have realistic expectations of what this surgery can accomplish, especially since each male breast reduction surgery is tailored to meet the needs of that specific patient. Any question whatsoever will gladly be answered at this time, including pricing inquiries.
Preparation
Things to do:
- Fill any prescriptions Dr. Millard prescribes before your surgery so you have them readily available afterwards.
- Schedule at least 4 days off from work to ensure you have enough rest time to heal properly.
- Dr. Millard will assign you certain medical tests and examinations to complete prior to your surgery.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home from surgery as you will not be able to.
- Make sure you have enough supply of gauze and ice packs to last your recovery.
- Notify the office immediately if you begin to feel under the weather.
Things to avoid:
- Do not smoke for the month leading up to your surgery, as well as afterwards.
- Do not drink 3 weeks before your procedure.
- Do not sun tan for 2 weeks before your procedure.
- Stop taking anti-inflammatory medications the 3 weeks before your procedure.
Reduction Surgery
The ratio of glandular tissue to fatty tissue is different for everyone so it’s important that you seek out a knowledgeable doctor who can assess how to properly remove your excess breast tissue.
Fortunately, because of the development of the VASER, it has become much easier to treat this condition without the need for large incisions.
In fact Dr. Millard has incorporated the VASER Hi Def Technique he pioneered in the U.S. into this procedure. Where Dr. Millard departs from many surgeons approach to the problem include the following:
VASER-Assisted Lipoplasty
- Achieve skin tightening.
- To remove fat.
- To achieve a sculpted Hi Def appearance.
- To sculpt the axilla (armpit) up to the border of the lat’s (latissimus muscle).
Tichler Device
- To remove most of and sculpt the remaining glandular tissue.
- This avoids the need for enlarging the incision beyond that used for the liposuction in most cases.
You will firstly be administered local or general anesthesia to make sure you are as comfortable as possible. An incision will either be made around the areola or in the underarm; this will be decided during your consultation once Dr. Millard performed an examination.
Through the incision, VASER liposuction will be performed to remove excess fat and promote skin tightening to form over your newly contoured, sculpted chest.
The Tichler device is used if glandular tissue needs to sculpted or removed, depending on the specific case. Fat transfer to the pectorals is optional and is an add on procedure. If need be, the nipple can be repositioned to a more proportional placement. The incisions are then sutured closed and Dr. Millard will apply surgical dressing over them. A compression garment will then be wrapped around the chest.
Gynecomastia Surgery Recovery
The surgery takes around 2-4 hours to complete depending on the extent of the individual case. Once completed, drains will be placed to catch excess fluids. Dressings and a compression garment are then placed around the chest to help reduce swelling and help maintain the new contour. Drains are typically removed in a couple of days and the sutures within 2 weeks. Slight bruising and/or hypersensitivity is normal and will subside on its own with time; any discomfort can easily be controlled with pain medications. Normal activities can be resumed in 3-4 days, but strenuous activities should be avoided for a couple of weeks.
Men who undergo gynecomastia surgery often find newfound courage to take up physical activities, as well as become intimate with others. Using either SmartLipo™ or VASER® Hi Def techniques, Dr. Millard will remove any unwanted fat and glandular tissue from your breasts and leave behind just enough so that you walk away with chiseled pectorals.
Gynecomastia Scars
The minimally invasive probes leave little scars. Dr. Millard most commonly uses approximately 3mm incisions inside the areola, just below the nipple area; when they heal theyare almost imperceptible. Gynecomastia patients heal very quickly because very little blood is lost. This will allow you to quickly get back to life and enjoy the new, chiseled you. Many of his patient are back in the gym pumping weights in 2 weeks after surgery.
Pricing
The cost of your gynecomastia procedure will depend on your specific case and if you opt to undergo additional body contouring procedures. Please schedule a consultation with Dr. Millard and he will be able to give you a personalized quote.
