Gynaecomastia Surgery

Male Breast Reduction Surgery

Overview

Gynaecomastia, or male breast enlargement, affects between 10-30% of men, particularly in older age groups. This enlargement may be due to genetics or excess weight, or may be attributable to another cause, such as medications, drug use and severe disease such as liver failure and some cancers. For men self-conscious about the appearance of their breast tissue, male breast reductions surgery may be a helpful option.

Your surgeon will discuss with you eliminating possible reversible causes of gynaecomastia at your initial consultation. If such causes are not identified and you still wish to go ahead with the surgery, the surgeon will then require further information, including chest size measurements, history of previous chest surgery and information regarding underlying health conditions.

There are multiple methods used to reduce the appearance of male breast tissue. If there is an excess of fatty tissue within the breast region, liposuction may be used to reduce the overall size of the breast (see liposuction). In this procedure, a fine, hollow tube is inserted into the breast tissue to remove excess fatty tissue and reshape the remaining tissue. If there is an excess of glandular tissue within the breast, this may require surgical excision with a scalpel, rather than a fine bore tube. This will require a scar to be made, typically around the areola (nipple edge). The operation will take 1.5-2 hours and is typically performed under general anaesthetic.

Following the surgery, the chest will be swollen and bruised, and you may be left with some pain for a few days after the operation. You will be asked to wear tight bandages around the breast tissue to reduce swelling and promote a good body contour, for at least 2 weeks. Normal activities, including exercise, can usually be resumed after six weeks following the operation.

As with any operation, there are risks to the surgery. It is common to experience some pain following the procedure, and this can be considerable if significant amounts of tissue are removed. Other specific complications include inadequate removal of breast tissue, requiring further operations, an uneven breast contour being created and reduced sensation in and around the nipple area. General risks include bleeding, infection and formation of blood clots after surgery.

Mr Anton Fries, Consultant in reconstructive plastic surgery, would be delighted to discuss options for gynaecomastia surgery with you during a private consultation.