What Is Male Gynecomastia?
Though very common, an increased or enlarged amount of breast tissue in men (known as male gynecomastia), can be a source of both physical and psychological discomfort for men. While it affects nearly 60% of males at some point throughout their lives, there are varying degrees of severity (sometimes even within the same man), and male gynecomastia can even occur in one or both breasts. The psychological effects in even mild to moderate cases are understandable; It may affect your self esteem or self worth, the way you perceive your masculinity, and leave you feeling uncomfortable or embarrassed in intimate or social situations that require you to be bare-chested. If it doesn’t resolve on its own, and it becomes clear that diet and exercise, or just living a healthy and active lifestyle is not producing the masculine, flat chest you desire, it’s important to know that there is a solution. In these cases, surgical correction through male chest reduction surgery is an option to consider.
Why does gynecomastia happen?
You probably know that males usually have a higher amount of testosterone, the male sex hormone that’s responsible for developing physically male features like facial and body hair, a deep voice and physical strength. Causes of male breast growth include a decrease in the amount of testosterone, and is often due to testosterone-hindering conditions or conditions that increase estrogen (the female sex hormone).
A chest reduction in men, or gynecomastia surgery, is done through liposuction and direct excision along the areola to remove the excess skin, fat and/or glandular tissue and make the chest much more flat and contoured. Dr. Barrett’s reduction technique combines liposuction with micro debridement to ensure no unwanted tissue remains. Additionally, he uses a dual incision technique for an even reduction in fat, and sits his patients upright to check that no excess fullness is left and that the area looks as perfect as possible.
If you’re concerned about scarring, Dr. Barrett’s Male Gynecomastia surgical technique is done through very tiny, carefully placed incisions, which he then closes in layers for easier postoperative healing with less tension in the chest area. Traditionally, a much larger – and archaic – gynecomastia incision that spanned a much greater area left a much larger and more noticeable scar, Dr. Barrett’s careful and mindful incision radically reduces the chance of a visible mark. Additionally, Dr. Barrett has a carefully curated postoperative scar regimen to ensure the only reminder of your procedure are your sculpted results.
Eager to know when you’ll be ready to show off your new physique? When comparing gynecomastia before and after results, it’s best to wait at least six weeks for the swelling to go down to get the best view of the surgical outcome. There may also be some numbness in the area that should resolve on its own as you heal. Dr. Barrett has gathered an assortment of before and after images, you may want to browse to get a fuller scope of his work in male gynecomastia surgery.
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