Male Breast Reduction in Birmingham AL

Male Breast Reduction Candidates

Gynecomastia surgery candidates include:

• Men whose condition cannot be corrected through alternative medical treatments.
• Nonsmokers/non-drug users who do not have a life-threatening illness or medical conditions that can impair healing.
• Men who are physically healthy and of relatively normal weight.
• Men whose breast development has stabilized.
• Men who are bothered by the feeling that their breasts are too large.
• Men who have realistic expectations.
• Men with a positive outlook and specific goals in mind for improving the physical symptoms of gynecomastia.

Adolescents may benefit from surgery, although secondary procedures may be needed in the future should breast development continue.

Your Male Breast Reduction Consultation

During your gynecomastia surgery consultation be prepared to discuss:

• Your surgical goals.
• Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments.
• Current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and recreational drug use (including steroids).
• Previous surgeries.

Your surgeon may also:

• Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors.
• Perform diagnostic testing to determine the underlying cause of gynecomastia; this may include testing of your endocrine function.
• Examine your breasts and may take detailed measurements of their size and shape, skin quality and placement of your nipples and areolas.
• Take photographs for your medical records.
• Discuss your options.
• Recommend a course of treatment.
• Discuss likely outcomes of gynecomastia correction and any risks or potential complications.
• Discuss the use of anesthesia during your procedure.
• Answer any questions you have about male breast reduction.

Male Breast Reduction Risks and Safety

Each patient must decide if the benefits of gynecomastia surgery will achieve their goals, and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable. The risks of male breast reduction include:

• Anesthesia risks.
• Bleeding (hematoma).
• Blood clots.
• Breast asymmetry.
• Breast contour and shape irregularities.
• Changes in nipple or breast sensation may be temporary or permanent.
• Damage to deeper structures — such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles and lungs — can occur and may be temporary or permanent.
• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications.
• Fatty tissue found in the breast might die (fat necrosis).
• Fluid accumulation (seroma).
• Infection.
• Persistent pain.
• Poor wound healing.
• Possibility of revision surgery.
• Reactions to tape, suture materials, glues, topical preparations or injected agents.
• Unfavorable scarring.

Male breast reduction risks will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It's important that you address all of your concerns about risks with your plastic surgeon. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks and potential complications.

Preparing for Male Breast Reduction

In preparing for gynecomastia surgery, you may be asked to:

• Get lab testing or a medical evaluation.
• Take certain medications or adjust your current medications.
• Stop smoking.
• Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements, which can increase bleeding.

The success and safety of your male breast reduction procedure depends very much on your complete candidness during your consultation. You will be asked a number of questions about your health, desires and lifestyle.

Male breast reductions are performed at our accredited Outpatient Surgery Facility in Birmingham, Alabama. Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and stay with you for at least the first night.

Male Breast Reduction Procedure

Anesthesia options for male breast reduction surgery include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best option for you.

Liposuction Technique

In cases where gynecomastia is primarily the result of excess fatty tissue, liposuction techniques alone may be used. This requires insertion of a cannula (a thin, hollow tube) through several small incisions. The cannula is moved back and forth in a controlled motion to loosen the excess fat, which is then removed from the body by vacuum suction.

Various liposuction techniques may be used. The technique most appropriate in your case will be defined prior to your procedure.

Excision Technique

Excision techniques are recommended where glandular breast tissue or excess skin must be removed to correct gynecomastia. Excision also is necessary if the areola will be reduced or the nipple will be repositioned to a more natural male contour. Incision patterns vary depending on the specific conditions and surgical preference.

Combination of Liposuction and Excision

Gynecomastia is sometimes treated with both liposuction and excision.

Male Breast Reduction Recovery

During your gynecomastia surgery recovery period, dressings or bandages will be applied to your incisions and an elastic bandage or support garment may be used to minimize swelling and support your new chest contour as it heals after surgery.

A small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect.

Your plastic surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself after surgery. Following these instructions is essential to the success of your male breast reduction. The instructions may include:

• How to care for the surgical site and drains.
• Medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection.
• Specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health.
• When to follow-up with your plastic surgeon.

Seek medical attention immediately if you experience shortness of breath, chest pains or unusual heartbeats after going home. You may require hospitalization and additional treatment if any of these complications occur.

The surgical incisions should not be subjected to excessive force, motion, swelling or abrasion during the time of healing.

Male Breast Reduction Results

The results of male breast reduction with Dr. William Hedden, Dr. Stephen Gunn or Dr. Joshua Halka are immediately visible. Over time, post-surgical swelling will resolve and incision lines will fade. Satisfaction with your new image should continue to grow as you recover from surgery. The final results of your gynecomastia surgery may take 3 to 6 months to achieve.

The final results of gynecomastia surgery are permanent in many cases. However, if gynecomastia resulted from the use of certain prescription medications, drugs (including steroids) or weight gain you must be fully free from these substances and remain at a stable weight in order to maintain your results. Please discuss this with your physician before making changes to your prescription medications.

Although good results are expected from your male breast reduction procedure, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure. Another surgery may be necessary to perform additional tightening or repositioning of the breasts, or to treat any complications that may occur.

Male Breast Reduction Words to Know

• Areola: The pigmented skin surrounding the nipple.
• Bilateral gynecomastia: A condition of over-developed or enlarged breasts in men affecting both breasts.
• Endocrine system: A group of glands that make hormones which help to control activities in your body such as reproduction, metabolism, growth and development. Testing of your endocrine system may be done to look for signs of diabetes, thyroid disorders, growth hormone deficiency, osteoporosis, hypertension and obesity.
• Excision: To remove the skin.
• General anesthesia: Drugs and/or gases used during an operation to relieve pain and alter consciousness.
• Hematoma: Blood pooling beneath the skin.
• Intravenous sedation: Sedatives administered by injection into a vein to help you relax.
• Liposuction: Also called lipoplasty or suction lipectomy, this procedure vacuums out fat from beneath the skin's surface to reduce fullness.
• Local anesthesia: A drug injected directly to the site of an incision during an operation to relieve pain.
• Sutures: Stitches used by surgeons to hold skin and tissue together.
• Unilateral gynecomastia: A condition of over-developed or enlarged breasts in men affecting just one breast.