A. What some of the most common benefits of male breast reduction?
This procedure can improve the appearance of the chest
in cases where diet and exercise have failed. The
results of the procedure are significant and permanent.
Most men who have had surgery for gynecomastia have been
very satisfied with the results.
B. What will happen at the initial consultation?
During the consultation, you and your surgeon will
discuss the changes that you would like to make in your
appearance. Your surgeon will explain the different
options available. He/she will discuss the procedure in
detail, explain the risks and limitations, and explain
the type of anesthesia that will be used.
The surgeon will then examine photographs of your chest
for reference during surgery and afterwards. He/she may
also require you to have a mammogram (breast x-ray).
Be sure to ask all the questions you have about the
surgery, and ask to see photos of the doctor's recent
patients, before and after surgery. Also ask for, and
follow up on, patient references. Learning everything
you can about your options, risks and benefits is the
key to making an informed decision.
C. How is breast reduction done?
The type of procedure used by your surgeon will depend
on the degree of breast enlargement. The options include
removal of the tissue under the breast, or liposuction
of the chest wall. In both instances, a small elliptical
incision is made on the lower half of the nipple area
(areola). For those men with tissue that is more
glandular in nature, all breast tissue directly under
the nipple is removed.
If the tissue is more fatty in nature, liposuction can
provide excellent results. In some people, ultrasonic
assisted liposuction is an excellent approach. During
liposuction, a small suction rod (cannula) is inserted
into the incision to remove fat and other tissue.
In some cases, a repeat procedure is necessary to remove
tissue that was missed during the first procedure. In a
few cases, if there is a large amount of extra skin, it
may be necessary to remove this tissue, which may result
in a large scar.
D. How long does the surgery take?
Generally, the procedure usually takes 1 ½ to 2 hours.
E. Do I have to stay in the hospital?
This procedure can be done in the hospital or in an
office surgical suite, depending on your preferences as
well as your surgeon's. Many breast reductions are
performed under local anesthesia (like that used by
dentists) combined with a sedative to make you drowsy.
You'll be awake but relaxed, and although you may feel
some tugging and mild discomfort, you won't feel any
pain. Some surgeons prefer to use general anesthesia, in
which case you'll sleep through the entire operation.
The longer the procedure is expected to take, the more
likely that general anesthesia will be recommended. You
may be allowed to return home within a few hours of the
surgery, and spend the night in the comfort of your own
home, or it may be necessary to spend the night in the
hospital so your recovery process can be monitored by a
medical staff.
F. How much pain is there?
Depending on the extent of surgery, pain can vary from
minimal to moderate, and will last from several days to
two weeks.
G. What can I expect after surgery?
Usually, the chest is temporarily swollen and bruised
after the surgery. You may also experience numbness or a
burning sensation. You will probably be given a
compression garment to wear for several weeks after the
surgery.
If you have severe pain or discharge in the surgical
area, or if you experience muscle aches, dizziness or a
general ill feeling with fever, nausea or vomiting, you
should call your doctor immediately.
H. What is the recovery period like?
Light activities can be resumed within a few days,
although your chest will be sore. Most people are able
to return to (sedentary) work within three to seven
days, and resume more strenuous activities in two to
three weeks. You should avoid exposing the operated area
to the sun for at least six months to prevent
permanently altering the skin pigmentation.
Routine physical activity and exercising (especially
lifting, pulling and pushing motions) should be avoided
for at least 6 weeks. This will help the scars to heal.
Your doctor will advise you on the level of physical
activity that is appropriate for you. Some degree of
swelling and bruising may last for 3 to 6 months.
Recovery time and privacy needs varies from person to
person. If you are not too concerned if people are aware
that you have recently had surgery, you may be able to
return to light activities earlier.
I. What is the long-term outcome like for most people?
After healing, most men are very happy with the results.
J. How long do the results last?
The improvement from this procedure is permanent, but
weight gain or use of certain drugs could result in
recurrence.
K. Ideal candidate:
In general, the best candidates for breast reduction
are:
- Mature enough to fully understand the procedure
- Experiencing embarrassment and/or social inhibition due to breast enlargement
- Knowledgeable about the procedure
- Having good skin elasticity
- In good physical and psychological health
- Wanting to improve their appearance and/or comfort
- Realistic in their expectations
- Willing to attempt diet and exercise as first options
- Non-smokers or able to stop smoking during the healing process
- Not using marijuana or anabolic steroids
- Not using marijuana or anabolic steroids
- Not heavy user of alcohol
The above is only a partial list of the criteria that your surgeon will
consider in determining whether or not this procedure is
appropriate for you. Be sure to ask your surgeon if he /
she considers you an ideal candidate for this surgery.
L. Alternatives:
In teenagers, it is best to wait for at least one year
to see if the condition resolves spontaneously.
In all candidates, discontinuing alcohol, marijuana or
anabolic steroids may resolve the problem without
surgery.
Overweight men may find that losing weight will reduce
breast fullness.
M. Risks:
All surgery has some potential risks, including the
risks of bleeding, reaction to the anesthetic, and
infection. In this surgery, serious complications are
quite rare. Other risks include:
- Excessive fluid loss, leading to shock
- Injury to the skin
- Rippling of the skin
- Excessive scarring
- Pigmentation changes
- Altered sensation
- Insufficient tissue removed
Like all body contouring surgery, it is possible that either too much
or too little tissue can be removed. In these cases, a
second procedure may be necessary.
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