One of the most commonly asked questions Dr. Nia Banks gets in the men’s cosmetic surgery category is concerning gynecomastia or male breast reduction surgery. This procedure is typically performed to treat a condition known as gynecomastia (enlarged breast tissue in men) or breasts enlarged as a result of fatty deposits from obesity.
Gynecomastia can affect men of any age and may be caused by an imbalance of the hormones estrogen and testosterone. Several common causes of this imbalance include: natural hormone changes, steroid or estrogen usage, certain health conditions, side effects of some medications or street drugs, and certain cancer treatments. In most adolescents who are not obese, the condition usually resolves itself naturally as the boy progresses through adolescence. Most young men should wait until puberty is complete before undergoing surgery for gynecomastia.
Dr. Banks has found that patients who have gynecomastia surgery gain a new sense of body confidence that they didn’t have before the surgery. Although generally not considered a serious medical problem, gynecomastia causes many to experience significant embarrassment. Men with gynecomastia will sometimes avoid activities that require going shirtless, such as swimming or exercising.
Surgical options for gynecomastia treatment include liposuction to remove fat and excision of retroareolar tissue (the area behind the nipple). This procedure takes approximately 3 hours and is performed under general anesthesia, typically with no overnight stay. Most patients take off 5 to 7 days from work and avoid heavy lifting and exercising during the first 2 weeks.
To learn more about this or other male plastic surgery procedures please fill out the form in the top left corner. For a quicker response please call 301-880-7022.