Male breast reduction surgery for gynecomastia (enlarged male breasts) is one of the more commonly performed procedures in men. The results from surgery can be quite dramatic and rewarding. Despite the perception that men don’t obsess or even focus on their appearance a whole lot, this is not entirely or always true. Many men do care and when it comes to the appearance of their breasts.
The underlying cause of gynecomastia can be the result of enlarged glandular breast tissue, increased fat accumulation or a combination of both. Liposuction is the treatment of choice when there is an excessive amount of fat. It typically involves one relatively small incision (around 1/4” to 3/8”) for each side either along the breast fold or at the bottom part of the areola. They usually heal in an inconspicuous manner.
Glandular breast tissue can’t be removed with liposuction – it needs to be excised directly which is accomplished though an incision placed along the lower half of the areola. By nature, this incision is much longer as compared to the one needed for liposuction alone.
A question that many men have, particularly those that are younger and not hirsute (hairy) is “how obvious or apparent will the scars be?”
When the incisions are meticulously repaired (like they always should be!) and treated with a scar gel postoperatively, the final results are usually fairly thin white lines that are not apparent from any significant distance. Sometimes, they are so inconspicuous to the point of being imperceptible (see photo). Regardless, the overwhelmingly positive results from gynecomastia surgery virtually always outweigh any scar that is a consequence of the procedure.
Scar along the bottom half of the right areola
So, if you or someone you know is considering breast reduction surgery for gynecomastia but concerns about the scars have been a major issue, reconsideration should be in order.
If you would like more information on male breast reduction surgery for gynecomastia or on any other plastic surgery procedure that I perform or to schedule a consultation with me, please call my office at 480-451-3000.
Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona