Just a few years ago, the term gynecomastia was barely spoken outside of the medical community. The condition that the term describes, however, has historically been easy to spot. It was often dubbed something blunt and unflattering: “man boobs.” To have enlarged breasts as a man is to suffer needlessly. There are perceptions that go along with having gynecomastia. A man may be perceived as unhealthy or lazy when it comes to fitness. Worse, a man is very likely to feel self-conscious anytime he interacts with others. Here, we discuss this medical condition and how it can be resolved with plastic surgery.

Gynecomastia Must be Addressed

It is impossible to hide gynecomastia. Some men try to lessen the appearance of enlarged breasts by wearing some type of chest compression. Some wear overly loose clothing. Some try to “work off” the excess fat and breast tissue with strenuous exercise and dieting. Some turn to supplements that claim to get rid of this problem. None of these strategies have achieved meaningful results. But plastic surgery does.

Gynecomastia surgery, also called male breast reduction, is a procedure that should be performed only by a board-certified plastic surgeon with a strong reputation for excellence. Two types of tissue can develop on the male chest, fat and glandular tissue. For this reason, a surgeon must explore the extent or type of gynecomastia a man has. Men that have primarily fatty tissue may find that liposuction alone can resolve their problem. In many cases, because gynecomastia can be linked to hormones (and hormones activate the breast gland), men need to have fat tissue and glandular tissue removed. In some cases, it is also necessary to trim excess skin that has become loose and saggy. The personalized approach that Dr. Rosenthal takes gives each man the contours that were made for his body.

Recovering from Gynecomastia Surgery

Having a breast procedure can be intimidating for any man. A high degree of skill is needed to achieve the most symmetrical, contoured results. Also, men often worry about how they will feel after their surgery. Gynecomastia recovery is not intolerable. Patients maintain comfort with prescription medication at first, then over-the-counter medication after a few days of rest and recovery. Many men can return to work after a week to 10 days. More strenuous jobs, and also exercise, can resume after about 4 weeks of healing. By about 6-weeks post-op, most normal activities can be fully resumed.

Dr. Rosenthal has served patients in the Los Gatos and San Jose area for several years. To schedule your consultation for male breast reduction, call 408-840-2553.