Breast Reduction in Men
	By Dr. Frank Lista M.D., F.R.C.S.C. www.theplasticsurgeryclinic.com View Dr. Lista's profile

  Excessive breast tissue development in men is a medical condition that is rarely discussed but is actually quite common. The medical term for this condition is ‘gynecomastia’ and affects an estimated 40 to 60 percent of men. Gynecomastia is caused by an increase in actual breast tissue in some men. Although certain drugs and medical problems have been linked with male breast overdevelopment, in the vast majority of cases there is no known cause.

  Most gynecomastia sufferers experience excessive breast development in early adulthood. They then go on to suffer from the embarrassment of this condition for all of their lives. Men who suffer from gynecomastia are embarrassed to remove their shirts in public. They find it difficult to attend pool parties, go to the beach or be present at any social event that exposes their chest to others. Some men even find that their excessive breast development is obvious through certain types of clothing.

  Many men try to improve the appearance of excessive breast development by losing weight or by heavy chest exercise. Unfortunately this rarely works. In fact an increase in chest muscle mass resulting from chest exercises can actually make the appearance of excessive breast tissue look worse.

  For men who feel self-conscious about their appearance, male breast-reduction surgery has proven to provide almost complete relief from this embarrassing problem. The procedure removes fat and or glandular tissue from the breasts and in extreme cases removes excess skin, resulting in a chest that is flatter, firmer, and better contoured.

  Today, a number of new techniques are helping plastic surgeons to provide selected patients with more precise results and quicker recovery times. The standard male breast reduction is performed through a small incision on the edge of the bottom half of the areola. While this technique gives excellent results, it leaves a faint tell-tale scar around the edge of the nipple. I have personally developed a new technique which involves the use of Power Assisted Liposuction (PAL) and then direct excision through the tiny liposuction incision. This allows removal of the excessive fat and glandular tissue while leaving an almost invisible incision on the outer side of the chest. With this technique there is usually no scar around the nipple.

  Men who undergo this procedure are cured of the problem of excessive breast development. They almost always say the same thing, “I should have had this done years ago!”